Origin
Waimea, HI
Evening in Waimea on Saturday
Local time
6:35 PM
HST
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Waimea, HI to ‘Ele‘ele, HI
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
12m
Distance
7.3 mi
12 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 11m
★
6 AM
0h 12m
8 AM
0h 14m
10 AM
0h 13m
12 PM
0h 13m
3 PM
0h 13m
5 PM
0h 14m
8 PM
0h 12m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Waimea, HI
Sean Thomas
‘Ele‘ele, HI
alleksana
Trip Overview
This short 7.3-mile drive from Waimea to ‘Ele‘ele in Hawaii will only take about 12 minutes, making it easily doable in a single day. You'll primarily be on Kaumualiʻi Highway, with brief transitions onto Eleele Road and Ola Road. With a fuel cost estimated at just $2, this trip is very budget-friendly. The route is characterized by frequent turns, suggesting a more local driving experience rather than a straightforward highway cruise. It's a quick hop, perfect for a short excursion within the region.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Kaumualiʻi Highway | 7 mi | 10m |
| Eleele Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Ola Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Tsuchiya Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Uliuli Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Kaumualiʻi Highway
— 7 mi, about 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waimea, HI and ‘Ele‘ele, HI.
1
Start on Tsuchiya Road
420 ft
·
22 sec
·
Tsuchiya Road
2
Turn right onto Ola Road
0.1 mi
·
31 sec
·
Ola Road
3
Turn left onto HI 50
7.0 mi
·
10 min
·
Kaumualiʻi Highway
4
Turn left onto Eleele Road
0.2 mi
·
43 sec
·
Eleele Road
5
Turn left onto Uliuli Road
84 ft
·
3 sec
·
Uliuli Road
6
Arrive at destination
Uliuli Road
Heads-up: tricky spots
4 of 44 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 7.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Ola Road
Turn right onto Ola Road
Navigation decision point
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
HI 50 / Kaumualiʻi Highway
Turn left onto HI 50 / Kaumualiʻi Highway
Navigation decision point
4
7.1 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
Eleele Road
Turn left onto Eleele Road
Navigation decision point
4
7.3 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
Uliuli Road
Turn left onto Uliuli Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.58 one way
$3.16 round trip
$5.51/gal
25.4 MPG avg
3 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.79 | $1.66 | $3.33 |
| premium | $5.98 | $1.72 | $3.44 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $1.61 | $3.22 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 2.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 2.2 | 0 | $0.77 | $0.35 |
| Efficient EV | 1.8 | 0 | $0.64 | $0.29 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 2.9 | 0 | $1.02 | $0.47 |
Gas CO2
3 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (67% 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
‘Ele‘ele, HI
Evening in ‘Ele‘ele on Saturday
Local time
6:35 PM
HST
Current temp
71°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
4 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
12m 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 drive as you navigate between Waimea and ‘Ele‘ele. While the longest uninterrupted stretch is 7 miles on Kaumualiʻi Highway, you'll encounter several turns as you transition onto Eleele Road and Ola Road. With no highway share, this route feels more like exploring local byways than covering long distances. The road's personality suggests a need for attentiveness due to the frequent changes in direction, offering a different pace than a typical interstate journey.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
6 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 7 mi on Kaumualiʻi Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Ola Road.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 12m drive. You will face about 4 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Ola Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (HI 50 / Kaumualiʻi Highway): Navigation decision point; at 7.1 miles (Eleele Road): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 12m. Total distance: 7.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 7 miles on Kaumualiʻi Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 (Ola Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (HI 50 / Kaumualiʻi Highway): Navigation decision point; at 7.1 miles (Eleele Road): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at ‘Ele‘ele, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From ‘Ele‘ele, HI
More from Waimea, HI
Explore more options from Waimea, HI or browse trips ending in ‘Ele‘ele, HI.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse HI road trips.