Off-Grid Power on Hawaii’s Big Island | Homestead Rescue “Hawaii Five-No”
When extreme conditions, emotional stakes, and an off-grid dream collide—resilient power makes all the difference.
Location: Eastern Lowlands near Hilo, Hawaii
Clients: Claire, Max & Harrison
Installer Partner: Hirayama Brothers Electric
System Size: 10.8 kWh
System Components: eFlex 5.4kWh LFP Battery + Envy 8K Hybrid Inverter
The Need
In the eastern lowlands of Hawaii’s Big Island, about 50 miles south of Hilo, a six-acre homestead surrounded by dense guava trees and relentless tropical growth became both a dream and a daily challenge for Claire, Max, and Claire’s brother Harrison.
After five years on the property, their off-grid lifestyle was being pushed to the breaking point. Destructive storms, invasive pests, and unpredictable conditions made even the simplest tasks difficult. Power was especially limiting. The homestead relied on a very basic 12-volt system, which could not support essential needs like reliable water pumping, food preservation, or basic household appliances.
The stakes were personal. Claire and Harrison’s mother had always dreamed of living off-grid on a homestead, but she passed away from a heart attack in 2019 before that dream could be realized. Carrying that vision forward added emotional weight to every challenge they faced.
Their story caught the attention of Discovery Channel’s Homestead Rescue, where the Raney family—Marty, Misty, and Matt—take on some of the most demanding off-grid rescues in the country. In Season 12, Episode 6, “Hawaii Five-No,” the Raneys stepped in to help a family whose Hawaiian homesteading dream was being strangled by nature itself.
The Solution
The Raneys quickly identified reliable power as foundational to saving the homestead. Without it, water access, food storage, and daily life would remain fragile and uncertain.
As part of the rescue, the property received a complete solar-plus-storage upgrade, including a new rooftop solar PV array, transforming the homestead from a minimal survival setup into a functional off-grid energy system capable of supporting two homes on the property.
Fortress Power partnered with Hirayama Brothers Electric, a Hawaii-based installer with deep experience in off-grid and island energy systems. Their local expertise ensured the system was designed and installed to handle the unique challenges of Big Island living, from isolation to extreme environmental conditions.
This collaboration—between Fortress Power, Hirayama Brothers Electric, and the Raney family—brought modern energy reliability to one of the most emotionally charged rescues of the season.
Results
With dependable power in place, daily life on the homestead changed dramatically. The system now supports:
- Reliable power throughout the property
- Water pumped from the catchment system across the land
- Refrigeration and freezer storage for food
- Use of a washer and dryer, restoring time and efficiency
For Harrison, the impact was immediate:
“I can’t wait to be able to store my food and just use electricity.”
What was once constant improvisation gave way to stability, safety, and functionality—allowing the family to focus on building, growing, and protecting their homestead instead of simply getting through each day.
A New Chapter
In one of the most memorable and emotional moments of the episode, the rescue concluded with hope and celebration. Max proposed to Claire—and she said yes, marking a new beginning not just for the couple, but for the homestead itself.
What began as a Hawaiian dream overwhelmed by guava trees, invasive pests, and natural chaos was transformed through creativity, collaboration, and resilient energy. With modern power in place, the homestead now honors a family dream that spans generations—one that can finally move forward with confidence, independence, and purpose.
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