Origin
Kaneohe, HI
Afternoon in Kaneohe on Saturday
Local time
3:21 PM
HST
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kaneohe, HI to Waianae, HI
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
55m
Distance
34.1 mi
55 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 51m
★
6 AM
0h 56m
8 AM
1h 5m
10 AM
0h 59m
12 PM
0h 58m
3 PM
1h 0m
5 PM
1h 5m
8 PM
0h 53m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kaneohe, HI
Jess Loiterton
Waianae, HI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Spanning 34.1 miles across the island of Oahu, this drive from Kaneohe to Waianae is a straightforward trek that typically takes about 55 minutes. You will primarily navigate via the Queen Liliʻuokalani Freeway, the John A. Burns Freeway, and the Farrington Highway. Because of the manageable distance and duration, this trip is perfectly suited as a simple one-day excursion. Budgeting approximately $7 for fuel should cover your needs for the journey. Since both points are located within Hawaii, the route offers a direct transition between these two distinct coastal areas without requiring an overnight stay.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Queen Liliʻuokalani Freeway | 13.3 mi | 17m |
| Farrington Highway | 10.2 mi | 20m |
| John A. Burns Freeway | 8.1 mi | 12m |
| Likelike Highway | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Kamehameha Highway | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Queen Liliʻuokalani Freeway
— 13.3 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kaneohe, HI and Waianae, HI.
1
Start on HI 83
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
Kamehameha Highway
2
Turn left onto HI 63; HI 83
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Likelike Highway
Use the straight lane.
3
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I H3 West: Pearl Harbor
4
Merge onto I H3
8.1 mi
·
12 min
·
John A. Burns Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 1A
Toward I H1 West: Pearl City
Use the slight right lane.
6
Merge onto I H1
4.1 mi
·
5 min
·
Queen Liliʻuokalani Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I H1
9.2 mi
·
11 min
·
Queen Liliʻuokalani Freeway
Toward Waianae
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on HI 93
10 mi
·
20 min
·
Farrington Highway
9
Arrive at destination
HI 93
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
17 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 34 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17 miles from Kaneohe, 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 65 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 14.6 — 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
|
HI 63; HI 83 / Likelike Highway
Turn left onto HI 63; HI 83 / Likelike Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
1.7 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I H3 / John A. Burns Freeway
Merge onto I H3 / John A. Burns Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
9.8 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I H1 West: Pearl City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 1A
Toward I H1 West: Pearl City
5
10.5 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
I H1 / Queen Liliʻuokalani Freeway
Merge onto I H1 / Queen Liliʻuokalani Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
14.6 mi into trip
|
~23m in
|
I H1 / Queen Liliʻuokalani Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I H1 / Queen Liliʻuokalani Freeway toward Waianae
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Waianae
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.39 one way
$14.78 round trip
$5.51/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.79 | $7.77 | $15.54 |
| premium | $5.98 | $8.03 | $16.06 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.53 | $15.06 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.2 | 0 | $3.58 | $1.64 |
| Efficient EV | 8.5 | 0 | $2.98 | $1.36 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.6 | 0 | $4.77 | $2.18 |
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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Waianae, HI
Afternoon in Waianae on Saturday
Local time
3:21 PM
HST
Current temp
--
Unavailable
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Road read
55m 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?
Expect a highway-focused drive, as about 63% of your journey is spent on major thoroughfares. You will experience a mix of fast-paced transit and local road transitions as you move toward your destination. The longest uninterrupted segment you will encounter is a 13.3-mile stretch along the Queen Liliʻuokalani Freeway, which provides a consistent rhythm to your travel. As you shift from the freeway system onto the Farrington Highway, the character of the road changes to reflect the local geography. Stay alert to these shifts in road type to ensure a smooth transition throughout the drive.
63% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
9 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 13.3 mi on Queen Liliʻuokalani Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Queen Liliʻuokalani Freeway and Farrington Highway. You will hit about 6 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near HI 63; HI 83 / Likelike Highway.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 34.1 miles you will encounter 6 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 0.2 miles (HI 63; HI 83 / Likelike Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.7 miles (I H3 / John A. Burns Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
839 ft
11 ft
Total Climb
886 ft
Total Descent
1,020 ft
Highest Point
839 ft
~4.9 mi in
Elevation Range
828 ft
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.
On the drive from Kaneohe, HI to Waianae, HI, road signs begin pointing toward I H1 West: Pearl City along the way.
I H1 West: Pearl City
9.8 mi in
|
~16m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 55m. Total distance: 34.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (63%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 13.3 miles on Queen Liliʻuokalani Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Waianae, HI before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 (HI 63; HI 83 / Likelike Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.7 miles (I H3 / John A. Burns Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Waianae, 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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