Solar Panel Cost & Payback in Hawaii
Home solar in Hawaii pays back in a median 10.6 years across the 62 places we cover, at an average electricity price of 46.3¢/kWh and about $3.60 per watt installed. Power sent back to the grid earns only about 2.0¢/kWh (Smart Export), which lengthens payback. Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam has the fastest payback (9.7 years).
Solar estimates for Hawaii cities and towns
Sorted by fastest payback. Each figure is for a system sized to an average Hawaii home (495 kWh/month).
| Place | kWh per kW | System | Cost | Payback | 25-yr savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam | 1,718 | 3.6 kW | $12,960 | 9.7 yrs | $26,027 |
| Lahaina | 1,708 | 3.6 kW | $12,960 | 9.8 yrs | $25,800 |
| Makakilo / Kapolei / Honokai Hale | 1,689 | 3.6 kW | $12,960 | 9.9 yrs | $25,369 |
| Makakilo City | 1,689 | 3.6 kW | $12,960 | 9.9 yrs | $25,369 |
| Kihei | 1,686 | 3.6 kW | $12,960 | 9.9 yrs | $25,301 |
| 'Ewa Gentry | 1,685 | 3.6 kW | $12,960 | 9.9 yrs | $25,279 |
| 'Ewa Beach | 1,685 | 3.6 kW | $12,960 | 9.9 yrs | $25,279 |
| Haiku-Pauwela | 1,667 | 3.6 kW | $12,960 | 10.0 yrs | $24,870 |
| Marine Corps Base Hawaii - MCBH | 1,650 | 3.6 kW | $12,960 | 10.1 yrs | $24,484 |
| Kapolei Villages | 1,643 | 4.0 kW | $14,400 | 10.1 yrs | $27,028 |
| Kapolei | 1,643 | 4.0 kW | $14,400 | 10.1 yrs | $27,028 |
| Honolulu | 1,622 | 4.0 kW | $14,400 | 10.3 yrs | $26,499 |
| Ala Moana - Kaka'ako | 1,622 | 4.0 kW | $14,400 | 10.3 yrs | $26,499 |
| Kaka'ako | 1,622 | 4.0 kW | $14,400 | 10.3 yrs | $26,499 |
| Waipahu | 1,619 | 4.0 kW | $14,400 | 10.3 yrs | $26,423 |
| 'Ewa Gentry-West Loch | 1,619 | 4.0 kW | $14,400 | 10.3 yrs | $26,423 |
| Kahului | 1,614 | 4.0 kW | $14,400 | 10.3 yrs | $26,297 |
| Ma'ili | 1,610 | 4.0 kW | $14,400 | 10.3 yrs | $26,196 |
| Mo'ili'ili | 1,596 | 4.0 kW | $14,400 | 10.4 yrs | $25,843 |
| Kaimuki | 1,596 | 4.0 kW | $14,400 | 10.4 yrs | $25,843 |
| Waikiki | 1,596 | 4.0 kW | $14,400 | 10.4 yrs | $25,843 |
| Diamond Head / Kapahulu / Saint Louis Heights | 1,596 | 4.0 kW | $14,400 | 10.4 yrs | $25,843 |
| Makakilo-Makaiwa Hills-Kunia | 1,592 | 4.0 kW | $14,400 | 10.4 yrs | $25,742 |
| Halawa | 1,582 | 4.0 kW | $14,400 | 10.5 yrs | $25,490 |
| Waimalu | 1,582 | 4.0 kW | $14,400 | 10.5 yrs | $25,490 |
| 'Aiea | 1,582 | 4.0 kW | $14,400 | 10.5 yrs | $25,490 |
