Hawaii Hurricane and Outage Prep for Solar and Battery Owners

Hawaii’s hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30. This guide covers what to do before, during and after a storm or outage.

Will my solar work during a power outage?

• Solar with a battery: Yes. Your battery powers your backed-up circuits, and your panels can recharge it during the day.

• Solar without a battery: No. Grid-tied systems automatically shut off during an outage so they don’t send power onto lines that crews are repairing.

Want backup power? See Tesla Powerwall vs Enphase, or ask about adding a battery to your existing system.

Before a storm: checklist

• Set your backup reserve to 100% ahead of a known outage, following manufacturer instructions and permitted charging settings. Most apps let you set a backup reserve.

• Turn on storm mode (Tesla Storm Watch, or the Enphase equivalent) so your battery charges fully when a storm is forecast.

• Check your monitoring app to make sure everything is online and reporting.

• Know what’s backed up. Your design determines whether selected circuits or the whole home are backed up.

• Plan your power. Prioritize the fridge, lights, phone charging, Wi-Fi and medical devices.

• Clear loose items around your yard and roof that could hit your panels in high winds.

During an outage: make your battery last

• Skip large loads like AC, electric dryers, ovens and EV charging.

• Run big appliances during the day, when your panels are recharging the battery.

• Check your app to see your remaining charge and adjust.

How long will my battery last?

One Tesla Powerwall 3 can run essentials like your fridge, lights, Wi-Fi and fans for about a day under modest essential-load usage, potentially longer with solar recharging it. Actual runtime varies with loads, charge, weather and system design. For AC, we recommend two or more batteries.

We recommend every solar customer consider a battery to use more of their own energy and power selected circuits during outages. Savings and runtime depend on system design, usage, utility rules, weather and stored charge. Off-grid operation requires a separate assessment.

After a storm: what to check

• Don’t climb on the roof. Look from the ground for cracked, loose or shifted panels.

• Check your app for errors or a drop in production.

• Look for debris on panels. Heavy debris or salt spray can cut production.

• If anything looks damaged, stay clear of damaged or wet electrical equipment. Shut the system down only if you can do so safely following your system’s shutdown steps and call a certified technician.

• Document damage with photos for your homeowner’s insurance.

Need a post-storm inspection? Book a SolarServe Check-Up or call (808) 460-6015 ($799, written report within 72 hours after the visit). We inspect systems from any installer, and SolarServe Premium members get storm-readiness support.

Are solar panels safe in a hurricane?

Properly installed panels are attached to your roof’s structure and built to meet Hawaii’s wind-load building codes. Flying debris, roof damage and wind can all affect the system; no installation is hurricane-proof.

Planned outages and wildfire safety shutoffs

Storm mode may not activate for a planned outage or a Public Safety Power Shutoff. Check official utility notices and raise your backup reserve manually according to your manufacturer instructions. If the battery becomes depleted, follow its recovery instructions instead of repeatedly cycling the system. Never bypass its safety settings.

Backup is part of an emergency plan

Prepare water, food, charged devices and an alternative plan for medical equipment. A home battery does not guarantee uninterrupted medical support. Outage restoration can take hours or days depending on damage, access and utility repairs. See our Hawaii power outage guide.

Batteries versus generators

Batteries operate quietly without fuel or exhaust and can store solar energy between outages. A generator may provide another source during prolonged poor weather, but it must be operated outdoors following manufacturer and public safety guidance. Discuss any generator integration with a qualified installer.