Origin
Kapa‘a, HI
Night in Kapa‘a on Monday
Local time
11:20 PM
HST
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kapa‘a, HI to Lihue, HI
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
16m
Distance
8.2 mi
13 km
Drive Score
5/10
Practical drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 15m
★
6 AM
0h 17m
8 AM
0h 20m
10 AM
0h 18m
12 PM
0h 18m
3 PM
0h 18m
5 PM
0h 20m
8 PM
0h 16m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kapa‘a, HI
William Chen
Lihue, HI
cottonbro CG studio
Trip Overview
Traveling between Kapa‘a and Lihue is a quick, 8.2-mile journey that typically takes about 16 minutes to complete. Because of the short distance, this trip is easily managed in a single day, leaving you plenty of time to explore either town. You will primarily navigate via Kuhio Highway, transitioning onto local roads like Oxford Street and Fujii Street as you arrive. With a fuel budget of just $2, it is an incredibly economical way to traverse this part of Hawaii. This drive is best viewed as a simple local connection rather than a complex road trip, providing a straightforward link between these two Kauai hubs.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Kuhio Highway | 7.9 mi | 15m |
| Oxford Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Fujii Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Kauwila Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Kuhio Highway
— 7.9 mi, about 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kapa‘a, HI and Lihue, HI.
1
Start on Kauwila Street
94 ft
·
8 sec
·
Kauwila Street
2
Turn right onto HI 56
5.7 mi
·
11 min
·
Kuhio Highway
3
Continue on HI 56
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Kuhio Highway
4
Turn right onto Oxford Street
0.2 mi
·
59 sec
·
Oxford Street
5
Turn left onto Fujii Street
363 ft
·
15 sec
·
Fujii Street
6
Arrive at destination
Fujii Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
3 of 33 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 8.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
HI 56 / Kuhio Highway
Turn right onto HI 56 / Kuhio Highway
Navigation decision point
4
7.9 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
Oxford Street
Turn right onto Oxford Street
Navigation decision point
5
8.1 mi into trip
|
~16m in
|
Fujii Street
Turn left onto Fujii Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.78 one way
$3.55 round trip
$5.51/gal
25.4 MPG avg
3 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.79 | $1.87 | $3.74 |
| premium | $5.98 | $1.93 | $3.86 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $1.81 | $3.62 |
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, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 2.5 | 0 | $0.86 | $0.39 |
| Efficient EV | 2.1 | 0 | $0.72 | $0.33 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 3.3 | 0 | $1.15 | $0.52 |
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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Lihue, HI
Night in Lihue on Monday
Local time
11:20 PM
HST
Current temp
82°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
16m 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 turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention as you transition off the main highway. You will spend the vast majority of your time on Kuhio Highway, which accounts for the longest stretch of 7.9 miles. Since the highway share is 0%, the route relies entirely on local thoroughfares rather than high-speed interstates. The personality of this drive is functional and urban, requiring you to navigate turns through smaller streets like Fujii and Oxford. It lacks the monotony of a long-distance highway grind, offering a more hands-on experience behind the wheel.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
6 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 7.9 mi on Kuhio 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 early in the drive near HI 56 / Kuhio Highway.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Kapa‘a, HI to Lihue, HI is easy. At 16m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (HI 56 / Kuhio Highway): Navigation decision point; at 7.9 miles (Oxford Street): Navigation decision point; at 8.1 miles (Fujii Street): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
230 ft
9 ft
Total Climb
303 ft
Total Descent
82 ft
Highest Point
230 ft
~8.2 mi in
Elevation Range
222 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 16m. Total distance: 8.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
16m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 7.9 miles on Kuhio 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: near the start (HI 56 / Kuhio Highway): Navigation decision point; at 7.9 miles (Oxford Street): Navigation decision point; at 8.1 miles (Fujii Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Lihue, 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 USGS 3DEP for elevation. 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
More from Kapa‘a, HI
Explore more options from Kapa‘a, HI or browse trips ending in Lihue, HI.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse HI road trips.