Lawrence McCully “Cully” Judd III was known by Hawaii’s business community as the “father of the local solar industry.”
Cully, who was born and raised in Honolulu, died at age 79 on Feb. 25, shortly after the death of his late wife Carol Silva Judd in January of this year, his daughter Meleana McCully Judd-Cox confirmed with Pacific Business News in an email. The pair is also survived by daughter Julie Judd Yani; and grandchildren, Mason and Leila Yani, and Kenui and Stuardt Judd-Cox.
"Cully loved his wife Carol and the family they raised together. After her battle with breast cancer, he was lost without her and died of a broken heart," Meleana said.
Meleana added, “In the early 1970s, Cully pioneered the solar energy industry, first with his father, then with Carol and eventually with a large team. He figured, if he could help Hawaii reduce its dependence on imported fossil fuels, not only would he be perpetuating pono, he would ultimately be contributing to world peace."
According to Meleana, her parents met at Punahou School in the ’60s and later in life, together, began building their renewable energy business, Inter-Island Solar Supply, which was incorporated in Hawaii in 1975.
At first, Inter-Island Solar Supply aimed to help build small scale, off-grid solar systems. Today, the comprehensive company is a one-stop-shop for both solar thermal and photovoltaic installers, Meleana said. It provides parts for solar-plus energy storage setups, multi-collector solar hot water systems and large-scale commercial PV projects on Oahu, Maui, Kauai and Hawaii Island.
The husband-wife pair worked to grow Solaray Corp., one of Hawaii's oldest and longest running renewable energy companies to date, which consists of Inter-Island Solar Supply and wholesale distributor Pacific Liquid and Air Systems, as well as SunEarth Corp., the company’s solar collector manufacturer based in California, as previously reported by PBN.
They eventually sold the 40-year-old operation to its employees in 2016, PBN reported at the time.
"He achieved success through providing quality reliable products, innovation and sound business relationships all the while maintaining a strong sense of gratitude for his team and customers," Meleana said.
Jeff Mikulina, energy consultant and former executive director of the Blue Planet Foundation, told PBN by email that "Cully was a renewable energy pioneer with an enormous heart. We owe a debt of gratitude to his contributions in making Hawaii a clean energy leader."
"His persistence and good humor got him through decades of ups and downs in the solar industry, and ultimately he was successful in expanding his company well beyond our shores," Mikulina continued. "Cully had an immeasurable positive impact on so many lives in Hawaii – he certain did on mine."
In the 2018 documentary "Solar Roots - the Pioneers of PV” by filmmakers Jeff Spies and Jason Vetterli, Judd said, “You can’t go down any street in Hawaii and not see a solar [panel] of some kind on a roof. … So, we have been very, very …”
“Successful!” his wife chimed in.
She added, “Cully did this [work] not to make money, but because he believed this was a necessity … people got a good deal out of it, and surprisingly, we made money off it, too.”
Cully was also a founding member of industry trade group Hawaii Solar Energy Association and donor to his alma maters Hanahauoli and Punahou Schools.
Punahou School's President Michael Latham told PBN, "Cully's story is deeply rooted in the history of Punahou. The Judd family helped to found the school in 1841, and, over the next six generations, have participated in every aspect of life at Punahou. Cully, himself, graduated from the school in 1963 and went on to be a leader in the solar energy industry in the state.
"Cully and Carol were also great supporters of Punahou, giving their time, energy and resources to the school they loved so much," Latham continued. "Their leadership gift to the Sidney and Minnie Kosasa Community for grades second through fifth to name the Sustainability Plaza reflected Cully's early understanding, advocacy and promotion of renewable energy and environmental sustainability in the state. We are profoundly grateful for all that Cully has meant to Punahou, and we send our warmest aloha to his family during this time."
The family will be holding a public funeral at noon on May 13 at his North Shore home, Waihuena Farm.
Donations in Cully's honor can be made to HSEA and Punahou School.
