One of the most common things people say after their solar system is up and running is that they wish someone had walked them through the process beforehand. Not the sales pitch version—the real version. What actually happens between signing a contract and flipping the switch? How long does it take? What permits are involved? Who handles what, and when do you need to show up versus when can you just wait?
If you’re a Hilo homeowner considering solar, this guide answers all of that. The installation process on the Big Island has some specific characteristics—Hawaii County permitting, HECO’s interconnection procedures, and the realities of working in a place where everything moves at island pace—that are worth understanding before you commit to a project.
This isn’t a generic solar installation guide with Hawaiian keywords sprinkled in. It’s a ground-level look at how the process actually unfolds for homes in Hilo and the surrounding area.
Why the Solar Installation Process in Hilo Takes Longer Than You Might Expect
Before walking through the steps, it helps to set realistic expectations about the timeline. Hilo homeowners who’ve heard about same-week solar installations in California or Texas are sometimes caught off guard by the timeline here.
The reality: from signed contract to permission to operate (PTO) from HECO, most Hilo residential solar installations take three to six months. Some move faster—occasionally as little as ten to twelve weeks for straightforward projects with favorable permitting and interconnection conditions. Some take longer—seven to nine months isn’t unheard of when HECO’s interconnection queue is backlogged, when permit revisions are required, or when structural work on the home is needed before installation can proceed.
There are three main reasons the timeline extends in Hilo compared to many mainland markets:
Hawaii County Building Division permitting runs on its own timeline and workload. The Building Division in Hilo processes permits for an entire county with a limited staff. During busy periods, permit review times stretch.
HECO’s interconnection application process involves its own queue, technical review, and approval steps that happen separately from and in addition to the county permit. These two bureaucratic processes don’t move in lockstep, and waiting for both adds time that would be absent in a self-service or instant-approval interconnection environment.
Island logistics affect equipment shipping, crew scheduling, and inspection availability in ways that mainland markets don’t experience. Parts that can be ordered overnight on the mainland may take a week or more to arrive in Hilo.
None of this should discourage you from going solar. The payback period starts the day your system is turned on, not the day you sign the contract—and understanding the timeline upfront lets you plan accordingly rather than feeling like something went wrong.
Step 1: Initial Consultation and Energy Assessment
Everything starts with a conversation and a look at your current energy situation. A reputable solar company will want to understand your goals before proposing any system design.
What Happens in the Consultation
Your solar contractor will ask for recent HECO bills—ideally 12 months of billing history. This gives them a real picture of your consumption patterns: how much electricity you use, when you use it, and how your usage varies by season. In Hilo, seasonal variation tends to be less dramatic than in places with extreme winters or summers, but usage patterns still matter for accurate system sizing.
They’ll ask about your goals. Are you trying to minimize your HECO bill as much as possible? Do you want battery backup for outages? Are you planning to add an electric vehicle in the next few years? Do you work from home and need reliable power during the day? These questions shape the system design.
They’ll also ask practical questions about your property: roof age and condition, any planned renovations, whether your electrical panel has been updated recently, and whether there are any known structural issues with the home.
What You Should Bring to the Conversation
Come prepared with:
- 12 months of HECO bills, or access to your HECO online account where your usage history lives
- Any information about major appliances you’re planning to add (EV charger, new AC unit, hot tub)
- A general sense of your budget range
- Questions about the different HECO interconnection programs—CSS vs. CGS—and which might apply to your situation
Red Flags to Watch for Early
A solar company that jumps straight to a system quote without reviewing your bills or asking about your goals is one that may be sizing based on what they want to sell rather than what your home actually needs. A company that can’t answer basic questions about HECO’s current interconnection programs is probably not doing many Big Island installations. And a company that pressures you to sign immediately at the first meeting is one worth walking away from.
Step 2: Site Assessment and System Design
After the initial consultation, a physical site visit is the next step. This is where the real design work begins.
The Roof Inspection
A thorough site assessment starts on the roof. Your installer or their assessor will evaluate:
Roof condition and age. Solar panels are warrantied for 25 years. Installing them on a roof that’s going to need replacement in five to eight years creates an expensive problem—you’d have to pay to remove the panels, re-roof, and reinstall. If your roof is approaching end of life, many contractors will recommend coordinating a re-roof before solar installation. Hilo’s moisture and UV exposure accelerate roofing wear compared to drier climates, so roof age assessment here deserves honest attention.
