Sunspear Energy is a locally owned solar and battery storage company based in Honolulu that has become one of Hawaii's most respected installers since its founding in 2017. The company has installed more than 60,000 solar panels, totaling over 22 megawatts of generating capacity across Oahu and the neighboring islands.
Sunspear holds certifications from several of the industry's top equipment manufacturers. They are a SunPower Certified Dealer, a Tesla Powerwall Premier Installer, a Maxeon Preferred Partner, and a SolarEdge authorized installer. That breadth of manufacturer relationships allows them to design systems tailored to each home's specific roof geometry, shading conditions, and energy goals rather than forcing a one-size-fits-all approach.
In 2025, Sunspear was named EnergySage Installer of the Year for Hawaii, an award based on customer reviews, pricing transparency, and installation quality. Their 4.9-star Google rating across 115 reviews reflects the kind of consistent execution that earned them the recognition.
Sunspear took the top spot in Hawaii because they combine local ownership, strong manufacturer partnerships, verified customer satisfaction, and a clean complaint record. In a state where solar adoption is among the highest in the nation, Sunspear has proven they can deliver at scale without sacrificing the personalized service that homeowners expect.
“If you want Solar, this is the company to choose. They are 5 star. From beginning to end, no hassles, top notch, very professional. They made the whole venture seamless and communicated thru the...”
Lani I.
“Sunspear Energy cleaned my PV panels & performed an evaluation of the sustainability of my system.
I chose Sunspear because of Glen Smith, whom I worked with when my initial PV system was installed....”
Uncle
“Nicholas and Zack from Sunspear did an outstanding job replacing an inverter for one of my solar panels that had been down for about six months. They were thorough, efficient, and made sure...”
Alex D.
“Sunspear Energy provided outstanding service installing a solar PV system on my house.
I had several estimates to install solar on my house and went with Sunspear because they offered a very...”
jacob c.
“Working with Sunspear Energy was fantastic. We are saving money every month and feeling good about doing it. Marko was particularly helpful. He even provided information to my accountant after the...”
John R.
“Our home PV system consists of both Tesla and SolarEdge equipment. We switched over to Sunspear Energy with complete confidence. Not only does Sunspear Energy maintain certifications for Tesla and...”
Margot T.
“Good install. Great team. I really like sunspear and would use them again 100% but beware of the tesla software.
The software has had a small handful of weird issues. The most recent, it listed...”
Jennifer L.
“Our system wasn’t working to its full potential. When I reached out to Sun Spear, customer service was awesome. They quickly responded back and sent out a couple techs. Nick Lee was very...”
Independent Energy Hawaii operates out of 1580 Makaloa Street in Honolulu and has built one of the deepest customer-feedback bases of any dedicated solar installer in the state. The company was founded in 2020 by master electrician James Rudolph, whose own electrical credential dates to 2008, and is now run with his son Desta Rudolph as president. The team has grown to more than twenty employees and operates under Independent Energy Systems LLC, holding Hawaii electrical contractor licenses CT-37498 and ES-10816. Beyond its Oahu base, the company has expanded service into Maui, covering Honolulu, Kapolei, Ewa Beach, Mililani, Kailua, Kaneohe, Pearl City, Diamond Head, the North Shore, and Kahului on the neighbor island.
What stood out to our research team is the certification stack. Independent Energy Hawaii has been NABCEP certified since 2009, which predates the founding of the LLC itself and reflects the depth of the Rudolph team's individual credentials. The company is a Tesla Powerwall Certified Installer, an Enphase Gold Installer, and an REC Pro Certified partner. EnergySage lists them as an Elite installer with a perfect 5.0 rating across twenty reviews on that platform, and they were named to the Solar Power World Top Solar Contractors list in 2023 alongside a Pacific Business News Best Places to Work selection that same year. The Better Business Bureau gives them an A+ rating.
On equipment, Independent Energy installs REC panels paired with Enphase IQ microinverters and Enphase battery systems, Tesla Powerwall storage, and SPAN smart electrical panels, along with home EV chargers and ongoing panel cleaning and repair services. The headline coverage offer is a thirty-year warranty that spans solar panels, inverters, monitoring, roof penetrations, and service calls, with a separate thirty-year warranty on battery storage. That is one of the longest comprehensive coverage windows available from any installer in Hawaii. Financing runs from short eighteen-month plans through twenty-five-year terms, and the company commits one percent of profits to community giving.
