Camp Maluhia Goes Solar, $425K Savings Expected

Maui County Council of the Boy Scouts of America’s Scout Executive, Robert Nakagawa. Courtesy photo.

By Maui Now Staff

The Maui County Council of the Boy Scouts of America held a blessing on Tuesday of the newly installed photovoltaic system at Camp Maluhia in Wailuku, Maui.

“Everything in camp is now powered by solar,” said Robert Nakagawa, executive director for the Maui chapter of the organization in a press release announcement. “The camp went solar to not only save money and be environmentally friendly, but, to also be a model for our sustainability merit badge and other programs we have.”

The new PV system was installed by Hawaiʻi Pacific Solar as part of an improvement plan that is expected to result in a savings of approximately $425,000 over a 20-year period.

The system was funded through a Power Purchase Agreement provided by Kairos Energy Capital of Honolulu.

“It is encouraging to see organizations like the Boy Scouts being a model for sustainability and utilizing the sun’s energy,” said Bob Johnston, president of Hawaiʻi Pacific Solar. “The savings from using alternative energy will enable the Maui County Council to maintain a professional staff person on the island when a capacity building grant expires.”

The 47 kW system features 189 solar panels including: 39 (9.9 kW) panels at the Scout Service Center in Wailuku; 46 (11.5 kW) panels at the Camp Maluhia Longhouse; and 104 (26 kW) panels at the Camp Maluhia Ground Mount.

Organization representatives say the system is expected to generate 63,495 kWh in its first year of production and save the Boy Scouts Maui chapter $425,000 over 20 years.

The annual savings will help Maui County Council to maintain a professional staff person on the island when its capacity building grant expires.

Camp Maluhia has 16 cabins that can sleep 230 people. While it is a Boy Scout property, the camp is used more by the general public as a community resource, than by the scouts.  It is occupied 60% annually and 95% of weekends throughout the year with peak season running from May to July.

Organization leaders say an $11 million capital campaign that began in 2011, has raised just over $3 million to date.  Improvements that have been completed so far include two new restrooms, a new cook shed and pavilion, and the solar PV system.

Additional improvements planned at the site include a new water system, third restroom, staff cabin, re-roofing of all buildings except the Longhouse, new dining hall, renovation of pool, new leach fields, new storage and renovation of existing dining hall to a STEM center.