Roof material and structure. Most Hilo homes have composition shingle, metal, or tile roofs. Each requires different attachment hardware and installation approaches. Older plantation-style homes—common in neighborhoods around downtown Hilo, Wainaku, and Keaukaha—sometimes have structural characteristics that require engineering review before racking can be specified. This isn’t a dealbreaker, but it adds a step.
Roof orientation and pitch. South-facing roofs at a moderate pitch produce the most power in Hawaii. East and west-facing roofs also work well in Hilo—east-facing panels capture strong morning production before afternoon clouds build, which aligns nicely with Hilo’s typical daily weather pattern. Your installer should model actual production for your specific roof geometry, not just point you toward the south face automatically.
Shading analysis. Your installer should use shading analysis tools—whether a physical device or software like Solargraf or Aurora Solar—to map how shadows from trees, neighboring structures, and roof features like chimneys or dormers affect each area of your roof throughout the day and across seasons. In Hilo, where mature trees are everywhere and lots are often close together, shading is a real production factor that deserves careful analysis rather than eyeballing.
Electrical Panel Assessment
The installer will also evaluate your home’s main electrical panel. Most solar installations require a panel with adequate capacity and available breaker space for the solar interconnection. Older homes in Hilo—particularly those with 100-amp panels or outdated equipment—may need a panel upgrade as part of the solar project.
A panel upgrade adds cost (typically $1,500 to $3,500 depending on scope) and an additional permit, but it’s often work that would eventually be needed anyway. Some homeowners take this opportunity to upgrade to 200-amp service, which gives them capacity for future loads like EV charging and additional AC units.
The System Design
Using the data collected during the site visit combined with your HECO usage history and your goals, your installer designs a system. This includes:
- Number and placement of solar panels
- Total system capacity in kilowatts
- Inverter type and specifications (microinverters, string inverter, or optimizers)
- Battery storage configuration if applicable
- Racking system and attachment method for your specific roof type
- Electrical design showing how the system connects to your home’s existing wiring and panel
For HECO’s CSS program (Customer Self-Supply), the system is typically sized to match your annual consumption as closely as possible without significant overproduction. Your installer should explain the sizing logic and show you the production model they’re using so you understand what the system is expected to generate and why.
Getting the Proposal
After the site assessment, you’ll receive a detailed proposal. A good proposal includes:
- Specific equipment being used (panel make, model, and wattage; inverter/microinverter specifications; battery model if applicable)
- Total system size in kW
- Estimated annual production in kWh, based on Hilo-specific solar resource data
- Projected annual savings based on your current HECO rate
- Estimated payback period with and without incentives clearly shown
- Itemized cost breakdown
- Permitting and interconnection fees
- Workmanship warranty terms
- Project timeline estimate
Take time with this document. Ask questions about anything that isn’t clear. Compare proposals from multiple contractors if you’re getting multiple quotes—and pay attention not just to price but to what equipment is being specified and how production estimates are calculated.
Step 3: Contract Signing and Project Kickoff
Once you’ve chosen your solar contractor and are ready to move forward, contract signing initiates the project officially. Here’s what happens immediately after.
What the Contract Should Cover
Your solar installation contract should spell out:
- Complete system specifications matching the proposal
- Total contract price and payment schedule
- Incentive responsibility (who handles filing for what—typically you handle tax credits, the contractor handles utility and county filings)
- Change order process and pricing
- What happens if permitting requires design modifications
- Project timeline with milestone estimates (not hard guarantees, but reasonable estimates)
- Workmanship warranty duration and what it covers
- Process for resolving disputes
Read it. All of it. If something in the contract doesn’t match what was discussed verbally, get it resolved before signing.
Payment Schedules
Solar installation contracts in Hawaii typically involve staged payments tied to project milestones rather than full payment upfront. A common structure might be:
- 10–25% at contract signing
- A portion at permit approval
- A portion at installation completion
- Final payment at Permission to Operate (PTO)
Be cautious of any contract that asks for a large majority of the total payment at signing before any work has been permitted or started. Standard industry practice ties significant payment milestones to actual project progress.
Engineering and Design Finalization
After contract signing, your installer’s engineering team finalizes the system design to the level of detail required for permit submission. This includes stamped electrical drawings, structural calculations (particularly for older or heavier roofs), and equipment specification sheets.
