Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 25, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 27m
Distance
49 mi
79 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
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.
Punalu‘u, HI
Daniel Torobekov
Waianae, HI
Wikimedia Commons
Punalu‘u to Waianae is 49 miles and takes about 1 hour 27 minutes via Queen Liliʻuokalani Freeway, Kamehameha Highway, and Farrington Highway, with a fuel budget near $10 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Hawaii, moving from the Punaluʻu region to the Waianae region. Expect a mixed driving experience with both highway stretches and surface roads. It's a relatively short drive, making it a flexible option for your travel plans.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Queen Liliʻuokalani Freeway | 13.3 mi | 17m |
| Kamehameha Highway | 11.2 mi | 24m |
| Farrington Highway | 10.2 mi | 20m |
| John A. Burns Freeway | 8.1 mi | 12m |
| Kahekili Highway | 4.4 mi | 9m |
| Likelike Highway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Punalu‘u, HI and Waianae, HI.
Start on HI 83
Continue on HI 83
Turn right onto HI 63
Take the exit
Merge onto I H3
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I H1
Keep slight left at fork onto I H1
Continue on HI 93
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 24.5 miles from Punalu‘u, HI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 11.2 and 29.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Enter roundabout onto HI 83 / Kahekili Highway
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto I H3 / John A. Burns Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward I H1 West: Pearl City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto I H1 / Queen Liliʻuokalani Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto I H1 / Queen Liliʻuokalani Freeway toward Waianae
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$11.00 one way
$21.99 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.03 | $11.63 | $23.27 |
| premium | $6.22 | $12.00 | $23.99 |
| diesel | $6.28 | $12.11 | $24.21 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.7 | 0 | $5.15 | $2.35 |
| Efficient EV | 12.3 | 0 | $4.29 | $1.96 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.6 | 0 | $6.86 | $3.14 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
Late night in Punalu‘u on Sunday
Local time
2:53 AM
HST
Current temp
81°F
Scattered Rain Showers
Destination
Late night in Waianae on Sunday
Local time
2:53 AM
HST
Current temp
88°F
Scattered Rain Showers
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
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 49-mile route features a 44% highway share, meaning you'll spend a good portion of your time on faster roads. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 13.3 miles on Queen Liliʻuokalani Freeway. You'll transition from highway driving to surface roads, so be prepared for changing speed limits and traffic patterns as you get closer to Waianae. The mix of road types means you'll experience both open cruising and more urban-style merging.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 6 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 11.2 miles in near HI 83 / Kahekili Highway.
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 49 miles you will encounter 6 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 11.2 miles (HI 83 / Kahekili Highway): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.6 miles (I H3 / John A. Burns Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 24.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
725 ft
Total Descent
722 ft
Highest Point
550 ft
~17.5 mi in
Elevation Range
540 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Punalu‘u, HI and Waianae, HI, road signs point toward I H3 West: Pearl Harbor and I H1 West: Pearl City.
I H3 West: Pearl Harbor
I H1 West: Pearl City
Wai`anae is on the island of Oahu, Hawaii.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 27m. Total distance: 49 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (44%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
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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