Origin
Makawao, HI
Afternoon in Makawao on Saturday
Local time
4:53 PM
HST
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Makawao, HI to Kahului, HI
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
22m
Distance
12.9 mi
21 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 21m
★
6 AM
0h 23m
8 AM
0h 27m
10 AM
0h 24m
12 PM
0h 24m
3 PM
0h 24m
5 PM
0h 26m
8 PM
0h 21m
★
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Makawao, HI
Wikimedia Commons
Kahului, HI
Mike Norris
Trip Overview
Makawao to Kahului is 12.9 miles and takes about 22 minutes via Haleakala Highway, Hana Highway, and Makawao Avenue, with a fuel budget near $3 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short drive connects two locations within Hawaii, offering a straightforward journey. The route is characterized by frequent turns, typical of local drives, so don't expect long stretches of open highway. It's a quick transition, perfect for when you need to get from point A to point B efficiently without a significant time commitment.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Haleakala Highway | 5.3 mi | 8m |
| Hana Highway | 2.9 mi | 5m |
| Makawao Avenue | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| Kula Highway | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Kaahumanu Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Old Haleakala Highway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Baldwin Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Ukiu Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Haleakala Highway
— 5.3 mi, about 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Makawao, HI and Kahului, HI.
1
Start on Ukiu Road
155 ft
·
9 sec
·
Ukiu Road
2
Turn right onto HI 390
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
Baldwin Avenue
3
Turn right onto HI 365
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Makawao Avenue
4
Turn right
125 ft
·
4 sec
5
Turn right onto HI 37
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Kula Highway
6
Continue on HI 37
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
Old Haleakala Highway
7
Continue on HI 37
5.3 mi
·
8 min
·
Haleakala Highway
Use the straight lane.
8
Turn left onto HI 36
2.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Hana Highway
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on HI 32
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Kaahumanu Avenue
10
Turn right
64 ft
·
9 sec
11
Turn left
191 ft
·
14 sec
12
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 65 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 12.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
HI 390 / Baldwin Avenue
Turn right onto HI 390 / Baldwin Avenue
Navigation decision point
3
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
HI 365 / Makawao Avenue
Turn right onto HI 365 / Makawao Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
9.2 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
HI 36 / Hana Highway
Turn left onto HI 36 / Hana Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
4
12.8 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
4
12.8 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.80 one way
$5.59 round trip
$5.51/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.79 | $2.94 | $5.88 |
| premium | $5.98 | $3.04 | $6.07 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.85 | $5.70 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.9 | 0 | $1.35 | $0.62 |
| Efficient EV | 3.2 | 0 | $1.13 | $0.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.2 | 0 | $1.81 | $0.83 |
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
Kahului, HI
Afternoon in Kahului on Saturday
Local time
4:53 PM
HST
Current temp
69°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
22m 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?
This drive is best described as a turn-heavy local journey, with no highway driving to speak of. You'll navigate a series of roads including Haleakala Highway, Hana Highway, and Makawao Avenue. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is approximately 5.3 miles along Haleakala Highway. Expect a dynamic driving experience with frequent adjustments needed due to the numerous turns, making it feel more like navigating town than a long-distance haul.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 5.3 mi on Haleakala 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 early in the drive near HI 390 / Baldwin Avenue.
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 22m 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: near the start (HI 390 / Baldwin Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (HI 365 / Makawao Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 9.2 miles (HI 36 / Hana Highway): Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 22m. Total distance: 12.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
22m 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 5.3 miles on Haleakala 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 390 / Baldwin Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (HI 365 / Makawao Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 9.2 miles (HI 36 / Hana Highway): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Haleakalā National 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 Kahului, 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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