For Hilo homes that require structural engineering review—older wood-frame construction, tile roofs, or homes with unusual structural conditions—this engineering phase may take two to four weeks and may involve a licensed Hawaii structural engineer producing a letter confirming the roof can support the panel and racking loads.
Step 4: Permit Applications
This is where the Hilo-specific bureaucratic process begins in earnest, and it runs on two parallel tracks: Hawaii County and HECO.
Hawaii County Building Permit
Solar installations in Hawaii County require a building permit from the Hawaii County Building Division. Your solar contractor prepares and submits the permit application, which includes:
- Completed permit application forms
- Site plan showing panel placement on the roof
- Electrical drawings stamped by a licensed Hawaii electrical engineer
- Structural calculations or engineer’s letter if required
- Equipment specification sheets for panels, inverters, and batteries
- Permit fee payment
Where it goes: Hawaii County Building Division, which for Hilo area installations is processed through the Hilo office on Aupuni Street.
How long it takes: Plan review timelines vary based on the Building Division’s current workload. Straightforward residential solar permits may be approved in two to six weeks. More complex applications—those requiring structural engineering review, panel upgrades, or that trigger additional code review—can take longer.
Over-the-counter permits: Some simpler solar installations may qualify for over-the-counter permit review, which can be approved in a single day. Your contractor will know based on project complexity whether this is a realistic option for your installation.
Permit revisions: Sometimes the Building Division reviewer comes back with questions or requests for additional documentation. This is normal and not a sign that something went wrong—it just adds time to the process. Having an experienced local contractor who knows what Hawaii County reviewers typically look for helps minimize revision cycles.
HECO Interconnection Application
Simultaneously with the county permit process, your contractor submits an interconnection application to HECO. This is the utility’s review and approval process for connecting your solar system to the grid.
For CSS (Customer Self-Supply) applications, HECO reviews the system design to confirm it meets their technical requirements for grid-tied operation. For CGS applications, additional review of the export configuration is involved.
HECO’s interconnection timeline has been one of the more variable factors in Hilo solar project timelines. During periods of high application volume, HECO’s queue can stretch review times to two to four months. During lighter periods, approvals have come through in four to six weeks.
HECO may come back with technical questions or requests for design modifications—particularly if your neighborhood’s grid circuit has capacity constraints or if your system design needs adjustment to meet their interconnection requirements. Again, this is normal and your contractor should manage the response process.
Important: Your system cannot be turned on until you have both the Hawaii County final inspection approval AND HECO’s Permission to Operate. Both are required. The HECO interconnection approval can sometimes be the longer of the two, which is why experienced Hilo contractors submit both applications as early as possible and track both processes in parallel.
What You’re Doing During Permit Phase
Mostly waiting, with occasional requests to provide information or sign additional documentation your contractor needs. Use this time productively:
- Review your HECO enrollment paperwork for whichever interconnection program you’re using
- Confirm your tax situation with a Hawaii tax professional regarding how and when you’ll claim the federal and state solar tax credits
- Plan any interior work that might need to happen before or concurrent with installation (electrical panel upgrade location, battery storage placement)
- Make sure your homeowner’s insurance carrier knows you’re adding solar—most carriers want to be notified, and your coverage should be reviewed to confirm the system will be covered under your policy
Step 5: Equipment Procurement
While permits are being processed, your contractor orders the equipment for your system. This step runs parallel to permitting rather than sequentially—waiting for permits before ordering equipment would add months to the timeline unnecessarily.
Island Shipping Realities
Equipment for Hawaii solar installations ships from mainland distribution centers, which means lead times are longer than what a California installer experiences ordering the same equipment. Standard shipping to the Big Island adds one to two weeks compared to mainland delivery. For equipment that’s in short supply or on backorder from the manufacturer, that gap can be longer.
A contractor who’s been working in the Hilo market for a while maintains relationships with distributors and has a sense of which equipment has long lead times. This is one area where local experience has tangible value—knowing to order certain battery models four to six weeks out rather than two weeks out because island shipping and current distributor stock make that the realistic lead time.
Equipment Storage
Once equipment arrives in Hilo, your contractor stores it until the installation date. For large systems with significant panel quantities and battery units, storage logistics matter. Confirm with your contractor where equipment is stored and that it’s secured and covered—in Hilo’s humid environment, equipment left exposed to the elements before installation is a quality concern.
