Solar Energy Company reviews in Honolulu, Hawaii

4.8 based on 145 reviews Back to the listing
    5

    Malama Solar is a company. Karson and the team kept me up to date every step of the way. From financing, electrical/HECO upgrades and installation.

    5

    Sam our consultant was friendly and helpful throughout the entire process from getting signed up to checking in on the day of the install. The initial site visit technician was very helpful and friendly and explained the plan before it was emailed to me. The installation crew were also very friendly and respectful. They arrived promptly at 8am set up and got right to work. I was so impressed with how much they achieved in one day. Overall I am so thrilled I went with Malama solar and can’t wait to get it up and running.

    5

    Great experience with Malama Solar. I emailed approximately 10 companies requesting a quote. Malama was one of the only two companies that responded, the other merely sent a brochure with info available from their website. Malama responded within 24 hours and set up a meeting/site survey with their rep. They kept me informed every step of the process. Their team was very professional.

    5

    Joshua was very friendly and helpful. He was also a lot more transparent and honest than the other solar reps from other companies that I spoke with and that's why I went with Malama, I feel like they are trustworthy. The install crew was awesome too. They kept the place clean and worked quick, even in the rain. If you're thinking about getting solar, I would recommend that you consider Malama.

    1

    Feb 22, 2025 Update: system is still broken. BEWARE OF MALAMA SOLAR! The owner, Chris Ah Sue, is the new Mike Miske of Oahu. Do not be deceived by Malama Solar. Malama solar will install faulty parts, punch hole through your roof for non-functioning solar panels, ignore all of your calls, and take your money. They are FRAUDSTERS! There are so many other options for home solar on the islands, do NOT use Malama Solar, no matter how slick they may seem in their sales pitch. They have made no attempts at repair of my broken system. They take no responsibility for their horrible service. I would give 0 stars if that were an option.

    Nov 18, 2025 Update: my system is still broken. HECO bills have only gone way up since we had panels and generac batteries installed in 2021. Not built to last. I called Malama Solar earlier today and they said they were sure they can help me. I hope this is true!

    October 6, 2023 Update-- my system is still completely broken, it works only some of the time. It is clear that I was sold lemon products by Malama solar. Very hard to communicate with them. Currently speaking with attorneys and the Better Business Bureau who will have to step in to help.

    ----

    Beware of Malama Solar, they are a complete scam!! They lure you in to a "0% interest, $0 money down" loan that is ultimately extremely expensive, only you install complete junk equipment on your roof and home that barely if ever works. I had PV panels and 2 Generac batteries installed in December 2021, and the solar panels And batteries have not worked for at least half the time since they have been installed. My monthly energy bill has nearly TRIPLED since i bought Malama solar panels And batteries. Because I'm paying my full heco bill most months (since the panels And batteries usually do not work at all and getting them serviced is impossible) PLUS the bill for the predatory loan they hook you with.
    I am not sure where these positive reviews are coming from, as my choice to go with Malama has been a complete nightmare. The strong impression i have of Malama Solar is that they do not stand by their work, they do not help when the panels and/or generac batteries break down-- Malama Solar simply wants to take your money and then wash their hands clean of any responsibility after installing a complete lemon.

    When you try to get them to come service it takes at least a month to even schedule a service appointment. You have to call the bank Sunnova and speak to someone who is completely clueless at a call center, then call Malama then call sunnova again, and then **maybe** you might be so lucky to get a service appointment on the junk, broken down solar equipment they installed in the first place. Malama solar is a complete SCAM.
    So what you're left with is a HECO bill that is the same as it was prior to installing solar PLUS a humongous solar bill from Sunnova. Paying double to triple monthly for a completely broke system.
    I have hired an attorney to help rectify this situation, since malama will not deal with you once they've scammed your money from you.

    5

    7.24.2025 - Due to unforeseen circumstances the battery on my solar system malfunctioned but Malama took care of the issue. Today, Gabe and Shelton came by to install the new battery which was done in an hour. They were even able to test it and we didn’t even notice it! Mad props to these two humble, knowledgeable and quick! Malama Solar is very lucky to have these two as part of the team! Mahalo Gabe and Shelton!

