Rising Sun Solar

What Rising Sun Solar does

Rising Sun Solar, operating as Rising Sun LLC, is a Hawai'i-based solar photovoltaic (PV) installer founded in 1986 and headquartered in Kahului, Maui. The company designs, sells, and installs grid-tied solar PV systems, Tesla Solar Roofs, and battery storage solutions (Tesla, Franklin, Enphase, Sigenergy) for residential homeowners and commercial businesses across the Hawaiian Islands. It holds a Tesla Premium Installer certification, an exclusive SunPower commercial panel relationship, Hawaii State Contractor License CT-28184, and integrates the SPAN smart-home energy management panel as an add-on. The company has installed 85+ MW of capacity across 12,000+ customers statewide and self-reports being the #1 installer by kilowatts in Hawai'i in 2020 (Pacific Business News) and a two-time Pacific Business News Fastest 50 honoree (most recently 2025).

The business model is a project-based, one-time-sale direct installer with two segments: residential (primary) and commercial (secondary). Pricing is custom-quoted based on roof, load profile, and equipment selection; no standardized pricing is published. The go-to-market is direct field sales for commercial accounts and direct-to-consumer via website free-estimate forms, organic social (Instagram, Facebook), a blog, and a referral engine that the company reports drives over 75% of new business. There is no e-commerce channel, no third-party reseller network, and no disclosed financing or subscription product. Revenue streams are lump-sum hardware-plus-installation sales plus battery and SPAN panel add-ons at project completion. The company is privately held by founder/owner Matias Besasso with no institutional investment, funding rounds, or M&A activity disclosed.

Strategic posture is that of a regional category leader protecting a closed island market rather than pursuing mainland expansion. Competitive advantages are built on 39 years of local operating history, exclusive vendor relationships (Tesla, SunPower), a strong referral-driven acquisition loop, and island-specific system engineering. The main constraints are geographic: Rising Sun Solar serves Hawai'i only and is bounded by the state's small population and limited grid capacity. Strategic optionality comes from expanding the post-installation upsell surface (battery, SPAN, smart energy management) and deepening the commercial vertical under the SunPower exclusive, rather than from geographic expansion.

Name

Rising Sun Solar

Legal name

Rising Sun LLC

Website

https://risingsunsolar.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Rising Sun Solar is a Hawai'i-based solar PV installer (founded 1986, Kahului) that designs, sells, and installs residential and commercial solar systems, battery storage, Tesla Solar Roof, and SPAN smart panels across the Hawaiian Islands, serving 12,000+ customers with 85+ MW installed.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Solar Installation Services

NAICS

Solar Electric Power Generation (221114)

SIC

Asphalt Paving & Roofing Materials (2950)

akta.pro primary industry

Solar EPC & Construction (Utility-Scale, Rooftop, Balance of System) (EUAMABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Solar Roofing & Roof-Mounted PV Systems (IMADAFAO), Renewable Distributed Generation (Rooftop/Onsite Solar, Small Wind, Small Hydro) (EUACALAJ)

Keywords

• Solar panel installation
• Solar battery storage
• Residential solar systems
• Commercial solar systems
• Tesla Solar Roof

Headquarters

HQ city

Kahului

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Solar System Sales and Installation: One-time sale and professional installation of solar photovoltaic systems, solar roofs, and battery storage solutions. Revenue is generated as a lump-sum payment at project completion. Includes custom system design, equipment procurement, installation, and quality inspection. Upsell opportunities include battery storage add-ons and energy management systems.
2. Battery Storage Add-ons: Additional revenue from battery storage systems (Tesla, Franklin, Enphase, Sigenergy) sold alongside or after initial solar installation. Supports energy independence and outage protection.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Rising Sun Solar designs, sells, and installs custom solar photovoltaic systems, Tesla Solar Roofs, battery storage, and smart energy management for residential and commercial customers across the Hawaiian Islands. Revenue comes from one-time system sales plus battery and equipment add-ons.

