Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
21m
Distance
10.5 mi
17 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.
Kapa‘a, HI
William Chen
Puhi, HI
Zen Chung
Kapaʻa to Puhi is 10.5 miles and takes about 21 minutes via Kuhio Highway and Kaumualiʻi Highway, with a fuel budget near $2 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within the state of Hawaii, connecting two points in the same region. The drive primarily uses surface roads, making it a straightforward local transit rather than an extensive road trip. It's a quick hop that can easily fit into any schedule, offering minimal travel time between your starting and ending points.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Kuhio Highway | 8.3 mi | 16m |
| Kaumualiʻi Highway | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Kauwila Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Kapa‘a, HI and Puhi, HI.
Start on Kauwila Street
Turn right onto HI 56
Continue on HI 56
Continue on HI 50
Turn right
Turn left
Turn left
Arrive at destination
4 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 10.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto HI 56 / Kuhio Highway
Navigation decision point
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$2.05 one way
$4.11 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.28 | $2.18 | $4.36 |
| premium | $5.46 | $2.26 | $4.51 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $1.98 | $3.97 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 3.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.2 | 0 | $1.10 | $0.50 |
| Efficient EV | 2.6 | 0 | $0.92 | $0.42 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.2 | 0 | $1.47 | $0.67 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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
Morning in Kapa‘a on Saturday
Local time
10:35 AM
HST
Current temp
74°F
Scattered Rain Showers
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 15 at 10:26AM HST by NWS Honolulu HI
Destination
Morning in Puhi on Saturday
Local time
10:35 AM
HST
Current temp
74°F
Scattered Rain Showers then Haze
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 15 at 10:26AM HST by NWS Honolulu HI
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
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 drive is entirely on surface roads, meaning you won't encounter any highway driving. The longest continuous stretch on a single road is 8.3 miles on Kuhio Highway. You'll navigate local streets for the entire 10.5 miles, so expect typical traffic patterns and intersections common to populated areas. The transition from Kuhio Highway to Kaumualiʻi Highway occurs within the route.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near HI 56 / Kuhio Highway.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 21m drive. You will face about 4 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (HI 56 / Kuhio Highway): Navigation decision point; at 10.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 10.1 miles: Navigation decision point.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
403 ft
Total Descent
52 ft
Highest Point
360 ft
~10.5 mi in
Elevation Range
351 ft
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 21m. Total distance: 10.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
21m 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.
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.
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