Step 6: Pre-Installation Preparation
In the days leading up to your installation date, a few preparation steps happen on both sides.
What Your Contractor Does
- Confirms permit is approved and posted (required before work begins)
- Schedules crew and equipment delivery to your property
- Confirms equipment is complete and ready
- Reviews the installation plan with the crew foreman
- Notifies HECO of the upcoming installation if required by their interconnection process
What You Should Do
Clear access. Your installation crew needs clear access to your roof, your electrical panel, and the areas where wiring will run through your home. Move vehicles from the driveway, clear the area around your electrical panel, and make sure there’s a clear path from the exterior to wherever the inverter and/or battery will be mounted.
Plan for crew presence. Installation typically runs from early morning through late afternoon. Someone should be home or reachable throughout the installation day. You don’t need to supervise, but being available for questions—about where you’d prefer wiring to run, or where exactly the battery should be positioned—is practical.
Inform your neighbors. Not required, but considerate. Rooftop solar installation involves some noise (drilling into the roof deck for racking attachments, general construction activity) and crew vehicles that may take up street space. A quick heads-up to adjacent neighbors is a thoughtful gesture.
Secure pets. Crew members will be moving in and out of your property throughout the day. Gates being left open momentarily is a real possibility. Secure dogs and other pets that might escape or that might create a safety issue for workers.
Step 7: Installation Day (or Days)
This is the part most homeowners look forward to—when the actual physical work happens. Here’s a realistic picture of what installation day looks like for a Hilo residential project.
Typical Installation Duration
- Simple system (6–8 panels, string inverter, no battery, straightforward single-pitch roof): 1 day
- Mid-size system (12–20 panels, microinverters, one battery, standard roof): 1–2 days
- Larger system (20+ panels, battery storage, panel upgrade, complex roof): 2–3 days
The Installation Sequence
Morning: Racking installation. The crew begins with roof work. Racking attachment points are marked, roof penetrations are made and sealed (flashing is installed around every roof penetration to maintain waterproofing—this is important in Hilo’s rain environment), and the racking rails are attached and leveled. This is typically the noisiest part of the process.
Panels are mounted. Once racking is in place, panels are staged on the roof and attached to the rails. If microinverters are being used, they’re attached to each panel before the panel is mounted on the racking. Wiring connections between panels and to the home’s electrical system begin.
Electrical work. A licensed electrician (this should always be part of your installation crew—solar installations require licensed electrical work in Hawaii) runs conduit and wiring from the solar array on the roof down to the inverter location, then from the inverter to your electrical panel. The solar production meter or monitoring equipment is installed. If a battery is being installed, it’s mounted and wired during this phase.
Electrical panel work. The solar system connection is made at your main electrical panel. This involves adding a dedicated solar breaker and making the interconnection between the solar system and your home’s wiring. If a panel upgrade was part of the project, that work happens here as well.
System commissioning and testing. Once all electrical connections are complete, the system is tested—but not yet turned on for grid operation. The installer verifies all connections, checks that monitoring systems are communicating, tests battery operation if applicable, and confirms the system is ready for inspection.
What the Crew Looks Like
A typical Hilo solar installation crew for a mid-size project consists of three to five workers: one or two roof-focused installers handling racking and panel mounting, and one licensed electrician handling the electrical work and panel connections. A crew lead or project manager typically oversees the work and is your point of contact for questions during the installation day.
Your Role During Installation
You don’t need to watch over the crew or be actively involved. Be available if questions come up—where would you like the conduit run, is there a preference for where the battery is positioned, is there a gate code for the back yard. Beyond that, let them work.
Do a walkthrough with the crew lead at the end of the installation day. Ask them to show you where everything was installed, confirm the monitoring system is set up and you know how to access it, and ask if there are any items that need to be addressed before the final inspection.
Step 8: Hawaii County Final Inspection
After installation is complete, your contractor schedules the final building inspection with Hawaii County Building Division. An inspector visits your property to confirm the installation was completed in accordance with the approved permit and meets all applicable code requirements.
