Contractor Directory · Hawaii

Water Well Drilling Contractors in Hawaii

6+ licensed HI well drilling companies. Average project cost: $15,000 · $40–$90/ft · 250-ft avg depth.

Well Drilling in Hawaii: What to Know

Before hiring a well driller in Hawaii, here's the local cost data, geology, and permit rules that affect your project. Jump to licensed contractors below or see our full Hawaii cost guide.

Avg. Project Cost

$15,000

Per Foot

$40–$90

Avg. Depth

250 ft

Permit Cost

$200-$1,000

Geology & Depth

Hawaii's volcanic islands are composed almost entirely of basalt lava flows with highly permeable zones between flow layers. Freshwater floats as a lens atop saltwater (Ghyben-Herzberg principle), and wells must be carefully designed to avoid drawing up brackish water from below.

Most residential wells in Hawaii are drilled to 250 feet, with a typical range of 50–600 feet. Water table depth: 5-30 feet above sea level in basal lens aquifers; high-level aquifers exist at 500+ feet elevation in dike-confined zones.

Permits & Licensing

Hawaii requires water well drillers to be licensed by the CWRM. Given the complexity of volcanic aquifer systems and saltwater intrusion risk, all drilling must be performed by licensed professionals.

Permit authority: Hawaii Commission on Water Resource Management (CWRM). Expect $200-$1,000 in permit fees.

Primary Aquifer

Basal Basalt Aquifers (freshwater lens within volcanic rock). Only about 3% of Hawaii households use private wells — most water is supplied through public systems drawing from large-capacity wells managed by county departments.

Best drilling months: Year-round; weather is rarely a constraint, but access roads to remote sites may be impassable during heavy rains.

Common Water Quality Concerns

Hawaii well water commonly contains: saltwater intrusion, elevated chloride, iron, silica, trace metals from volcanic rock. A comprehensive water test after drilling (typically $150–$500) will identify which treatments, if any, your well needs.