Is a heat pump worth it in Hawaii?

At Hawaii prices a typical heat pump heats a house for about $0 a year, against $0 for a 95% gas furnace; it wins clearly against propane, oil and electric resistance heat, and it also replaces the air conditioner.

Do I need a cold-climate heat pump in Hawaii?

Generally not. None of the Hawaii cities we track has winters cold enough to require a cold-climate model, although one still helps on the coldest nights.

Barely any heating season

Best heat pumps for Hawaii

In Hawaii a gas furnace still heats for a little less, but a heat pump also replaces the air conditioner.

A typical heat pump costs about $0 a year to heat a house, against $0 for a 95% gas furnace, at 43.7¢/kWh and $5.05/therm.

Cheapest to run in Hawaii

Best 3-ton central heat pump

TOSHIBA CARRIER MCY-MUB0368HS2P-UL

3 ton central · cold-climate certified

SEER2: 29.7
HSPF2: 12.2
Per year: $1,695

Lowest yearly running cost in the state's climate.

Full specs and running cost

Best 12,000 BTU mini-split

Fujitsu AOUH12KTAP1

12,000 BTU mini-split · AIRSTAGE H-Series · cold-climate certified

SEER2: 31.5
HSPF2: 13.7
Per year: $533

Lowest yearly running cost in the state's climate.

Full specs and running cost

City guides

Each guide uses that city's own climate data. Typical yearly cost of a 3-ton heat pump, heating plus cooling:

Honolulu$3,100/yr
Hilo$2,128/yr

More for Hawaii

Heat pump vs. gas, propane and oil$0 vs. $0 gas

Heat pump (typical, 9.0 HSPF2)$0/yr
Natural gas furnace, 95% AFUE$0/yr
Natural gas furnace, 80% AFUE$0/yr
Propane furnace, 95% AFUE$0/yr
Heating oil, 85% AFUE$0/yr
Electric baseboard or furnace$0/yr

Top 8: 3-ton central heat pumpsfrom $1,695/yr

TOSHIBA CARRIER MCY-MUB0368HS2P-UL12.2 HSPF2 · $1,695/yr
LG KUSXA361A10.5 HSPF2 · $2,142/yr
Heil H5H3V36*K*AAA9.5 HSPF2 · $2,237/yr
LG KUSXB361A10.3 HSPF2 · $2,288/yr
Trane/American Standard 5HCL9036A1000A9.2 HSPF2 · $2,375/yr
Daikin DH9VSA361CA10.0 HSPF2 · $2,397/yr
Trane 5TWV0X36A110.5 HSPF2 · $2,397/yr
Sure SP19AY36AJVC10.0 HSPF2 · $2,397/yr

All 3-ton heat pumps

Top 8: 12,000 BTU mini-splitsfrom $533/yr

Fujitsu AOUH12KTAP113.7 HSPF2 · $533/yr
Fujitsu AOUH12KZAH112.7 HSPF2 · $550/yr
Hisense AO-12U3T25P11.8 HSPF2 · $559/yr
Mitsubishi Electric MUZ-FX12NLHZ12.4 HSPF2 · $561/yr
Carrier 37MPRAQ12AA312.7 HSPF2 · $569/yr
TOSOT TW12HAY32A1DO10.0 HSPF2 · $569/yr
Fujitsu AOUG12LZAS112.9 HSPF2 · $571/yr
Fujitsu AOUG12LZAH112.7 HSPF2 · $571/yr

All 12,000 BTU mini-splits

Climate in the state's citiesNOAA normals

Honolulu0.0 nights ≤ 0°F · 32 days ≥ 90°F
Hilo0.0 nights ≤ 0°F · 2 days ≥ 90°F

Questions2

Is a heat pump worth it in Hawaii?: At Hawaii prices a typical heat pump heats a house for about $0 a year, against $0 for a 95% gas furnace; it wins clearly against propane, oil and electric resistance heat, and it also replaces the air conditioner.
Do I need a cold-climate heat pump in Hawaii?: Generally not. None of the Hawaii cities we track has winters cold enough to require a cold-climate model, although one still helps on the coldest nights.

Running cost calculator

Pre-filled with Hawaii prices. Pick your city and what you heat with today.

Heat pump $1,678/yrYou save $1,678/yrSee details ↓

1. Where you live

StateCityElectricity ¢ per kWh

Adjust heating and cooling hours

Filled in from your city's climate. Change them if you run the system much more or less than usual.

Cooling hours full-load hours per yearHeating hours full-load hours per year

2. The heat pump pick a model or type its ratings

Find a model (fills in the ratings below)

SEER2 cooling efficiencyHSPF2 heating efficiencyCooling capacity BTU/hHeating capacity BTU/h

3. What it replaces

Current heatingFurnace efficiency (AFUE %)Gas price, $/thermCurrent coolingOld AC rating SEER2 (10 ≈ 15+ years old)

4. Price replace the example with your quote

Installed price, $Rebates and incentives, $ utility, state

Heat pump, per year: $1,678
Current system, per year: $3,356
You save per year: $1,678
Payback: 5.4 years
Net after 10 years: $7,781

Cooling $1,678Heating $0Electricity used: 3,840 kWhSaved vs. a minimum-efficiency heat pump: $669

Estimates use the unit's rated SEER2 and HSPF2, full-load hours derived from NOAA 1991-2020 degree days, average residential electricity prices from the U.S. EIA (12 months to July 2026) and fuel prices from EIA (2025 for natural gas, week of 2026-10-05 for propane and heating oil). Very cold days that need backup heat are not modelled. Federal minimum for comparison: 14.3 SEER2 / 7.5 HSPF2.