Tesla is gearing up for a significant expansion of its Supercharger network in Hawaii, with plans underway for three new charging sites currently progressing through the necessary permitting stages across the state’s two largest islands. This ambitious project, if realized as intended, will more than double the number of Supercharger stalls available in Hawaii, fundamentally altering the landscape of electric vehicle (EV) travel for both residents and visitors.
Recent permit filings brought to light by Supercharger enthusiast Marco reveal that Tesla aims to establish two substantial Supercharger stations on the Island of Hawaii and one on Maui. In Hilo, there is a proposal for a 24-stall Supercharger facility located in the parking lot of Target and Safeway at 391 E Makaala Street. This initiative is now undergoing land-use review and has an estimated cost of $400,000. If completed, it will become the largest Supercharger station on the Big Island, significantly enhancing charging accessibility for users on the eastern side of the island.
On the western side of the Big Island, Tesla has also submitted plans for a 16-stall Supercharger station at another Target site situated at 74-5455 Makala Boulevard in Kailua-Kona. This project is similarly in the land-use review phase and is valued at $500,000. Together, these two sites in Hilo and Kona would contribute a total of 40 new Supercharger stalls to the Island of Hawaii, marking a substantial improvement for a region that currently lacks any Tesla Superchargers.
Maui is also set to receive a notable enhancement. A land use designation for 16 Supercharger stalls has already been approved for the Shops at Wailea, located at 3750 Wailea Alanui Drive. This plan entails the installation of 16 Tesla Superchargers, along with the necessary equipment, in the existing parking area and has successfully cleared zoning and land-use reviews, placing it ahead of the developments on the Big Island.
In total, Tesla’s expansion efforts in Hawaii will result in the addition of 56 new Supercharger stalls distributed across these three locations. If all goes according to plan, the statewide total will increase from 39 stalls to 95, significantly bolstering the infrastructure for electric vehicle charging.
At present, the Supercharger network in Hawaii is largely concentrated on Oahu and Maui. Oahu hosts 50 Supercharger stalls located in areas such as Aiea, Kaneohe, the International Marketplace in Waikiki, and the Kahala Hotel. Meanwhile, Maui features 12 stalls at the Puunene Shopping Center in Kahului, in addition to a Wailea site that has been indicated as "in development" on Tesla's map for some time.
The recent approval for Wailea confirms that Tesla is moving forward with the long-anticipated south Maui location, while the recent applications from the Big Island signify Tesla’s serious commitment to establishing fast-charging facilities on Hawaii’s largest island. With the considerable distances between towns, limited public DC fast-charging options, and an increasing number of electric vehicles, the Big Island represents one of the last significant gaps in Tesla’s Hawaiian network. The introduction of a 24-stall station in Hilo and a 16-stall site in Kona would effectively create a fast-charging network across both sides of the island, making cross-island travel in a Tesla much more feasible.
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