Origin
Kalaoa, HI
Afternoon in Kalaoa on Saturday
Local time
3:21 PM
HST
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kalaoa, HI to Kapaau, HI
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 27m
Distance
52.5 mi
85 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 21m
★
6 AM
1h 28m
8 AM
1h 41m
10 AM
1h 33m
12 PM
1h 31m
3 PM
1h 33m
5 PM
1h 41m
8 PM
1h 24m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kalaoa, HI
Alexey Demidov
Kapaau, HI
Efrem Efre
Trip Overview
If you are planning a trip from Kalaoa to Kapaau, expect a journey covering 52.5 miles that typically takes about 1 hour and 27 minutes to complete. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, as it does not require an overnight stay to manage the distance comfortably. Budget approximately $11 for fuel to cover the trip, which keeps your transit costs quite manageable. You will navigate using a combination of Kaʻiminani Drive, Queen Kaahumanu Highway, and Akoni Pule Highway to reach your destination. Since both locations are situated within Hawaii, you will stay entirely within the same region while experiencing the local character of the island. It is a straightforward drive that serves as a practical link between these two points.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Queen Kaahumanu Highway | 26 mi | 36m |
| Akoni Pule Highway | 21.3 mi | 38m |
| Kaʻiminani Drive | 3.6 mi | 8m |
| Mamalahoa Highway | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Mahilani Drive | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Kamehameha Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Queen Kaahumanu Highway
— 26 mi, about 36m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kalaoa, HI and Kapaau, HI.
1
Start on Mahilani Drive
0.2 mi
·
50 sec
·
Mahilani Drive
2
At end of road, turn right onto 190
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Mamalahoa Highway
3
Turn right onto Kaʻiminani Drive
3.6 mi
·
8 min
·
Kaʻiminani Drive
4
Take the ramp onto 19
119 ft
·
3 sec
·
Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway
Use the right lane.
5
Merge onto 19
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway
6
Continue on 19
26 mi
·
36 min
·
Queen Kaahumanu Highway
Use the left / straight lanes.
7
At end of road, turn left onto Akoni Pule Highway
21 mi
·
38 min
·
Akoni Pule Highway
8
Turn left onto Kamehameha Road
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
·
Kamehameha Road
9
Turn left
398 ft
·
29 sec
10
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 75 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 31 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
190 / Mamalahoa Highway
At end of road, turn right onto 190 / Mamalahoa Highway
Navigation decision point
4
0.9 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Kaʻiminani Drive
Turn right onto Kaʻiminani Drive
Navigation decision point
5
4.5 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
19 / Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway
Take the ramp onto 19 / Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
4
4.5 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
19 / Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway
Merge onto 19 / Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining
4
31 mi into trip
|
~47m in
|
Akoni Pule Highway
At end of road, turn left onto Akoni Pule Highway
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.38 one way
$22.76 round trip
$5.51/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.79 | $11.97 | $23.93 |
| premium | $5.98 | $12.36 | $24.72 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.59 | $23.18 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.8 | 0 | $5.51 | $2.52 |
| Efficient EV | 13.1 | 0 | $4.59 | $2.10 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21 | 0 | $7.35 | $3.36 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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
Kapaau, HI
Afternoon in Kapaau on Saturday
Local time
3:21 PM
HST
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
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
8 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
1h 27m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention as you transition between different road types. While you will spend a solid portion of your time on the Queen Kaahumanu Highway, which features a longest uninterrupted stretch of 26 miles, the remainder of the trip relies on secondary roads. You will find that this route has a 0% highway share, meaning you are navigating local infrastructure rather than high-speed interstates. The character of the road shifts significantly as you leave the main highway and move onto the more technical, winding sections of the Akoni Pule Highway. Expect a driving experience that feels more grounded and intimate than a standard commute, requiring you to navigate curves and local traffic patterns throughout the journey.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 26 mi on Queen Kaahumanu Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
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.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Kalaoa, HI to Kapaau, HI is easy. At 1h 27m 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 0.9 miles (Kaʻiminani Drive): Navigation decision point; at 4.5 miles (19 / Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway): Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 27m. Total distance: 52.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 27m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 26 miles on Queen Kaahumanu Highway. 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 0.2 miles (190 / Mamalahoa Highway): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (Kaʻiminani Drive): Navigation decision point; at 4.5 miles (19 / Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park and Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park. 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 Kapaau, 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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