Origin
Kīlauea, HI
Afternoon in Kīlauea on Saturday
Local time
3:20 PM
HST
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kīlauea, HI to Kapa‘a, HI
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
24m
Distance
15.5 mi
25 km
Drive Score
5/10
Practical drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Fair
4 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 23m
★
6 AM
0h 25m
8 AM
0h 29m
10 AM
0h 26m
12 PM
0h 26m
3 PM
0h 27m
5 PM
0h 29m
8 PM
0h 24m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kīlauea, HI
Mike Norris
Kapa‘a, HI
William Chen
Trip Overview
Traveling between Kīlauea and Kapa‘a is a quick, 15.5-mile journey that typically takes about 24 minutes to complete. Because the trip is so efficient, you can easily handle it as a simple day trip without needing an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via Kuhio Highway, transitioning through Keneke Street and Kauwila Street as you reach your destination. With fuel costs estimated at just $3, this is an incredibly budget-friendly route for your Hawaiian itinerary. Whether you are moving between regions or just exploring the local area, the drive is straightforward and manageable. It serves as a practical connection point for anyone looking to traverse this part of the island without a heavy time commitment.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Kuhio Highway | 15.3 mi | 24m |
| Keneke Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Kauwila Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Kuhio Highway
— 15.3 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kīlauea, HI and Kapa‘a, HI.
1
Start on Keneke Street
0.1 mi
·
30 sec
·
Keneke Street
2
Turn left onto HI 56
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
Kuhio Highway
3
Turn left
101 ft
·
1 sec
4
Turn right
77 ft
·
2 sec
5
At end of road, turn left onto HI 56
13 mi
·
21 min
·
Kuhio Highway
6
Enter roundabout onto HI 56
126 ft
·
2 sec
·
Kuhio Highway
7
Continue on HI 56
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Kuhio Highway
8
Turn right onto Kauwila Street
94 ft
·
5 sec
·
Kauwila Street
9
Arrive at destination
Kauwila Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 65 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 13.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
HI 56 / Kuhio Highway
Turn left onto HI 56 / Kuhio Highway
Navigation decision point
5
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
3
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
4
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
HI 56 / Kuhio Highway
At end of road, turn left onto HI 56 / Kuhio Highway
Navigation decision point
5
13.9 mi into trip
|
~22m in
|
HI 56 / Kuhio Highway
Enter roundabout onto HI 56 / Kuhio Highway
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.36 one way
$6.72 round trip
$5.51/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.79 | $3.53 | $7.07 |
| premium | $5.98 | $3.65 | $7.30 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.42 | $6.84 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.6 | 0 | $1.63 | $0.74 |
| Efficient EV | 3.9 | 0 | $1.36 | $0.62 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.2 | 0 | $2.17 | $0.99 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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
Kapa‘a, HI
Afternoon in Kapa‘a on Saturday
Local time
3:20 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
15 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
24m 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 driving experience rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. You will spend the vast majority of your time on the Kuhio Highway, which accounts for a 15.3-mile stretch of the total journey. Despite the reliance on this main artery, the route maintains a 0% highway share, meaning you are dealing with local traffic patterns rather than high-speed thoroughfares. The road requires your full attention due to its technical nature and frequent turns. You should prepare for a drive that feels more like navigating local infrastructure than a long-distance highway haul.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
9 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 15.3 mi on Kuhio Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
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 around 0.1 miles in near HI 56 / Kuhio Highway.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 24m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (HI 56 / Kuhio Highway): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles: Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 24m. Total distance: 15.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
24m 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 15.3 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: at 0.1 miles (HI 56 / Kuhio Highway): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles: Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Kapa‘a, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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