    We qualified and got approved for Solar beginning July 2022 and the reality of Solar is upcoming and set for installation tomorrow! I can’t believe how quick they were to get all the approvals! Thanks to Brandon and the Malama Solar team! You guys made the dream of having Solar come true! So excited!
    Gabe and Shelton

    5

    I am very satisfied with the service I have received from Malama Solar. When I first met with Brandon he mentioned it does take some time before things get started so I had no problem waiting, but once the approvals went through I had my system up in no time. Diedrick and the crew did an excellent job of installing my system, and were very informative of the process taking place and what we should be expecting next.

    5

    If you’re looking to install PV and need a company to work with then Malama Solar is the one for you! Their staff have been both professional and friendly and made our journey so easy for us. If you want great customer service, they do most of the legwork for you. They went as far as to request the permits to install the PV from HECO, city and county, and my HOA, researched and recommended finance options, and hooked us up with a roofer to replace all our shingles before installation. After the initial consultation they reviewed my electric bill and came up with the best plan to get me off the grid and minimize HECO dependency. The installation process took two days and the crew were punctual, friendly, worked hard, and cleaned up well each day. They even offered to come back to paint the conduits and other parts for free to make sure the color scheme of the whole solar project was within our HOA’s paint specs. Cheryl, Vivienne, Olia, and the rest of the staff (sorry if I forgot to mention any names) don’t get enough credit with how smoothly they made the process of getting PV. Like I mentioned they have great customer service and the follow up to ensure my PV system was working properly, getting HECO’s approval, and now we’re waiting for the city and county to close the permit. We highly recommend Malama Solar for all your PV needs, you won’t regret choosing them over any other competition.

    5

    Had an awesome experience with Malama. Especially Brandon, our sales rep! This guy is seriously amazing; no hyperbole. He was committed and diligent as he helped me over some hurdles that arose during the process. He is responsive, personable, and genuinely a good man. Malama is a great company and would recommend them over others like Tesla and Sun Run (with whom I’d explored solar with in past). Thanks a lot for the great service!

    5

    My family and I were very curious about solar, but never felt comfortable or knowledgeable enough to take the next step. We've talked to some sales reps at Home Depot and other places, but it wasn't until I spoke with Brandon at Malama Solar did we feel excited and ready to start our solar journey. Brandon was able to explain how solar could benefit our families specific needs and walked us through the timeline and process so we knew what to expect. The startup process was smooth including the site survey and design of our system. Everyone that we have interacted with at Malama has been professional and genuinely cares that we have a positive experience. We highly recommend Malama - talk to Brandon if you were even slightly curious about solar!

    5

    We got our Malama Solar installed. The whole process from beginning to end went smoothly. Karson & Cole were very professional and friendly. Karson explained all our questions including meeting with our entire family as we discussed the benefits of getting solar from Malama Solar. We didn't feel rushed to make up our minds. The inspection, and planning went smoothly and gave us answers in a timely matter. As for the crew that came out to do the installation. They were quick, professional, and friendly. Obviously they had a routine, because they were on time, and got things up and running as soon as they were done. Thanks to everyone from Malama Solar for a pleasant experience. I will definitely refer you to my family and friends for sure!

    5

    Overall great experience with Malama Solar. From day one Representative Samson was cordial, knowledgable, and professional. The rest of the Malama team followed suit, including the installation crew who did an outstanding one day installation! I’m extremely pleased with my system! As promised, I have not yet pulled any power from HECO! Thank Malama!

    5

    Will update when issues get resolved.

    Kudos go out the administrative side of getting started and the design team. Installation was mixed. All was good except screw holes not being patched and 2 big screws sticking out in one of our bedrooms. I was told by the team lead they would be fixed same day and also ensured me they would all be fixed. They patched only two or three and left a few different holes and those aforementioned screws. In contact with support who have little to no idea as to when this will be fixed on week 2 post Installation. Also still no connection to these panels. I feel kinda lost in the process at this point and disappointed in the quality and communication of Malama Solar after reading great reviews.