What the Inspector Checks
The Hawaii County inspector will review:
- Panel installation and racking attachment (confirming it matches the approved plan and is structurally sound)
- Electrical work and conduit installation
- Proper labeling and signage (code requires specific labels on solar systems for firefighter safety—these are part of every compliant installation)
- Disconnect switches and their accessibility
- Electrical panel modifications
- Battery installation if applicable
The inspection typically takes 30 minutes to an hour for a residential solar project. For straightforward installations that match the approved permit exactly, inspections usually pass on the first visit.
If the Inspection Reveals Issues
Occasionally an inspector identifies something that needs correction—a labeling requirement that wasn’t fully met, a conduit that needs to be secured differently, or a question about how something was installed. Your contractor handles the correction and schedules a re-inspection. This adds time but is part of the normal process. An experienced local installer who knows Hawaii County’s inspection standards will have anticipated most common inspection points, reducing the likelihood of re-inspection.
Getting Your Signed Permit Card
Once the inspection passes, the permit card is signed off. This document is your county-level confirmation that the installation was completed and inspected. Keep it—you may need it for insurance purposes, future home sales, or if any question arises about the installation’s compliance.
Step 9: HECO Permission to Operate (PTO)
The final step before your system can be legally turned on and connected to the grid is HECO’s Permission to Operate. This is HECO’s confirmation that your system has been reviewed, approved for interconnection, and is cleared to operate.
How PTO Works
Your contractor submits documentation to HECO confirming the system has been installed as approved and has passed the county inspection. HECO then completes their final review and issues the PTO letter.
Timeline from final inspection to PTO: This varies. In straightforward cases, PTO can arrive within two to four weeks of submitting the final documentation. During periods when HECO’s interconnection team is managing a high volume of applications, this step can stretch to six to eight weeks. Your contractor should be tracking this and following up with HECO proactively.
HECO Meter Upgrade
As part of the interconnection process, HECO typically upgrades your meter to a bi-directional or smart meter capable of tracking solar production and export separately from grid consumption. This is handled by HECO as part of their interconnection process—your contractor doesn’t do this work.
The meter upgrade appointment is scheduled by HECO, and in some cases requires someone to be home for a short period to allow access to the meter. Your contractor will let you know when to expect this and what’s needed.
What Happens If PTO Is Delayed
PTO delays are the most common source of frustration in the Hilo solar installation timeline, simply because they’re largely outside your contractor’s control. Your contractor can submit documentation promptly, follow up regularly with HECO, and escalate if there are unreasonable delays—but they can’t force HECO to move faster than their internal process allows.
The system is fully installed and ready to operate during this waiting period. It just can’t be turned on for grid-connected operation until PTO is received. Some installers will enable a limited off-grid test mode to confirm system function during this waiting period, but full operation waits for PTO.
Step 10: System Activation and Homeowner Orientation
The moment PTO arrives, your system can be officially activated. Here’s what happens at this stage.
Turning the System On
Your contractor will typically schedule a final visit to formally activate the system, confirm all monitoring is functioning, and walk you through how everything works. For some systems, particularly those using Enphase microinverters or Tesla Powerwall, the contractor may be able to remotely activate the system and confirm operation without a site visit—though a walkthrough call or in-person orientation is still valuable.
Homeowner Orientation: What You Should Learn
Before your contractor considers the project complete, make sure you understand:
How to access your monitoring system. Whether it’s the Enphase Enlighten app, Tesla app, SolarEdge portal, or another platform, you should have your login credentials, know how to read production and consumption data, and understand what normal looks like so you can identify if something seems off.
What your production should look like on a typical Hilo day. Ask your contractor what daily production to expect during clear morning conditions versus overcast days. Having a realistic baseline helps you recognize underperformance if it occurs.
How your battery operates. If you have battery storage, understand how to check its charge state, what the different operating modes mean, and how to switch between modes if needed (for example, switching to backup-only mode during a predicted storm to ensure you have maximum stored power).
What to do if something seems wrong. Who do you call? What’s the process for service calls? What does the workmanship warranty cover and for how long?
How your HECO bill will look going forward. Your bill won’t disappear entirely—HECO’s minimum monthly customer charge still applies. But understanding what a normal post-solar HECO bill looks like prevents unnecessary concern when you get your first bill and it’s not exactly zero.
After Activation: First Weeks and Months
Once your system is running, a few things are worth paying attention to in the early weeks.
