Origin
Kailua, HI
Afternoon in Kailua on Saturday
Local time
3:21 PM
HST
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kailua, HI to Hālawa Heights, HI
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
28m
Distance
16 mi
26 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 26m
★
6 AM
0h 28m
8 AM
0h 33m
10 AM
0h 30m
12 PM
0h 29m
3 PM
0h 30m
5 PM
0h 33m
8 PM
0h 27m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kailua, HI
Wikimedia Commons
Hālawa Heights, HI
Mike Norris
Trip Overview
Connecting Kailua to Hālawa Heights is a straightforward 16-mile journey that typically takes about 28 minutes to complete. Because this route is so short, you can easily handle it as a quick day trip without needing an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via North Kainalu Drive, Mokapu Road, and the John A. Burns Freeway. With a fuel budget of approximately $3, it is an incredibly economical transit across the region. Whether you are commuting or simply exploring, this direct connection between these two Hawaii locations is efficient and hassle-free, making it a simple addition to your travel itinerary.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| John A. Burns Freeway | 12.4 mi | 17m |
| North Kainalu Drive | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Mokapu Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Kalama Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Oneawa Street | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| Mokapu Boulevard | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Halawa Heights Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Kahuapaani Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
John A. Burns Freeway
— 12.4 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kailua, HI and Hālawa Heights, HI.
1
Start on Mookua Street
0.1 mi
·
32 sec
·
Mookua Street
2
Turn right onto North Kainalu Drive
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Kainalu Drive
3
Turn left onto Kalama Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Kalama Street
4
At end of road, turn right onto Oneawa Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Oneawa Street
5
Turn left onto HI 65
0.3 mi
·
52 sec
·
Mokapu Boulevard
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
6
Continue on HI 65
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Mokapu Road
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward I H3 West
8
Merge onto I H3
12 mi
·
17 min
·
John A. Burns Freeway
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Exit 1C
Toward Stadium, Halawa, Camp Smith, Aiea
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on Ulune Street
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
Ulune Street
Use the straight lane.
11
Turn right onto Kahuapaani Street
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
Kahuapaani Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Continue on HI 7241
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
Halawa Heights Road
13
Turn right onto Iwaiwa Street
352 ft
·
17 sec
·
Iwaiwa Street
14
Turn left onto Nahiolea Street
0.1 mi
·
39 sec
·
Nahiolea Street
15
Turn left onto Hulumanu Street
382 ft
·
16 sec
·
Hulumanu Street
16
Arrive at destination
Hulumanu Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 16 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
Oneawa Street
At end of road, turn right onto Oneawa Street
Navigation decision point
8
14.9 mi into trip
|
~24m in
Take the exit toward Stadium, Halawa, Camp Smith, Aiea
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 1C
Toward Stadium, Halawa, Camp Smith, Aiea
7
15.4 mi into trip
|
~26m in
|
Kahuapaani Street
Turn right onto Kahuapaani Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
15.7 mi into trip
|
~27m in
|
Iwaiwa Street
Turn right onto Iwaiwa Street
Navigation decision point
5
16 mi into trip
|
~27m in
|
Hulumanu Street
Turn left onto Hulumanu Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.47 one way
$6.94 round trip
$5.51/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.79 | $3.65 | $7.29 |
| premium | $5.98 | $3.77 | $7.53 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.53 | $7.07 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.8 | 0 | $1.68 | $0.77 |
| Efficient EV | 4 | 0 | $1.40 | $0.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.4 | 0 | $2.24 | $1.02 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Hālawa Heights, HI
Afternoon in Hālawa Heights on Saturday
Local time
3:21 PM
HST
Current temp
81°F
Scattered Rain Showers
S 5 to 8 mph
43% chance
Live forecast
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
1 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
28m on the road
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.
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is heavily highway-focused, with 77% of your travel spent on major thoroughfares. You will experience a significant 12.4-mile uninterrupted stretch while cruising along the John A. Burns Freeway. The road environment shifts from local surface streets like North Kainalu Drive and Mokapu Road into a faster-paced interstate experience. You can expect a consistent flow as you transition between these road types, keeping the driving experience steady rather than technical. Behind the wheel, you will find this to be a functional, high-speed connection that prioritizes speed and efficiency over winding, scenic detours.
77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 12.4 mi on John A. Burns Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on John A. Burns Freeway and North Kainalu Drive. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in near Oneawa Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 16 miles you will encounter 11 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 1 miles (Oneawa Street): Navigation decision point; at 14.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.4 miles (Kahuapaani Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,493 ft
8 ft
Total Climb
1,699 ft
Total Descent
1,466 ft
Highest Point
1,493 ft
~9.2 mi in
Elevation Range
1,485 ft
Notable High Points
1,493 ft at ~9.2 miles
+620 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Kailua, HI and Hālawa Heights, HI, road signs point toward I H3 West, Stadium, Halawa, Camp Smith and Aiea.
I H3 West
2.2 mi in
|
~6m
Stadium
14.9 mi in
|
~24m
Halawa
14.9 mi in
|
~24m
Camp Smith
14.9 mi in
|
~24m
Aiea
14.9 mi in
|
~24m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 28m. Total distance: 16 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 12.4 miles on John A. Burns Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles (Oneawa Street): Navigation decision point; at 14.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.4 miles (Kahuapaani Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Pearl Harbor National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Hālawa Heights, HI before heading back.
How this page is built
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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