In Hawaii, wildfire causes more expected losses than any other outage-prone weather, and utilities may cut power ahead of dangerous fire conditions. Below, you'll find installers by city, how to check a license with the Hawaii Contractors License Board, and questions to ask before you hire.
Find an Installer by City
Don't see your city? Many installers serve a wide area. Check the nearest city, or ask us for help.
Installers Serving Hawaii
We're still vetting installers in Hawaii. In the meantime, our team can help you plan a system and explain what to look for in an installer.
Home Backup in Hawaii: What to Know
Outages and the Hawaii Grid
Wildfire leads Hawaii's outage-related weather risks, with about $47 million in expected annual losses in FEMA's National Risk Index, followed by lightning and hurricanes. Within the state, Honolulu County faces the highest wildfire losses.
Utilities
Hawaiian Electric serves Oahu, Maui County and Hawaii Island, and the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative serves Kauai. Each island runs its own grid.
Incentives and Utility Programs
Hawaiian Electric's Bring Your Own Device Plus (BYOD Plus) program pays an upfront incentive based on the battery capacity you commit, plus credits for energy your battery sends to the grid during a daily two-hour window. It's for new batteries on customer solar programs, and enrollment can close on islands that reach their capacity limit.
Checking an Installer's License
Hawaii's Contractors License Board, part of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA), licenses contractors, and the Board of Electricians and Plumbers licenses individual electricians. Check both on the DCCA's professional license search.
Permits and Inspections
Electrical permits come from your county building department, such as the City and County of Honolulu's Department of Planning and Permitting.
Questions to Ask Before You Hire a Home Backup Installer
- Are you licensed for this work in Hawaii? Ask for the license number and check it with the Hawaii Contractors License Board.
- Will you pull the permits and schedule the inspections? Permitted work protects your insurance and resale value.
- Have you installed this type of system before? Ask about battery, generator or transfer-switch projects like yours, and which brands.
- Will you install equipment I buy myself? Many installers will. Some only install what they sell. Ask before you buy.
- What's included in the quote? Look for the equipment, panel work, transfer switch, permits, utility paperwork and haul-away.
- What warranty do you provide on your workmanship? It's separate from the manufacturer's equipment warranty.
- How will the system switch over in an outage? Automatic or manual, and which circuits will be backed up.
- Who services the system after installation?
Need Help Choosing Equipment First?
Tell us about your home and what you want to keep running, and an Outbound Power specialist will recommend a system and explain how installation would work. No obligation.
Hawaii Home Backup FAQs
Do I need a licensed contractor to install a home battery in Hawaii?
Are there Hawaii incentives for home batteries?
Will a battery get me through a public safety power shutoff?
It can, if it's sized to your essential loads and the expected duration. Solar recharging or a generator input extends runtime. Ask your installer to design around your utility's typical shutoff length.
Can I buy my own equipment and hire a local installer?
Often, yes. Many installers will install customer-supplied equipment, but policies vary. Each listing in this directory shows whether the installer says they do. Confirm with the installer before you buy, and share the exact model so they can plan the installation.
Does Outbound Power install equipment?
No. Outbound Power sells home backup equipment and helps you plan a system. Installation is done by independent, licensed contractors like those listed here.
How are installers chosen for this directory?
Installers apply or are invited. Before listing, we confirm their business identity, check their license with the Hawaii Contractors License Board, and confirm their services and service area. Verified installers have also completed an insurance and reputation review. Nobody pays to be listed or for placement. Directory standards →
Installers listed here are independent businesses, not employees or agents of Outbound Power. We check the items described in our directory standards, but we don't supervise or guarantee their work. Confirm licensing, permits, pricing and warranty terms in your written agreement. Listed in alphabetical order; Verified installers appear first. Nobody pays for placement.
