Vegetation and Site maintenance services
Energy Landscaping
Kahuhipa Land Management (KLM) provides vegetation management and site maintenance to grid-scale solar projects. Hawaii’s first and only “energy landscaping” company, KLM was founded specifically to implement cost-effective landscaping for ground-mounted solar sites in our tropical climate. We partner seamlessly with your O&M team so they can operate the solar plant, while we take care of everything else. KLM designs a custom maintenance program at each site, including mechanized mowing, manual trimming, herbicide application and livestock grazing to keep the plant operating efficiently, complying with permit requirements and looking great.
Operating Portfolio
KLM currently manages the vegetation, fencing and roads at five PV-BESS facilities on the island of Oahu, totaling 170 MW(AC).
- 900 acres of solar arrays
- 10 miles of fencing
- 20 miles of interior roads
- 4 substation/switchyards
Vegetation
Depending on location, weeds and grasses in Hawai'i can grow more than 12 inches per week. KLM actively manages mowing based on the season and rainfall to keep the grass from shading panels, so wetter sites are mowed more frequently, and drier sites are mowed only as needed. KLM specs tractor-mowers for each site’s racking system, in order to mow efficiently without stowing panels, minimizing downtime. Zero-turn mowers are used for harder-to-access areas under panels, and herbicide is used selectively to reduce weed growth without causing erosion. Manual weed trimming and spot spraying are also used in substations and battery yards.
Other Maintenance
In addition to landscaping, KLM supports each site’s O&M team by maintaining road surfaces, fixing fencing, gates, removing debris, clearing drainages and repairing erosion after heavy rains. We can also coordinate tree-trimming, major repairs and other site work with specialty contractors as needed. KLM staff works at every site several times each week to maintain the project, so the O&M team can focus on the electrical plant. We can also deploy a larger crew to ensure that sites look amazing before tours or VIP visits.
Agriculture
For some energy projects, agricultural activities are required to comply with permits or agricultural dedications. KLM established the first sheep-and-solar projects on Oahu, and now we graze 800 sheep at three solar sites. With experience in energy development and agricultural operations, KLM can create an agricultural program that meets each site’s permit requirements while keeping the vegetation maintained and the site well-managed.
About US
Our Story
Kahuhipa Land Management was created in 2019 to provide vegetation and grounds maintenance for large solar projects in Hawaii. Currently, KLM maintains over 900 acres across 170 MWac of ground-mounted PV sites. Kahuhipa means "shepherd" in Hawaiian and we partner with local farmers and ranchers and work with the help of 800 sheep to control vegetation and keep sites at maximum output and looking good.
Our Services
KLM provides a cost-effective vegetation management solution for each site, including tractor-mowers, zero-turns, herbicide sprayers and grazing livestock. We select equipment that is optimized for each site to minimize labor costs and support your O&M team. Our goal is to worry about keeping the grass away from the panels - so you don't have to.
Our Team
KLM's owners have backgrounds in energy development and commercial agriculture, and our team consists of highly trained and experienced professionals who are passionate about what they do. We are committed to providing our customers with the best possible service to improve your profits and keep your solar projects looking fantastic. Call us at (808) 780-1000 to get a free estimate of services for your project site.