Origin
Wahiawā, HI
Afternoon in Wahiawā on Saturday
Local time
3:21 PM
HST
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Wahiawā, HI to Honolulu, HI
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
35m
Distance
21.3 mi
34 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 33m
★
6 AM
0h 36m
8 AM
0h 42m
10 AM
0h 38m
12 PM
0h 37m
3 PM
0h 38m
5 PM
0h 42m
8 PM
0h 34m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Wahiawā, HI
Studio Lichtfang
Honolulu, HI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Driving from Wahiawā to Honolulu is a straightforward 21.3-mile journey that typically takes about 35 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. You will navigate via I H2, HI 78, and Kamehameha Highway to reach the capital. With an estimated fuel cost of only $5, this is an incredibly budget-friendly commute or excursion. You do not need to worry about overnight logistics, as the short duration allows for easy travel in either direction. The route serves as a practical connection between the interior of the island and the urban core of Honolulu. Whether you are running errands or heading into the city for the day, this trip is quick, efficient, and requires minimal planning.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I H2 | 8 mi | 10m |
| HI 78 | 5.1 mi | 7m |
| Kamehameha Highway | 2 mi | 4m |
| Queen Liliʻuokalani Freeway | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| I H1 | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| North Vineyard Boulevard | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Kilani Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| South King Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I H2
— 8 mi, about 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wahiawā, HI and Honolulu, HI.
1
Start on this road
0.1 mi
·
52 sec
·
this road
2
At end of road, turn left onto North Cane Street
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
North Cane Street
3
Turn right onto Kilani Avenue
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
Kilani Avenue
4
Turn left onto HI 80
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Kamehameha Highway
Use the straight lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Toward Honolulu
6
Merge onto I H2
8.0 mi
·
10 min
·
I H2
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I H1
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Queen Liliʻuokalani Freeway
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
Exit 10
Toward Waimalu, Pearlridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Toward Waimalu, Pearlridge
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Turn straight onto Moanalua Road
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
Moanalua Road
11
Turn right onto Kaahumanu Street
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
Kaahumanu Street
12
Turn left onto HI 99
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Kamehameha Highway
Use the left / straight lanes.
13
Take the ramp onto HI 78
5.1 mi
·
7 min
·
HI 78
Toward I H201 East, I H1 East: Honolulu
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto I H1
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
I H1
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Exit 20B
Toward HI 98 East: Vineyard Boulevard
Use the slight right lane.
16
Continue on HI 98
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
Olomea Street
17
Continue on HI 98
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
North Vineyard Boulevard
18
Turn right onto Pali Highway
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
Pali Highway
19
Continue on HI 61
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
Bishop Street
20
Turn left onto South King Street
0.3 mi
·
59 sec
·
South King Street
21
Turn left onto Likelike Street
308 ft
·
27 sec
·
Likelike Street
22
Turn left
298 ft
·
22 sec
23
Turn right
131 ft
·
9 sec
24
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 185 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 19.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North Cane Street
At end of road, turn left onto North Cane Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
8
10.9 mi into trip
|
~17m in
Take the exit toward Waimalu, Pearlridge
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 10
Toward Waimalu, Pearlridge
9
11.1 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Waimalu, Pearlridge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward Waimalu, Pearlridge
6
13.1 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
HI 78
Take the ramp onto HI 78 toward I H201 East, I H1 East: Honolulu
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I H201 East, I H1 East: Honolulu
7
19.3 mi into trip
|
~30m in
Take the exit toward HI 98 East: Vineyard Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 20B
Toward HI 98 East: Vineyard Boulevard
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.62 one way
$9.23 round trip
$5.51/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.79 | $4.85 | $9.71 |
| premium | $5.98 | $5.01 | $10.03 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.70 | $9.41 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.4 | 0 | $2.24 | $1.02 |
| Efficient EV | 5.3 | 0 | $1.86 | $0.85 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.5 | 0 | $2.98 | $1.36 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
Honolulu, HI
Afternoon in Honolulu on Saturday
Local time
3:21 PM
HST
Current temp
80°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
14 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
35m 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 21.3-mile route offers a mixed driving profile that transitions from inland roads to city-bound highways. You will spend roughly 31% of your time on highways, with your longest uninterrupted stretch covering 8 miles on I H2. Expect a shift in pace as you move from the initial highway segments onto local thoroughfares like Kamehameha Highway. The drive balances faster, open interstate sections with the more varied conditions of state routes. By the time you reach Honolulu, the road character has evolved from suburban-style transit to the typical flow of a major metropolitan area.
31% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 8 mi on I H2.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near North Cane Street.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 18 decision points packed into just 21.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 35m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (North Cane Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 10.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
942 ft
14 ft
Total Climb
290 ft
Total Descent
1,213 ft
Highest Point
942 ft
Elevation Range
928 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Wahiawā, HI and Honolulu, HI, road signs point toward Waimalu, Pearlridge, I H201 East and I H1 East: Honolulu.
Waimalu
10.9 mi in
|
~17m
Pearlridge
10.9 mi in
|
~17m
I H201 East
13.1 mi in
|
~21m
|
via HI 78
I H1 East: Honolulu
13.1 mi in
|
~21m
|
via HI 78
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 35m. Total distance: 21.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (31%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 8 miles on I H2. 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 Honolulu, 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 0.1 miles (North Cane Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 10.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Honolulu, 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 USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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