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Hawaii has established simplified interconnection rules for small renewables and separate rules for all other distributed generation (DG). For inverter-based systems up to 10 kilowatts (kW) in capacity (and inverter-based DG under 250 kW on islands other than Kauai), there is a simple application process for interconnection. Systems must use inverters compliant with IEEE 1547 and UL 1741.

'''''Note: Hawaii's Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard (EEPS) will not be separate from the state's Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) until January 1, 2015. Rules have not yet been established for the EEPS.'''''

In July 2008 Hawaii enacted legislation (HB 2261) which created a loan program for agriculture and aquaculture renewable energy projects. Farmers and aquaculturists may receive loans for projects involving photovoltaic (PV) energy, hydroelectric power, wind power generation, methane generation, bio-diesel and ethanol production. Loans may provide up to 85% of the project cost (up to a maximum of $1,500,000) for a term of up to forty years.

In September 2009, the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (PUC) issued a decision that established a feed-in tariff in Hawaii. The feed-in tariff is offered by the three investor-owned utilities: HECO, MECO and HELCO. The rates for the feed-in tariff, schedule, and standard interconnection agreements were approved on October 13, 2010. This program will be reviewed by the PUC two years after the start of the program and every three years thereafter. The FIT for Tiers 1 and 2 opened November 17, 2010 for HECO and November 24, 2010 for HELCO and MECO.

Hawaii Energy is a ratepayer-funded conservation and efficiency program administered by SAIC under contract with the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission serving the islands of Hawaii, Lanai, Maui, Molokai and Oahu. The program offers incentives for a range of energy efficiency measures purchased and installed in businesses. Eligible measures and equipment includes: HVAC equipment, building insulation, lighting equipment, motors, VFDs, food service equipment, water heaters, refrigeration equipment and custom incentives.

''Much of the information presented in this summary is drawn from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Building Energy Codes Program and the Building Codes Assistance Project (BCAP). For more detailed information about building energy codes, visit the [http://www.energycodes.gov/states/ DOE] and [http://bcap-ocean.org/ BCAP] websites.''

In September 2009, the Honolulu City Council unanimously passed Bill 58 to create a real property tax exemption for alternative energy improvements. This bill became effective October 1, 2009. The alternative energy property installed on a building, property, or land is exempt from property taxes for 25 years. For the purposes of this property tax exemption, alternative energy sources include solar, wind, hydropower, tidal, wave, solid waste and increased efficiency in fossil-fuel burning facilities.

The Honolulu Solar Loan Program is offered by the City and County of Honolulu. The program offers zero-interest loans to income-eligible homeowners for the installation of solar water heating and photovoltaic systems through the City's Rehabilitation Loan Program.