Product overview

Rising Sun Solar offers a comprehensive solar energy portfolio serving both commercial and residential customers across Hawaii. The core offerings include Commercial Solar (custom-designed scalable systems for businesses) and Residential Solar (custom home systems built for island conditions). Add-on products include Tesla Solar Roof (as a Tesla Premium Installer), Solar Panels from brands like Maxeon and Qcells, Solar Batteries from Tesla/Franklin/Enphase/Sigenergy, and SPAN Smart Panel for intelligent energy management. The company emphasizes integrated solutions where solar panels, batteries, and smart home energy management work together for complete energy independence.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Commercial Solar Scalable, custom-designed solar systems for Hawaiian businesses, with ROI projections and predictable energy costs to convert energy expenses into a long-term investment asset.
• Residential Solar Custom-designed home solar systems engineered to withstand island weather conditions, providing energy security, independence, and long-term performance for Hawaiian homeowners.
• Tesla Solar Roof Tesla Solar Roof installation offered as a Tesla Premium Installer, integrating roofing and energy generation with a seamless, modern design for durability and efficiency.
• Solar Panels High-performance photovoltaic panels from global brands including Maxeon and Qcells, supplied and installed for residential and commercial customers for maximum efficiency and durability.
• Solar Batteries Battery storage solutions from Tesla, Franklin, Enphase, and Sigenergy that store excess solar energy for nighttime use and maintain power during outages for energy resiliency and independence.
• SPAN Smart Panel Smart home energy management system enabling customers to control home energy from their phone, monitor usage, eliminate ghost power waste, prioritize power during outages, and maximize battery and solar efficiency.

Quantifiable outcome

• 85+ MW Installed
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• TeslacoreTechnology or IntegrationRising Sun Solar is a Tesla Premium Installer, offering Tesla Solar Roof and Tesla battery storage products. The partnership positions the company as a top-tier Tesla installer in Hawai'i, providing seamless solar roofing and integrated energy storage solutions.
• SunPowercoreTechnology or IntegrationSunPower is the primary commercial solar panel brand used by Rising Sun Solar, having awarded the company SunPower Commercial National Dealer of the Year 2013. All commercial systems are installed with SunPower panels.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Tesla Energy: Operates the Tesla Solar Roof and Powerwall product lines and sells directly to consumers. Rising Sun Solar is a Tesla Premium Installer partner, but Tesla Energy's direct sales channel and broader product portfolio make it an overlapping incumbent in Hawaii.
• Sunrun: Largest U.S. residential solar installer with a national footprint that includes Hawaii. Operates a lease/PPA/financing model that competes with Rising Sun Solar's cash purchase offering, though Sunrun's scale and capital base dwarf the regional player.
• ADT Solar (formerly Blue Raven Solar): National residential solar installer operating in multiple U.S. states including Hawaii. Uses a direct sales model similar to Rising Sun Solar's residential motion but at substantially greater scale and with different financing options.

Others

• Sigenergy: Next-generation energy storage and solar inverter manufacturer listed as a Rising Sun Solar battery storage partner. Adjacent player that influences the installer's product roadmap and competitive positioning in storage.
• Maxeon Solar Technologies: Premium solar panel manufacturer and Rising Sun Solar partner. While not a direct competitor, Maxeon's pricing, supply, and product roadmap directly affect Rising Sun Solar's residential and commercial system offerings.
• Enphase Energy: Leading manufacturer of solar microinverters and battery storage systems that Rising Sun Solar installs. Not a direct competitor but a key upstream equipment partner and category leader, making it a strategically relevant adjacent player in the installer ecosystem.
• Qcells: Global solar panel manufacturer that supplies Rising Sun Solar. An adjacent upstream player whose product strategy and pricing have downstream implications for Hawaii installer economics.

Direct peers

• Revolusun: Hawaii-based solar installer focused on residential and commercial projects across the islands. Directly competes with Rising Sun Solar for the same Hawaiian customer base with a similar integrated solar-plus-storage offering, making it a primary local peer.
• Haleakala Solar: Hawaii-based residential and commercial solar installer operating across the islands. Directly comparable to Rising Sun Solar in target market (Hawaii homeowners and businesses), product offering (PV + battery storage), and go-to-market (direct field sales). Most relevant local head-to-head competitor.

Regional players

• Pacific Energy: Hawaii-focused solar and energy services company with comparable island-specific expertise. A relevant regional peer given overlapping customer base and similar operating conditions, though product mix and scale may differ.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/risingsun.solar
• Instagraminstagram.com/risingsunsolar
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rising-sun-solar

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rising Sun Solar