Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
18m
Distance
11.5 mi
18 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Sparse
1 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Waimea, HI
Sean Thomas
Kalāheo, HI
Mike Norris
Waimea to Kalāheo is 11.5 miles and takes about 18 minutes via Kaumualiʻi Highway, with a fuel budget near $2 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short hop stays within the Hawaii region, making it a straightforward local drive. If you're looking for a quick transition between two points on the island, this route delivers without much fuss. Its brief duration means you won't need to worry about overnight stays or extensive planning; it's designed for efficiency.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Kaumualiʻi Highway | 11.1 mi | 16m |
| Papalina Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Ola Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Tsuchiya Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Jervis Tract | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Waimea, HI and Kalāheo, HI.
Start on Tsuchiya Road
Turn right onto Ola Road
Turn left onto HI 50
Turn right onto Papalina Road
Turn left onto Jervis Tract
Arrive at destination
4 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 11.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto Ola Road
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto HI 50 / Kaumualiʻi Highway
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto Papalina Road
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto Jervis Tract
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$2.55 one way
$5.10 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.95 | $2.70 | $5.39 |
| premium | $6.10 | $2.76 | $5.53 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $2.42 | $4.84 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.5 | 0 | $1.21 | $0.55 |
| Efficient EV | 2.9 | 0 | $1.01 | $0.46 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.6 | 0 | $1.61 | $0.74 |
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Waimea on Wednesday
Local time
9:56 AM
HST
Current temp
73°F
Scattered Rain Showers
Destination
Morning in Kalāheo on Wednesday
Local time
9:56 AM
HST
Current temp
73°F
Occasional Rain Showers
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
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 route is characterized by frequent turns, offering a local driving experience rather than a long highway cruise. With a 0% highway share, you'll be navigating surface streets and local roads for the entire 11.5 miles. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 11.1 miles on Kaumualiʻi Highway, providing a brief period of more consistent travel before the turns begin again. Expect a dynamic drive that requires your attention as you maneuver through varied road conditions and intersections.
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.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 18m 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 11.3 miles (Papalina Road): Navigation decision point.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
879 ft
Total Descent
200 ft
Highest Point
717 ft
~11.5 mi in
Elevation Range
707 ft
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Cafe
Near the end, right off the route
HI
Cafe
Near the end, right off the route
Hours: Mo-Su 06:30-20:00
Cafe
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Cafe
Later in the drive, short detour
Cuisine: coffee
Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-17:00; Sa,Su 10:00-16:00
Restaurant
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Hours: Mo-Fr 10:30-20:30
Visit websiteRestaurant
Near the start, right off the route
Waimea, HI
Visit websiteRestaurant
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Hanapepe, HI
Cuisine: filipino
Hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-19:00; Sa 10:00-18:00
Fast_food
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Fast_food
Near the end, right off the route
Restaurant
Near the start, right off the route
Cuisine: fish_and_chips;burger;american;regional
Attraction
Near the start, right off the route
Viewpoint
Later in the drive, right off the route
Attraction
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Kaumakani, HI
Attraction
Near the end, right off the route
Viewpoint
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Viewpoint
Later in the drive, right off the route
Yes
Near the start, right off the route
Memorial
Near the start, right off the route
Artwork
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Motel
Near the end, right off the route
Camp_site
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Points of interest from OpenStreetMap contributors. Listings may not reflect current hours or availability.
Waimea is a town on the Big Island in Hawaii, a state of the United States of America.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 18m. Total distance: 11.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
18m 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.
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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