Hawaii know-how 7 min readUpdated Oct 10, 2026
Hawaii's eHale Rebate: What It Will Mean for Your AC
You may have read about federal rebates of up to $8,000 for heat pumps. Hawaii's version is called eHale Energy Saver, and for some Oahu households it could pay for a big share of a new AC system. It isn't open yet, though, and plenty of the ductless systems sold here won't qualify. Customers ask us about it on install quotes all the time now, so this is what we know as of this month.
Written by the Universal Air Hawaii service team, based on AC repairs across Oahu.
The short version
- eHale is Hawaii's version of the federal HEAR heat pump rebates, run by the Hawaii State Energy Office. It isn't open yet, and HSEO is aiming for early 2027.
- Eligibility depends only on household income: below 80% of Area Median Income may cover up to 100% of the eligible cost, 80% to 150% up to 50%, and above 150% doesn't qualify for HEEHR.
- Only ENERGY STAR-certified heat pumps count, so a cooling-only mini-split is unlikely to qualify.
- Work finished before the program opens won't get a rebate, and rebates have to go through a participating contractor.
- If your AC has already failed, don't wait. Hawaii Energy rebates of up to $550 per qualifying outdoor unit are available now.
Hawaii Energy instant rebates, program year through 30 June 2027
Taken off your invoice, not claimed later. First-come, first-served while program funds last. Requires a Hawaiian Electric account, so Kauai (KIUC) is not eligible, and the work must be done by a Hawaii Energy Clean Energy Ally except where noted.
| What qualifies | Rebate | Counted |
|---|---|---|
| Split AC / mini-splitSet by the outdoor unit's size and SEER2 rating: $450 from 8,000 to under 20,000 BTU at 17.2+ SEER2, which covers 9,000 and 12,000 BTU units (they earn nothing below 17.2); $550 starts at 30,000 BTU. Counted per condenser, so three single-zone systems earn three rebates while one multi-zone earns one. Newly constructed homes do not qualify; newly purchased homes do. | $400-$550 | per outdoor unit (condenser) |
| Central AC retrofitOld outdoor unit must be 13.0 SEER or lower and the new one 15.2 SEER2 or better. Pre-approval from Hawaii Energy is required before the work starts. | $1,250 | per system |
| AC tune-upCentral or split. Must be a multi-point tune-up performed by a Clean Energy Ally. | $75 | per condenser, up to 2 a year |
| ENERGY STAR window ACInstant at participating retailers; no contractor needed. The higher amount is for dual-inverter models. | $25-$45 | per unit |
Amounts verified October 2026 against Hawaii Energy's published residential cooling rebates. Program funds are limited, so confirm before you buy.
What cooling one room actually costs on Oahu
Honolulu residential electricity runs about 43¢ per kWh, roughly 2.3 times the U.S. average. Computed at the rate above, 30 days a month. Your real cost depends on the equipment, insulation, sun exposure, thermostat setting and hours of use.
| How it runs | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| New 12,000 BTU inverter split, about 20 SEER2, 8 hrs/day | about $62 | about $743 |
| Older unit of the same size, about twice the draw, 8 hrs/day | about $124 | about $1,486 |
| New 12,000 BTU inverter split, 2 hrs/day | about $15 | about $186 |
| Any unit drawing a steady 1 kW, 8 hrs/day | about $103 | about $1,238 |
Rate as of October 2026, from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Honolulu residential average. Try your own unit, hours and rate in our AC running cost calculator.
On this page
01What eHale is
eHale is run by the Hawaii State Energy Office (HSEO) and funded by the federal Inflation Reduction Act. It has two parts.
The one that matters to most AC buyers is HEEHR, short for High-Efficiency Electric Home Rebates. It's Hawaii's name for the federal HEAR program. HEEHR pays point-of-sale rebates on specific electric equipment, including ENERGY STAR heat pumps, and whether you qualify depends only on household income.
The other part, HOMES, pays toward whole-house efficiency projects based on how much energy they save. A HOMES project has to include at least one major upgrade, and new cooling equipment counts.
None of this is connected to Hawaii Energy, the program behind the instant AC rebates you can get right now. Nobody has said yet whether you'll be able to use both on the same project.
02When it opens
HSEO's program page says HEEHR and HOMES will be available to residents in early 2027, once the U.S. Department of Energy signs off. That same page also says the office can't estimate a launch date, and that HOMES is still waiting on its federal funding. We'd treat early 2027 as a goal rather than a date to plan around.