Monitor Your Production
Check your monitoring app regularly in the first month. You’re establishing a baseline understanding of how your system behaves in different weather conditions. In Hilo, you’ll quickly notice the production pattern: strong morning generation, potential dip during afternoon cloud buildup, and the battery handling evening loads.
If production seems significantly lower than what your contractor projected on comparable weather days, that’s worth a call to your installer to investigate.
Track Your HECO Bills
Your first full billing cycle post-solar will show you the real-world impact on your bill. Compare it to the same month from the prior year to account for seasonal variation. Most Hilo homeowners see immediate, dramatic reductions—but the first bill can also reveal if system production is underperforming expectations or if there’s a consumption load that wasn’t fully accounted for in system sizing.
Register Your Equipment Warranties
Panel manufacturers, inverter manufacturers, and battery manufacturers all have warranty registration processes. Some require registration within a specific period after installation to activate full warranty coverage. Your contractor should provide you with equipment documentation—make sure you complete any registration steps required by the manufacturer directly.
Tax Credit Filing
The federal Investment Tax Credit is claimed on IRS Form 5695 when you file your federal tax return for the year the system was placed in service (i.e., the year PTO was received and the system was activated). The Hawaii state solar tax credit is filed with your Hawaii state income tax return using Hawaii Form N-342.
Work with a tax professional familiar with Hawaii solar credits to make sure you’re filing correctly and capturing the full value of both credits appropriately given your tax situation.
Common Timeline Questions from Hilo Homeowners
Can anything make the process go faster?
Yes. Choosing a contractor with a strong track record of clean permit submissions to Hawaii County reduces revision cycles. Submitting the HECO interconnection application at the earliest possible date gives it more time to work through the queue before installation is complete. Having a roof in good condition that doesn’t require additional structural work removes one potential delay. And being responsive when your contractor needs information or signatures from you keeps the process from stalling on your end.
What typically causes delays?
HECO interconnection queue backlog is the most common source of extended timelines. Permit revisions due to incomplete or inconsistent documentation is another. Roof or structural issues discovered during site assessment that require additional engineering. Equipment back-orders for specific panel or battery models. And inspection scheduling delays during periods when Hawaii County inspectors are in high demand.
Does weather affect installation scheduling?
Yes. Your contractor won’t put a crew on a roof during heavy rain—both for safety reasons and because wet roof conditions make racking installation impractical. Hilo’s weather means installation day scheduling sometimes needs flexibility. Contractors here are experienced at watching weather windows and scheduling roof work during the morning hours when conditions tend to be better on the east side.
What if I want to add more panels or battery later?
System expansions are possible but require a new permit and, for grid-tied systems, HECO approval of the modified interconnection. Plan for the full process again, though at smaller scale. This is one reason why sizing your system correctly from the start—not undersizing to save money now—is worth the discussion during design.
Choosing the Right Solar Contractor for a Hilo Installation
The installation process outlined here is only as smooth as the contractor executing it. For a Hilo project specifically, local experience matters in concrete ways:
A contractor who has filed dozens of Hawaii County building permits knows what the reviewers look for and submits clean applications the first time. One who’s navigated HECO’s interconnection queue repeatedly knows how to track applications, when to follow up, and how to respond to HECO’s technical questions efficiently. One who’s installed systems across Hilo neighborhoods knows what plantation-era roof structures look like, how east side weather affects scheduling, and which equipment configurations hold up in Hawaii’s demanding environment.
Ask any solar contractor you’re considering how many installations they’ve completed specifically in Hawaii County, what their average timeline from contract to PTO has been for recent Hilo projects, and whether they handle permitting in-house or outsource it. These questions separate contractors with genuine local experience from those who are present in the market but not deeply embedded in it.
Ready to Start the Process?
Now that you know what to expect from start to finish, the process probably feels more manageable than it did before. Three to six months sounds long until you understand that the bulk of that time is administrative and bureaucratic—the actual installation of your system is typically one to three days of physical work.
The key is starting with the right partner and setting realistic expectations from day one.
Solar Saint LLC guides Hilo homeowners through every step of the solar installation process—from that first energy assessment conversation through permit submission, installation day, and final HECO activation. We handle the paperwork, manage the timelines, and keep you informed throughout so there are no surprises.
Contact Solar Saint LLC today to schedule your free consultation and take the first real step toward solar for your Hilo home.