✓ Verified Google reviews·✓ Reviewed regularly·✓ Updated June 6, 2026
Written by Mark Reid,
Home Services Editor ·Verified June 6, 2026
Honolulu's housing stock throws some real curveballs at electricians. A big chunk of the city's homes date back to the mid-twentieth century, which means outdated Federal Pacific or Zinsco panels, aluminum branch wiring, and two-prong ungrounded outlets are genuinely common finds in neighborhoods like Kaimuki, Manoa, and Palolo. On top of that, the salt air and humidity off the Pacific accelerate corrosion on outdoor fixtures, conduit connections, and panel components faster than you'd see in most mainland cities. New construction in areas like Kakaako and Ewa Beach brings its own demands, from EV charger rough-ins to solar tie-in work, since Hawaii leads the country in residential solar adoption. Getting the electrical work done right the first time matters here, because shoddy repairs in a damp, salt-heavy climate don't stay hidden for long.
The businesses on this page were drawn from third-party business listings and ranked by public review rating and review count, with a small lift applied to those that show a working website and a listed phone number. Before any business appears here, we check its homepage to confirm that electrical work is what it primarily offers, which is how unrelated trades get filtered out. Permanently closed listings are removed automatically so you're not wasting time on a business that's no longer operating. Where you see a Trust Verified badge next to a business, that company has gone further and passed our full verification process, covering trade qualifications and accreditations, public liability insurance, trading history, customer review history, and registered company information. You can see the full list of what that involves on our How We Verify page. For any business on this page that doesn't carry that badge, those checks haven't been done by us, and it's on you to run them before booking.
Before you call anyone, pull together a clear description of the job: the panel brand and age if you know it, whether the property has aluminum wiring, and roughly how many circuits or outlets are involved. Get at least two or three written quotes and ask each electrician to break out labor and materials separately so you can compare them properly. Ask whether they'll pull the required permits with the City and County of Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting, because permitted work gets inspected and gives you a paper trail that protects you at resale. Check that whoever you hire holds a valid Hawaii Electrical Contractor license and is covered by general liability insurance. Don't skip that step just because someone came recommended.
How We Select & Rate The Best Electricians in Honolulu, HI
Rankings on this page are driven by public review rating and review count pulled from third-party business listings, with a small lift for businesses that show a working website and phone number. We check each business's homepage to confirm electrical work is what they primarily offer, keeping unrelated trades off the page. Permanently closed listings are removed automatically. Businesses marked Trust Verified have additionally passed our full verification covering trade qualifications and accreditations, public liability insurance, trading history, customer review history, and registered company information. See our How We Verify page for the full list. Other businesses listed here have not been independently verified by us, and inclusion is not an endorsement. Always do your own checks before hiring.
Recommended and Featured listings are paid placements, so a business's fee affects whether and where it appears. Every other listing is ranked on rating and review count from third-party business listings. How we rank & verify →
Electrical contractors serving Honolulu, E I Electrical, Inc. covers residential and commercial work across the area with a 4.8-star rating drawn from over 576 customer reviews. The company handles installation, repair, and inspection work, giving homeowners and businesses in the 96817 area a reliable local option for both routine and more involved electrical projects.
Woo's Electrical & Appliance covers both electrical work and appliance services under one roof, a combination that sets it apart from standard electrical contractors in Honolulu. With a 4.9-star rating across more than 230 reviews, the business has built a consistent record of reliable service. Residents and property owners looking to consolidate electrical and appliance needs will find it a practical local option.
Woo's Electrical Service holds a perfect 5-star rating across 81 Google reviews, a consistent record for an electrical contractor serving Honolulu's east side. The company handles residential and commercial electrical work in the 96825 area, giving neighbors a locally rooted option when they need reliable wiring, panel, or fixture work done right.
Specializing in residential and commercial electrical work across Honolulu, Hawaii Electrical Source LLC carries a 4.9-star rating across 48 Google reviews, a notably consistent score for a contractor in a competitive market. The company handles installations, repairs, and electrical system upgrades for local homeowners and businesses alike.
Residential and commercial customers across Honolulu rely on this electrical contractor for installations, repairs, and panel work. With a 4.8-star rating across 23 Google reviews, the company has built a steady reputation among local homeowners and businesses. Honolulu Electrical Services operates throughout the city, handling both small-scale fixes and larger wiring projects.
All G Electric LLC is a licensed electrical contractor serving Honolulu, with a 4.9-star rating across customer reviews. The company handles residential and commercial electrical work in the 96813 area, covering installations, repairs, and panel upgrades. Its consistently high ratings reflect reliable scheduling and clean workmanship on projects of varying scale.
Electrical contracting services in Honolulu, covering residential and commercial work across the city. S.E.I. Electric holds a 4.6 Google rating and handles installations, repairs, and wiring projects for local property owners. The company operates with a straightforward focus on functional, code-compliant electrical work rather than a broad service menu.