    Update: bumped to 3 stars for customer service scheduling screw fix.

    Update: bumped to 5 stars for the resolution and recovery of the original issues.

    5

    From the start, Malama Solar was very informative and helpful in every aspect of our project. Olya K our salesperson, kept in touch frequently, and answered all of our questions.

    I need to make it clear that the process is LONG, but I understand, there are a lot of things that need to be done before installation can happen. Malama took care of it all.

    We finally got our installation date scheduled for April. Because we were installing quite a few panels, installation was spread out over two days. Jason and his crew showed up right on time both days (April 12th & 13th). There was a little hiccup during the install, but Jason was very accommodating and took care of it that day.

    We are very happy with our system so far! It has been producing the energy we need and hope it continues.

    If you are looking for a great solar company to work with, I highly recommend Malama Solar!

    5

    Aloha! I just recently got approved for solar sometime in July 2022, and yesterday I got mines installed. The rep Brandon Morris was the one that helped me through the whole process. He was awesome and very educated, through all my questions, he was able to answer them all. I would recommend him to all. Also, to Malama Solar that was able to move things along as quickly as possible and to the team that was able to install it even though our weather was not the greatest, they still were able to get the job done. So big shout out to Bandon Morris and all the Malama Solar crew for excellent service, especially Robert having that communication open to any questions I may have had. Good job well done! Can’t wait to go Solar! NO BLACKOUTS!

    5

    The Malama Solar team is awesome - Brandon answered all my questions and address my concerns with setup. The company took care of all the permitting with the county and electrical company. The installation crew: Josh, Grayson, Levi, Dietrich, Robert, and Damian are a first class team - they worked through the rain and only stopped when the rain really poured - never taking a break, even for lunch. I'm so impressed!

    After consulting with other providers, I'm so glad I went with Malama Solar - even after install, they are answering all my questions in a timely manner.

    If you are looking at solar providers - definitely give Malama Solar a call and see how they can solve your solar needs!

    5

    Nate was super helpful from the get go. He was able to explain to us clearly what the services were and educated us about solar panel. Moreover, he explicated how they work and how they are beneficial in the long run. He made us feel at ease with the whole process and thus we trusted him to go forward with Malama solar. The whole installation process was smooth. The associates from Malama solar that came to install our panels were very communicative and were able to educate us as well about how the solar works. I was confident that we made the right decision going forward with Malama solar.

    5

    1000/10 recommend Pat and his crew. They were fast workers and very informative for what needed to be done and what to do moving forward. We are excited for our new solar power system
    Mahalo Nui Loa to Malama Solar

    5

    Malama was able to give me a better system and faster local service unlike the competition. They definitely cared about me and my family and making sure my system was done right!

    Love knowing my solar company isn’t a main land company.

    5

    Working with Malama solar was great!

    They made everything so easy. They explained everything to me, initiated all the paperwork I needed to sign and completed a flawless installation a month early.

    On installation day the installation team showed up promptly and were courteous, professional, answered all my questions, we’re nice to my kids, and completed the entire insulation in one day.

    Really can’t say enough, Malama Solar is top notch.

    5

    Malama Solar has been a dream to work with on our solar project. From the first interaction with Brandon, I have been impressed. Not only is he extremely knowledgeable on the whole solar system and install process, he also fully understands and explains the pricing breakdown, savings, and tax benefits of the purchase. Brandon makes you feel like his only client and his service and knowledge are unmatched in any other solar company I have ever worked with or communicated with. He communicated each step of the process clearly and always responds immediately to any questions or concerns we have had. Throughout the entire process, the interactions with Malama’s team did not disappoint as well. They all were kind, skilled, and customer service oriented. I often don’t make the time to complete reviews due to the craziness of life…but this amazing company and employee deserve to be known about. If you are considering putting a solar power system on your home, reach out to Brandon at Malama Solar. You will not regret it!