The data your solar contractor doesn't want you to see

Which Oahu neighborhoods pay the most — and least — for solar? We ranked all 25 neighborhoods by median $/watt, permit volume, and top installer. The spread between cheapest and most expensive is wider than most homeowners expect.

The federal ITC expired December 31, 2025. Hawaii's RETITC is still 35% — but it's capped at $5,000 per 5 kW block, not per system. A 6 kW system gets $7,000+ in state credits. Most homeowners don't know this. Real quote data from 4 installers confirms the per-block math — and what you're owed if your installer misses it.

If you're on HECO's legacy NEM program, you're earning retail-rate credit ($0.42/kWh) while everyone else earns 13–33 cents. NEM is grandfathered for 20 years — but certain modifications end it permanently. Here's the complete guide to every HECO solar program, what protects NEM status, and how to add a battery without losing it.

The complete data picture for Ewa Beach solar: cost trends over time, top installers ranked by permit volume, adoption growth, installer competition, and what your neighbors are actually paying. Interactive charts powered by real permit data.

The 30% federal ITC expired December 31, 2025. Hawaii's RETITC still pays 35% — but the cap structure creates a strategy most homeowners don't know about: splitting a 10 kW system into two 5 kW permits can nearly double your state credit.

The median residential solar installation in Honolulu cost $23,000 in 2015. By 2024, that dropped to $13,000. We dug into every permit filed with the city to find out who's charging what — and which neighborhoods are getting the best deals.