Solar by City / Hawaii / Kailua
Data last verified: 2026-08Is Solar Worth It in Kailua, Hawaii? (2026)
The honest answer depends on four numbers unique to Kailua: your electricity rate, your solar production, your net metering policy, and your state incentives. Here are the real figures, with sources and dates. City production is a modeled estimate derived from Hawaii's real NREL PVWatts v8 value adjusted for local latitude.
Solar Snapshot for Kailua, Hawaii (2026)
| Residential electricity rate | 44.6¢/kWh (EIA, 2026 YTD May) |
| Solar production (modeled) | ~1643 kWh per kW per year (derived from NREL PVWatts v8 1650 kWh/kW, latitude-adjusted) |
| Net metering | net billing (exports below retail) — export ~12¢/kWh |
| State tax credit | None in 2026 |
| Rebates / performance | None |
| SREC market | No active SREC market |
| Property tax exemption | No |
| Sales tax exemption | No |
Estimate Your Own Payback in Kailua
The table above is a 6 kW benchmark using Hawaii's real inputs. Your home is different — use the Solar ROI Calculator with Hawaii pre-loaded to get your exact payback, or the 30-second worth-it quiz for a go/no-go verdict.
Kailua FAQ
How much solar production can I expect in Kailua?
PVFig models Kailua at ~1643 kWh per kW installed per year, derived from Hawaii's NREL PVWatts v8 state value (1650 kWh/kW) adjusted for the city's latitude. This is a modeled estimate — a site-specific PVWatts run with your exact roof azimuth, tilt and shading will differ. Actual output also depends on panel quality and local weather.
What is the estimated solar payback in Kailua?
At a typical 3.30/W installed cost and 44.6¢/kWh electricity, a 6 kW system in Kailua has an estimated payback of about 5.5 years. That is one of the faster paybacks in the country.
Does Hawaii have net metering and a solar tax credit in 2026?
Hawaii uses net billing (exports below retail) with exports around 12¢/kWh. There is no state income tax credit for residential solar in 2026. The federal residential credit (Section 25D) expired Dec 31, 2025 and does not apply to 2026 installations.
More cities in Hawaii
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Estimated payback for a 6 kW system in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Read →Solar in Pearl City
Estimated payback for a 6 kW system in Pearl City, Hawaii.
Read →Solar in Hilo
Estimated payback for a 6 kW system in Hilo, Hawaii.
Read →Compare Hawaii with nearby states
- Massachusetts — 30.1¢/kWh, ~1302 kWh/kW
- Connecticut — 29.8¢/kWh, ~1252 kWh/kW
- Maine — 29.7¢/kWh, ~1319 kWh/kW
- New Hampshire — 26.8¢/kWh, ~1259 kWh/kW
- Rhode Island — 29.5¢/kWh, ~1294 kWh/kW
- Vermont — 23.9¢/kWh, ~1222 kWh/kW