A few rebate-tracking websites list eHale as already open. It isn't. The HSEO eHale page is the source to trust.
03Who can get it
HEEHR eligibility is based on your household income compared with Area Median Income (AMI), which varies by county and household size.
| Household income | What HEEHR may cover |
|---|---|
| Below 80% of AMI | Up to 100% of the eligible project cost |
| 80% to 150% of AMI | Up to 50% of the eligible project cost |
| Above 150% of AMI | Not eligible for HEEHR (HOMES may still apply) |
HSEO links to the state's AMI tables from its program page. If you're enrolled in Medicaid, SNAP, SSI, public housing or one of several other programs, that enrollment can serve as your proof of income.
Under the federal rules, a HEAR heat pump rebate tops out at $8,000 and a household's total at $14,000. Hawaii hasn't published its own caps yet.
Need a pro to take a look?
We'll find the cause, show you photos and quote a flat price before any work starts.
04Why your mini-split might not qualify
HEEHR pays for ENERGY STAR-certified heat pumps, meaning systems that both heat and cool. A lot of the ductless units installed on Oahu are cooling-only, since hardly anyone living near sea level here ever needs heat. A cooling-only unit is an air conditioner, and it won't fit the category.
Most manufacturers sell heat pump versions of their split systems. On the wall they look identical and they install the same way. The heat pump has a reversing valve that lets it run backward and heat the room. To count for eHale, the system you buy has to be a heat pump, carry ENERGY STAR certification, and be installed after launch by an eHale participating contractor.
There's one more federal condition worth knowing about. The HEAR rules apply the rebates to equipment that replaces a non-electric appliance or is a first-time purchase. Most Oahu homes that want a new heat pump are replacing an electric AC, and Hawaii hasn't yet said how it will handle that situation. It's a good question to ask once the state publishes its program rules.
You'll probably pay somewhat more for the heat pump model than for its cooling-only twin, and you may never switch it to heat. What you're buying is eligibility, so ask for both versions on your quote and compare.
HEEHR also covers electrical panel upgrades and wiring. On older Oahu homes an undersized panel can add a lot to an AC install, so for a household that qualifies, that part of the bill could be covered too.
05Nothing installed before launch counts
HSEO is direct about this. Rebates won't be paid for work completed before the program officially opens, and point-of-sale rebates have to go through a participating contractor. If you install a system this winter, you can't claim eHale for it next year.
06Should you wait?
If your AC has died or a bedroom is too hot to sleep in, don't hold out for a program with no firm date. Get it repaired, or install now and take the Hawaii Energy rebate.
Households likely to come in under 80% of AMI with a system that still works are in a different spot. eHale could cover most or all of a qualifying project, and that's a lot to give up for a few extra months of comfort.
Between 80% and 150% of AMI the call is closer. Getting half the cost back is real money, but you'd be betting on a launch date that has already slipped. Getting a quote now at least tells you what you'd be waiting for.
Above 150% of AMI, HEEHR won't apply to you. Use what Hawaii Energy offers today, and keep an eye on HOMES if a larger whole-house project is in your plans.
Whichever way you lean, remember that Hawaii Energy's split AC rebate of $400 to $550 per qualifying outdoor unit is first-come, first-served, and the current program year ends June 30, 2027. Waiting on eHale could cost you that one. Our Hawaii Energy rebates guide lists what's available right now.
07Getting ready
If you think you'll qualify, look up your AMI bracket and start gathering documents: a state ID, proof that you live in or own the home, and proof of income such as tax returns, pay stubs or a program enrollment letter. When you collect quotes, ask for a cooling-only system and its ENERGY STAR heat pump equivalent side by side, and ask whether your panel needs work. HSEO's newsletter is where official launch news will appear first.
Our instant estimate shows you a price range in about a minute, and the AC cost guide breaks down what goes into an Oahu install price. If you haven't picked a type of system yet, start with the best AC for Hawaii.
08What we're doing in the meantime
We'll keep this page current as HSEO releases details. Every quote we write already lists the Hawaii Energy rebate as its own line, and if you ask, we'll price a heat pump version next to it so you can see what eHale-ready equipment would cost.
If you're planning an upgrade and want both options priced with today's rebates, call or text (808) 400-6593.
If paying it all up front is a stretch, see paying for a new AC on Oahu for ways to plan the cost. For homes with ducts, our central AC page explains the $1,250 Hawaii Energy retrofit rebate. For ductless, see split AC installation.
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