Origin
Pukalani, HI
Afternoon in Pukalani on Saturday
Local time
3:21 PM
HST
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Pukalani, HI to Wailea, HI
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
46m
Distance
23.9 mi
38 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 43m
★
6 AM
0h 47m
8 AM
0h 55m
10 AM
0h 50m
12 PM
0h 49m
3 PM
0h 50m
5 PM
0h 54m
8 PM
0h 45m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Pukalani, HI
William Chen
Wailea, HI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Transitioning from the upcountry slopes of Pukalani to the coastal shores of Wailea is a straightforward 23.9-mile journey that typically takes about 46 minutes. Because of the manageable distance, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, requiring no overnight stops along the way. You can expect to spend roughly $5 on fuel for the entire excursion, making it a budget-friendly option for exploring different parts of the island. The drive navigates through the heart of Maui, moving from the higher elevations of the interior down toward the southern coastline. Whether you are heading to the beach or commuting for business, the trip is efficient enough to fit easily into your existing plans without needing complex logistics.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Piilani Highway | 6.6 mi | 14m |
| Maui Veterans Highway | 6.4 mi | 11m |
| Haleakala Highway | 5.3 mi | 8m |
| Hana Highway | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| Old Haleakala Highway | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| Kahului Airport Access Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Wailea Alanui Drive | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Okolani Drive | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Piilani Highway
— 6.6 mi, about 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pukalani, HI and Wailea, HI.
1
Start on Haahaa Street
222 ft
·
11 sec
·
Haahaa Street
2
Turn right onto HI 367
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Old Haleakala Highway
3
Continue on HI 37
5.3 mi
·
8 min
·
Haleakala Highway
Use the straight lane.
4
Turn left onto HI 36
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Hana Highway
Use the straight lane.
5
Turn left onto HI 3800
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Kahului Airport Access Road
Use the left lane.
6
Turn left onto HI 311
201 ft
·
7 sec
·
South Puunene Avenue
7
Continue on HI 311
6.4 mi
·
11 min
·
Maui Veterans Highway
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on HI 31
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Piilani Highway
Use the left / straight lanes.
9
Enter roundabout onto HI 31
117 ft
·
2 sec
·
Piilani Highway
10
Continue on HI 31
4.7 mi
·
10 min
·
Piilani Highway
Use the straight lane.
11
Turn right onto Okolani Drive
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Okolani Drive
Use the right lane.
12
Turn left onto Wailea Alanui Drive
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Wailea Alanui Drive
Use the straight / left lanes.
13
Turn right
79 ft
·
7 sec
14
Continue
519 ft
·
46 sec
15
Turn left
339 ft
·
24 sec
16
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 6.9 and 23.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
6.9 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
HI 36 / Hana Highway
Turn left onto HI 36 / Hana Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
22.6 mi into trip
|
~42m in
|
Okolani Drive
Turn right onto Okolani Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
23.2 mi into trip
|
~44m in
|
Wailea Alanui Drive
Turn left onto Wailea Alanui Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
6
23.7 mi into trip
|
~45m in
Enter roundabout
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
23.8 mi into trip
|
~46m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.18 one way
$10.36 round trip
$5.51/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.79 | $5.45 | $10.89 |
| premium | $5.98 | $5.63 | $11.25 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.28 | $10.55 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.2 | 0 | $2.51 | $1.15 |
| Efficient EV | 6 | 0 | $2.09 | $0.96 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.6 | 0 | $3.35 | $1.53 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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
Wailea, HI
Afternoon in Wailea on Saturday
Local time
3:21 PM
HST
Current temp
87°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
24 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
46m 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, as this route relies on a combination of the Haleakala Highway, Maui Veterans Highway, and Piilani Highway. With a 0% highway share, you will be navigating local roads for the entirety of the 23.9-mile trip. The drive maintains a steady pace despite the technical nature of the turns, with the longest uninterrupted stretch measuring just 6.6 miles on the Piilani Highway. You will feel the transition in the road's personality as you shift from the inland highway corridors onto the final stretches leading into Wailea. It is a practical drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel due to the frequent turns and local traffic patterns.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 6.6 mi on Piilani Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 6.9 miles in near HI 36 / Hana 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 23.9 miles you will encounter 10 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 6.9 miles (HI 36 / Hana Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 22.6 miles (Okolani Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 23.2 miles (Wailea Alanui Drive): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,543 ft
26 ft
Total Climb
338 ft
Total Descent
1,841 ft
Highest Point
1,543 ft
Elevation Range
1,517 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 46m. Total distance: 23.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 6.6 miles on Piilani Highway. 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 Wailea, 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 6.9 miles (HI 36 / Hana Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 22.6 miles (Okolani Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 23.2 miles (Wailea Alanui Drive): 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 Wailea, 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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