| Waianae | 1,581 | 4.0 kW | $14,400 | 10.5 yrs | $25,465 |
| Kailua | 1,579 | 4.0 kW | $14,400 | 10.5 yrs | $25,414 |
| Royal Kunia | 1,576 | 4.0 kW | $14,400 | 10.5 yrs | $25,339 |
| Village Park | 1,576 | 4.0 kW | $14,400 | 10.5 yrs | $25,339 |
| Pearl City | 1,570 | 4.0 kW | $14,400 | 10.6 yrs | $25,188 |
| Waipio | 1,570 | 4.0 kW | $14,400 | 10.6 yrs | $25,188 |
| Makakilo | 1,564 | 4.0 kW | $14,400 | 10.6 yrs | $25,036 |
| Nanakuli | 1,546 | 4.0 kW | $14,400 | 10.7 yrs | $24,582 |
| Kapa'a | 1,546 | 4.0 kW | $14,400 | 10.7 yrs | $24,582 |
| Wahiawa-Whitmore | 1,522 | 4.0 kW | $14,400 | 10.9 yrs | $23,977 |
| Wahiawa | 1,522 | 4.0 kW | $14,400 | 10.9 yrs | $23,977 |
| Aliamanu / Salt Lakes / Foster Village | 1,520 | 4.0 kW | $14,400 | 10.9 yrs | $23,927 |
| Mililani Town | 1,520 | 4.0 kW | $14,400 | 10.9 yrs | $23,927 |
| Halawa Heights | 1,520 | 4.0 kW | $14,400 | 10.9 yrs | $23,927 |
| Moanalua | 1,520 | 4.0 kW | $14,400 | 10.9 yrs | $23,927 |
| Makaha-Ka'ena | 1,501 | 4.0 kW | $14,400 | 11.0 yrs | $23,448 |
| Schofield-Wheeler | 1,500 | 4.0 kW | $14,400 | 11.0 yrs | $23,422 |
| Schofield Barracks | 1,500 | 4.0 kW | $14,400 | 11.0 yrs | $23,422 |
| Kaneohe | 1,479 | 4.4 kW | $15,840 | 11.2 yrs | $25,182 |
| Mililani Mauka | 1,470 | 4.4 kW | $15,840 | 11.2 yrs | $24,933 |
| Mililani Mauka / Launani Valley | 1,470 | 4.4 kW | $15,840 | 11.2 yrs | $24,933 |
| Koolauloa | 1,452 | 4.4 kW | $15,840 | 11.3 yrs | $24,433 |
| Waimea | 1,450 | 4.4 kW | $15,840 | 11.3 yrs | $24,378 |
| Kalihi Valley | 1,448 | 4.4 kW | $15,840 | 11.4 yrs | $24,322 |
| East Honolulu | 1,443 | 4.4 kW | $15,840 | 11.4 yrs | $24,184 |
| Hawai'i Kai | 1,443 | 4.4 kW | $15,840 | 11.4 yrs | $24,184 |
| Hawaiian Paradise Park | 1,435 | 4.4 kW | $15,840 | 11.5 yrs | $23,962 |
| Wailuku | 1,403 | 4.4 kW | $15,840 | 11.7 yrs | $23,074 |
| Niu Valley | 1,393 | 4.4 kW | $15,840 | 11.8 yrs | $22,797 |
| Kuliouou - Kalani Iki | 1,393 | 4.4 kW | $15,840 | 11.8 yrs | $22,797 |
| Makiki / Lower Punchbowl / Tantalus | 1,318 | 4.8 kW | $17,280 | 12.4 yrs | $22,600 |
| Manoa | 1,318 | 4.8 kW | $17,280 | 12.4 yrs | $22,600 |
| Hilo | 1,316 | 4.8 kW | $17,280 | 12.4 yrs | $22,539 |
| Kalaoa | 1,203 | 5.2 kW | $18,720 | 13.4 yrs | $20,714 |
| Kailua-Kona | 1,161 | 5.2 kW | $18,720 | 13.8 yrs | $19,337 |
| Palolo | 1,111 | 5.6 kW | $20,160 | 14.4 yrs | $19,059 |