With over 229 verified Google reviews and a perfect 5.0-star rating, Independent Energy Hawaii has built a reputation grounded in technical depth rather than marketing volume. With a composite score of 78.5 out of 100, Independent Energy Hawaii holds the second-ranked position in Hawaii for 2026.
“From the start to finish, Independent Solar, was nothing but a positive and excellent experience. The initial consultation with James Escobito, design team, Project Manager Michael Derouin and...”
Sandy L.
“We wholeheartedly recommend Independent Energy Hawaii for all your solar photovoltaic needs! We have been so pleased with their professionalism and quick response. Yesterday, we contacted Christine...”
s h.
“We’re thrilled that the installation went so smoothly. The Independent Energy Hawaii crew was outstanding—arriving on time, treating our property with respect, and working in a friendly,...”
Laisan L.
“My family chose Independent Energy Hawaii Company after comparing four quotes, including system cost and warranties. Independent Energy stood out with the best overall value, offering a 30-year...”
Shayne K.
“Dave and his crew from Independent Energy were very professional and detailed when installing our system. The pre planning process was simple and easy as the project management team made sure all...”
Sandra S.
“Our family purchased our solar panels from Independent Energy for two different homes (ours and my sister in law's home) and they've done an amazing job of taking care of us. They call to schedule...”
Sharon K.
“Great job to ALL at Independent Energy!!
From beginning to end, the whole process went seamlessly well.
Project manager of operations Michael kept me informed throughout the entire project.
When...”
Luke U.
“Independent Energy Hawaii was incredible!! From the planning and design process to the installation, it all went so smooth. The installation team all worked hard to get the system up in 3 days even...”
Metta Electric is a Maui-based electrical contractor and solar PV installer founded in 2017 by Kyle Kramer, headquartered at 353 Hanamau Street in Kahului. The company name reflects an explicit operating philosophy that Kramer describes as bringing mindfulness to the electrical construction and solar industry, a positioning that is unusual in a trade more often defined by speed and margin than intention. What our research team found compelling is that the philosophy appears to be backed by the underlying contractor data rather than purely marketing language.
Metta Electric holds Hawaii Electrical Contractor license CT-36334 and has earned a BuildZoom score of 117, which places the company in the top one percent of all 3,768 licensed contractors in Hawaii. That score is calculated on licensing history, complaint record, and permitted project volume rather than self-reported metrics. Public permit records show 214 permitted projects, including 91 completed in the past three years, with crews working across Lahaina, Paia, Kihei, Haiku, Makawao, and Kula in addition to the Kahului base. For a Maui-only operator, that geographic spread covers essentially every population center on the island.
The service mix runs deeper than solar alone. Metta Electric designs and installs residential and commercial solar PV systems, executes underground electrical service installations for clean utility hookups, handles LED lighting retrofits, and performs general electrical work that complements its solar practice. That electrician-first identity matters in Hawaii, where Maui Electric Company interconnection requirements, advanced inverter compliance, and curtailment rules demand a builder who understands the electrical side of a system as deeply as the photovoltaic side. Battery-coupled systems and self-supply configurations are part of the standard Hawaii project profile, and Metta Electric works in that environment daily.
The verified customer record is concise but unblemished. Metta Electric maintains a perfect 5.0-star Google rating across 65 reviews, with a Better Business Bureau presence and Yelp and Facebook profiles that echo the same pattern. For Maui homeowners who prioritize a small, owner-led team with documented electrical depth and a spotless contractor track record over a national brand, Metta Electric is a credible top-tier option.
With a composite score of 75.0 out of 100, Metta Electric holds the third-ranked position in Hawaii for 2026.
State tax credit: 35% of system cost|Net metering / Net Energy Metering Plus|Property tax exemption for solar systems|Green Energy Market Securitization (GEMS) loans|Highest electricity rates drive fastest payback
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*Companies displaying 15 or more years in business are typically established electrical, roofing, or general contracting firms that expanded into solar installation in more recent years. The years shown may reflect the age of the parent organization or a strategic partner, not necessarily the solar division itself. This distinction is worth considering when comparing to dedicated solar installers, as purpose-built solar companies may offer more specialized expertise despite a shorter operating history.