Rated 4.5 stars across its Google reviews, Pro Electrician Honolulu serves residential and commercial clients throughout the city. The company handles electrical installations, repairs, and inspections for Honolulu properties. With a consistent rating built on a focused local client base, it stands as a straightforward option for homeowners and businesses seeking electrical work in the area.
Transparency notice: Recommended and Featured listings are paid placements, so a business's fee affects whether and where it appears. All other listings are ranked by a combined score drawn from ratings and review counts published on third-party business listings, plus basic completeness signals such as a working website and phone. A Trust Verified badge means we have independently checked that business's documents; businesses without it have not been independently verified by us. How we verify →
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Hourly rates for licensed electricians in Honolulu typically run between $90 and $150 per hour, though some specialty contractors charge more. A basic service call with a small repair might come in around $150 to $250 all in. Replacing a standard electrical panel runs from about $1,500 to $3,500 depending on the amperage and how much rewiring is needed to bring it up to current code. Installing a Level 2 EV charger usually lands between $500 and $1,200, not including the charger unit itself. Solar interconnection and battery backup work is priced separately and varies quite a bit based on system size. Hawaii's labor costs are higher than the mainland average, partly because of the cost of living and partly because local licensing requirements are strict. Getting two or three written quotes before committing is completely normal and worth the time.
Do I need a permit for electrical work in Honolulu?
Yes, most electrical work beyond simple like-for-like fixture swaps requires a permit from the City and County of Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting. Panel replacements, new circuits, subpanel installs, EV charger installations, and any work that involves opening walls all generally need a permit and a follow-up inspection. The permit requirement isn't just bureaucratic box-ticking. Inspected work gives you a documented record that the job was done to code, which matters when you sell the property or make an insurance claim. A licensed electrical contractor will pull the permit on your behalf as part of the job. If someone quotes you a lower price and mentions skipping the permit, that's a red flag worth taking seriously.
How do I know if my Honolulu home needs a panel upgrade?
A few signs are pretty reliable indicators. If your home still has a Federal Pacific Stab-Lok or Zinsco panel, those brands have well-documented failure rates and most electricians will recommend replacement outright. Breakers that trip frequently, lights that dim when appliances kick on, or a panel that feels warm to the touch all point to a system that's being pushed beyond its capacity. Many older Honolulu homes were wired for 100-amp service, and if you've added AC units, an EV charger, or a solar-plus-battery system, upgrading to 200-amp service makes sense. Aluminum branch wiring, common in homes built from the 1960s through the mid-1970s in neighborhoods like Hawaii Kai and parts of Pearl City, can also be a safety concern and worth a licensed inspection. An electrician can do a load calculation to tell you exactly where you stand.
What's the deal with aluminum wiring in older Honolulu homes?
Aluminum branch wiring was used widely in US homes built between roughly the mid-1960s and mid-1970s when copper prices spiked. It's still in a lot of homes in older Honolulu neighborhoods and isn't automatically dangerous, but it does need proper maintenance. Aluminum expands and contracts more than copper, which can loosen connections over time and create heat or arcing at outlets and switches. The standard fix is either to replace the aluminum wiring entirely with copper, which is expensive, or to install CO/ALR-rated devices at every outlet and switch and use approved antioxidant compound at connections. A licensed electrician can assess what you actually have and give you a realistic quote for remediation. Don't ignore it, especially if you're buying or selling a property.
Can a Honolulu electrician help with solar panel wiring and EV charger installation?
Yes, and both are extremely common requests on Oahu. Hawaii has one of the highest rates of residential solar adoption in the country, so most licensed electricians here have real experience with PV system interconnections, net energy metering hookups, and battery storage systems like the Tesla Powerwall or Enphase IQ Battery. For EV chargers, a Level 1 charger just plugs into a standard 120-volt outlet, but a Level 2 charger needs a dedicated 240-volt circuit, a proper breaker, and ideally a NEMA 14-50 or hardwired outlet installed close to where you park. If your panel is already near capacity, the electrician will tell you whether a panel upgrade is needed before the charger goes in. Get a quote that spells out all those components separately so you know what you're paying for.
How do I choose between electricians and check they're properly qualified?
Start by verifying that any electrician you're considering holds a current Hawaii Electrical Contractor license. You can look this up through the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Professional and Vocational Licensing Division website. Ask for their license number and check it yourself rather than just taking their word for it. Next, ask for a certificate of insurance showing general liability coverage and, if they have employees, workers' compensation. Without that, you could be liable if someone gets hurt on your property. Read recent reviews carefully, not just the star rating but the actual comments, paying attention to whether people mention the electrician pulling permits and passing inspections. Get written quotes from at least two or three contractors with a clear scope of work, so you can compare like for like. If a business on this page carries a Trust Verified badge, it's already passed a formal check of qualifications, insurance, and trading history through our verification process. For those without the badge, the steps above are exactly what you should run through on your own.
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