Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 25, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
18m
Distance
8.3 mi
13 km
Drive Score
5/10
Practical drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
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.
Kalaoa, HI
Alexey Demidov
Hōlualoa, HI
Mike Norris
Kalaoa to Hōlualoa is 8.3 miles and takes about 18 minutes via Mamalahoa Highway and surface roads, with a fuel budget near $2 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short hop stays within the Hawaii region, offering a quick transition between two points on the Big Island. Given the minimal distance and duration, this drive is ideal for a spontaneous excursion or as part of a larger itinerary. You won't spend much time on the road, making it an easy addition to your day.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Mamalahoa Highway | 8 mi | 17m |
| Mahilani Drive | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Old Government Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Kalaoa, HI and Hōlualoa, HI.
Start on Mahilani Drive
At end of road, turn right onto 190
Continue on 180
Continue on Mamalahoa Highway
Turn left onto Old Government Road
Turn slight left onto Old Government Road
Arrive at destination
2 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 8.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
At end of road, turn right onto 190 / Mamalahoa Highway
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto Old Government Road
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$1.86 one way
$3.73 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.03 | $1.97 | $3.94 |
| premium | $6.22 | $2.03 | $4.06 |
| diesel | $6.28 | $2.05 | $4.10 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 2.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 2.5 | 0 | $0.87 | $0.40 |
| Efficient EV | 2.1 | 0 | $0.73 | $0.33 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 3.3 | 0 | $1.16 | $0.53 |
Gas CO2
3 kg
EV CO2
1 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
Late night in Kalaoa on Sunday
Local time
3:44 AM
HST
Current temp
80°F
Mostly Sunny then Isolated Rain Showers
Destination
Late night in Hōlualoa on Sunday
Local time
3:44 AM
HST
Current temp
84°F
Mostly Sunny then Scattered Rain Showers
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.
This route covers 8.3 miles entirely on surface roads, with no highway driving. Your longest continuous stretch will be about 8 miles on Mamalahoa Highway. You'll notice the change from more arterial roads to local surface streets as you approach your destination. The drive is predominantly on local roads, not major freeways.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near 190 / Mamalahoa Highway.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Kalaoa, HI to Hōlualoa, HI is easy. At 18m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (190 / Mamalahoa Highway): Navigation decision point; at 8.3 miles (Old Government Road): Navigation decision point.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
368 ft
Total Descent
571 ft
Highest Point
1,722 ft
~0.6 mi in
Elevation Range
419 ft
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 18m. Total distance: 8.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Kalaoa, HI or browse trips ending in Hōlualoa, HI.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse HI road trips.
