Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 7m
Distance
39.4 mi
63 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
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.
Waianae, HI
Wikimedia Commons
Kahalu‘u, HI
Mike Norris
Spanning 39.4 miles across Oahu, this drive from Waianae to Kahalu‘u is an efficient transit that typically takes about 1 hour and 7 minutes. You will traverse the island using a combination of the Farrington Highway, the Queen Liliʻuokalani Freeway, and the John A. Burns Freeway. Because the total travel time is relatively short, you can easily complete this journey as a simple one-day trip without needing an overnight stay. Budgeting approximately $9 for fuel covers the trip comfortably. Whether you are commuting or exploring, this route offers a straightforward connection between these two distinct areas of Hawaii.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Queen Liliʻuokalani Freeway | 12.9 mi | 16m |
| Farrington Highway | 10.4 mi | 21m |
| John A. Burns Freeway | 8.7 mi | 13m |
| Kahekili Highway | 4.4 mi | 9m |
| Likelike Highway | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Kamehameha Highway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Waihee Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Waianae, HI and Kahalu‘u, HI.
Start on HI 93
Continue on I H1
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Continue on I H3
Take the exit
Merge onto HI 63
Take the exit
Continue on Kahekili Highway
Continue on HI 83
Turn left onto Waihee Road
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 39 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 19.7 miles from Waianae, 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 23.3 and 39.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward Kaneohe, Honolulu, Aiea
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward I H3, HI 78 East: Kaneohe, Honolulu
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward HI 63 North: Likelike Highway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Enter roundabout onto HI 83 / Kamehameha Highway
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Turn left onto Waihee Road
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$8.54 one way
$17.08 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.79 | $8.98 | $17.96 |
| premium | $5.98 | $9.28 | $18.55 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.70 | $17.40 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.8 | 0 | $4.14 | $1.89 |
| Efficient EV | 9.9 | 0 | $3.45 | $1.58 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.8 | 0 | $5.52 | $2.52 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
Afternoon in Waianae on Saturday
Local time
3:21 PM
HST
Current temp
73°F
Mostly Cloudy
Destination
Afternoon in Kahalu‘u on Saturday
Local time
3:21 PM
HST
Current temp
72°F
Slight Chance 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.
Expect a mixed driving experience that balances local roads with faster freeway segments. About 55% of your total travel time will be spent on highways, providing a steady rhythm to your journey. You will encounter your longest uninterrupted stretch along the Queen Liliʻuokalani Freeway, which lasts for 12.9 miles. As you transition from the local sections onto the major freeways, the character of the drive shifts from slower, neighborhood-paced travel to a more streamlined highway flow. This variety keeps the route engaging without becoming overly taxing behind the wheel.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 23.3 miles in.
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 39.4 miles you will encounter 8 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 23.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 23.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 32.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Waianae, HI and Kahalu‘u, HI, road signs point toward Kaneohe, Honolulu, Aiea, I H3 and Kahekili Highway.
Kaneohe
Honolulu
Aiea
I H3
Kahekili Highway
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 7m. Total distance: 39.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (55%). 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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