Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 15m
Distance
35.3 mi
57 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kahuku, HI
Wikimedia Commons
Honolulu, HI
Wikimedia Commons
Traveling from Kahuku to Honolulu covers 35.3 miles and typically takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes. This journey is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, as it is a relatively short commute across the island. You should budget approximately $8 for fuel to complete the trek. The route primarily utilizes Kamehameha Highway, Likelike Highway, and Kahekili Highway to connect the two locations within Hawaii. Because the trip is straightforward, you do not need to worry about planning for an overnight stay. It serves as a practical, direct link between the northern part of the island and the city center.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Kamehameha Highway | 20.4 mi | 44m |
| Likelike Highway | 7.1 mi | 13m |
| Kahekili Highway | 4.4 mi | 9m |
| North School Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| North Vineyard Boulevard | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| State Highway 83 | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| South King Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Bishop Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Kahuku, HI and Honolulu, HI.
Start on this road
At end of road, turn left onto HI 83
Continue on 83
Continue on HI 83
Continue on HI 83
Turn right onto HI 63
Turn left onto North School Street
Turn right onto Liliha Street
Turn left onto HI 98
Turn right onto Pali Highway
Continue on HI 61
Turn left onto South King Street
Turn left onto Likelike Street
Turn left
Turn right
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 17.7 miles from Kahuku, HI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 35.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
At end of road, turn left onto HI 83 / Kamehameha Highway
Navigation decision point
Enter roundabout onto HI 83 / Kahekili Highway
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto North School Street
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto Liliha Street
Lane positioning matters here
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$7.83 one way
$15.65 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.95 | $8.27 | $16.55 |
| premium | $6.10 | $8.48 | $16.96 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $7.44 | $14.87 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.6 | 0 | $3.71 | $1.69 |
| Efficient EV | 8.8 | 0 | $3.09 | $1.41 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.1 | 0 | $4.94 | $2.26 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Kahuku on Wednesday
Local time
9:10 AM
HST
Current temp
73°F
Scattered Rain Showers
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued May 31 at 2:55PM HST by NWS Honolulu HI
Destination
Morning in Honolulu on Wednesday
Local time
9:10 AM
HST
Current temp
75°F
Scattered Rain Showers
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued May 31 at 2:55PM HST by NWS Honolulu HI
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. The route is entirely highway-based, consisting of 100% highway travel as you navigate between regions. You will encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 20.4 miles while cruising along Kamehameha Highway. As you transition between the various highways, the road character shifts from regional thoroughfares to more technical local segments. This isn't a monotonous interstate cruise, so be prepared for frequent steering adjustments as you make your way toward your destination.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near HI 83 / Kamehameha Highway.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 35.3 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (HI 83 / Kamehameha Highway): Navigation decision point; at 21 miles (HI 83 / Kahekili Highway): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Lane positioning matters here; at 32.5 miles (North School Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Gently rolling terrain
Total Climb
1,049 ft
Total Descent
1,039 ft
Highest Point
1,020 ft
~27.8 mi in
Elevation Range
1,014 ft
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Cafe
Near the end, right off the route
Cafe
Near the end, right off the route
Cafe
Near the end, right off the route
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Visit websiteCafe
Near the end, short detour
Honolulu
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Visit websiteCafe
Near the end, right off the route
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Cafe
Near the end, short detour
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Visit websiteFast_food
Near the start, right off the route
Laie, HI
Cuisine: burger
Visit websiteFast_food
Near the end, right off the route
Cuisine: burger
Visit websiteFast_food
Near the end, right off the route
Cuisine: sandwich
Visit websiteRestaurant
Near the end, right off the route
Honolulu, HI
Cuisine: chinese
Hours: Mo-Fr 11:00-14:00
Fast_food
Near the start, right off the route
Cuisine: sandwich
Visit websiteRestaurant
Near the end, right off the route
Attraction
Near the start, right off the route
Attraction
Near the start, right off the route
Attraction
Near the start, right off the route
Attraction
Near the start, right off the route
Attraction
Near the start, right off the route
Attraction
Near the start, right off the route
Museum
Near the end, right off the route
District
Near the end, right off the route
Memorial
Near the end, right off the route
Museum
Near the end, right off the route
Honolulu, HI
Hours: Tu-Fr 09:00-13:00; Sa-Su 10:00-15:00; Mo...
Visit websiteMemorial
Near the end, right off the route
Ruins
Near the end, right off the route
Hotel
Near the start, short detour
Hauula
Visit websiteHotel
Near the end, short detour
Honolulu, HI
Visit websitePoints of interest from OpenStreetMap contributors. Listings may not reflect current hours or availability.
The capital of Hawaii and its primary point of entry, Honolulu is by far the state's largest city, with 980,000 people—two-thirds of the state's population—residing within the metro area as of 2018. Situated on the southern shore of the island of Oahu, Honolulu serves as the center of government and commerce for the state, the home of the largest airport in the Hawaiian Islands, and the site of the state's best-known tourist destination: Waikiki Beach. Given the city's size and its prominence as a traveler destination, this is definitely not the place to go for a "get-away-from-it-all" Hawaiian vacation. Honolulu is as fast-paced and dynamic as any large city, with all the associated problems such as heavy traffic, crime, and homelessness.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 15m. Total distance: 35.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (1%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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