Origin
Waimalu, HI
Night in Waimalu on Saturday
Local time
10:04 PM
HST
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Waimalu, 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
21m
Distance
11 mi
18 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 20m
★
6 AM
0h 21m
8 AM
0h 25m
10 AM
0h 23m
12 PM
0h 22m
3 PM
0h 23m
5 PM
0h 25m
8 PM
0h 20m
★
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Waimalu, HI
Mike Norris
Honolulu, HI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Waimalu to Honolulu is 11 miles and takes about 21 minutes via HI 78, with a fuel budget near $2 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short drive connects two areas within the state of Hawaii, offering a straightforward transition between them. Expect a mixed drive profile, meaning you'll encounter both highway speeds and more local road conditions. Since this trip is well under an hour and requires minimal fuel, it's an easy addition to any Hawaii itinerary or a convenient way to get between these two points. You should have no trouble completing this journey within a single day.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| HI 78 | 5.1 mi | 7m |
| Moanalua Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| I H1 | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| North Vineyard Boulevard | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Kaahele Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| South King Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Komo Mai Drive | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Bishop Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
HI 78
— 5.1 mi, about 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waimalu, HI and Honolulu, HI.
1
Start on Halakea Street
0.2 mi
·
50 sec
·
Halakea Street
2
Turn left onto Ulu Street
258 ft
·
15 sec
·
Ulu Street
3
Turn right onto Oliwa Street
206 ft
·
16 sec
·
Oliwa Street
4
Turn left onto Nahele Street
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
Nahele Street
5
Turn left onto Komo Mai Drive
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
Komo Mai Drive
6
At end of road, turn right onto Kaahele Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Kaahele Street
Use the right lane.
7
At end of road, turn left onto Moanalua Road
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Moanalua Road
Use the left lane.
8
Turn right onto Honomanu Street
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
Honomanu Street
9
Turn left onto HI 99
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
Kamehameha Highway
Use the straight / left lanes.
10
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.
11
Merge onto I H1
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
I H1
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Exit 20B
Toward HI 98 East: Vineyard Boulevard
Use the slight right lane.
13
Continue on HI 98
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
Olomea Street
14
Continue on HI 98
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
North Vineyard Boulevard
15
Turn right onto Pali Highway
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
Pali Highway
16
Continue on HI 61
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
Bishop Street
17
Turn left onto South King Street
0.3 mi
·
59 sec
·
South King Street
18
Turn left onto Likelike Street
308 ft
·
27 sec
·
Likelike Street
19
Turn left
298 ft
·
22 sec
20
Turn right
131 ft
·
9 sec
21
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 165 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Ulu Street
Turn left onto Ulu Street
Navigation decision point
6
0.8 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
Kaahele Street
At end of road, turn right onto Kaahele Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
1.4 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
Moanalua Road
At end of road, turn left onto Moanalua Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
2.8 mi into trip
|
~7m 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
9 mi into trip
|
~16m 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
$2.38 one way
$4.77 round trip
$5.51/gal
25.4 MPG avg
4 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.79 | $2.51 | $5.01 |
| premium | $5.98 | $2.59 | $5.18 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.43 | $4.86 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 3.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.3 | 0 | $1.15 | $0.53 |
| Efficient EV | 2.8 | 0 | $0.96 | $0.44 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.4 | 0 | $1.54 | $0.70 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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
Night in Honolulu on Saturday
Local time
10:04 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
11 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
21m 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 route is a mixed drive, with 46% of it on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 5.1 miles on HI 78. You'll likely start on local roads before transitioning onto faster-paced highways like HI 78 and I-H1. As you approach Honolulu, the road conditions will likely become more urbanized. The driving experience is generally smooth, with a brief period of higher speeds on the highway sections before entering a more connected, potentially busier, urban environment.
46% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 5.1 mi on HI 78.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Ulu Street.
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 11 miles you will encounter 16 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 0.2 miles (Ulu Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (Kaahele Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.4 miles (Moanalua Road): Lane positioning matters here.
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 Waimalu, HI and Honolulu, HI, road signs point toward I H201 East and I H1 East: Honolulu.
I H201 East
2.8 mi in
|
~7m
|
via HI 78
I H1 East: Honolulu
2.8 mi in
|
~7m
|
via HI 78
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 21m. Total distance: 11 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (46%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 5.1 miles on HI 78. 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 0.2 miles (Ulu Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (Kaahele Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.4 miles (Moanalua Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Pearl Harbor National Memorial. 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 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 NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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