City completes major sustainability upgrades at the Ala Wai Golf Course

By Cindy Cromwell
September 29, 2025
City News

Photograph showing the newly installed solar panels above a section of the parking lot fronting the Ala Wai Golf Course clubhouse. Cars are parked below it and along side of it on the bank of the Ala Wai Canal. Opposite to the canal multistoried buildings can be seen in the distance on a bright sunny day with a few clouds in the sky.

A 137–kilowatt photovoltaic system was installed on the carport in front of the Ala Wai Clubhouse.

HONOLULU – The City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Design and Construction (DDC), in partnership with the Department of Enterprise Services (DES), has completed major sustainability and infrastructure upgrades at the Ala Wai Golf Course. These improvements are part of the City’s broader efforts to reduce energy use, cut costs, and support the goals of the City’s Climate Action Plan, while preserving and enhancing the iconic golf course, which hosts over 120,000 rounds of golf each year.

A key project included the installation of a 137-kilowatt photovoltaic (PV) system, featuring 336 modules mounted on a new carport structure fronting the clubhouse. The system is expected to generate approximately 229,000 kilowatt hours annually—offsetting 67% of the clubhouse’s electricity consumption and saving the City an estimated $38,738 per year. By capacity, the system will also reduce about 149 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent each year, comparable to removing 32 gasoline-powered passenger vehicles off the road every year.

Photo taken from the front of the Ala Wai Golf Course clubhouse showing the parking lot and the newly installed PV system installed above some of the parking stalls, which will provide shade and renewable energy generation. The clubhouse is on the left flanked by coconut trees and the Ala Wai canal is on the right lined with smaller trees. Tall buildings appear on the opposite bank of the canal, and Leahi (Diamond Head) is partially seen in the distance, against a partially cloudy blue sky on a sunny day.

The PV system also advances Action 12.7 of the City’s climate adaptation strategy, Climate Ready Oʻahu, which encourages the installation of solar PV over parking lots to mitigate urban heat. The project was delivered under the City’s Energy Services Performance Contract (ESPC) with Johnson Controls, Inc., which established a Power Purchasing Agreement (PPA) between the City and Good Current. Under the PPA, the City incurred no upfront costs for design or construction and now purchases electricity at roughly half the standard rate charged by Hawaiian Electric.

Additional energy efficiency upgrades included replacing existing light fixtures in the clubhouse and parking lot with LED lighting. These improvements provide better-quality lighting, lower utility costs, and greater energy efficiency. The Ala Wai Golf Course upgrades are among more than 90 City facilities modernized under the ESPC program. The LED installations were financed through third-party funding and will be repaid over 20 years using the savings generated from reduced energy costs.

Beyond energy projects, DDC also invested $1.17 million in roof and related improvements at the clubhouse. Work included replacing the asphalt shingle roof, exhaust fans, and downspouts to extend the life of the facility and improve overall functionality.