Origin
Waimea, HI
Evening in Waimea on Saturday
Local time
6:41 PM
HST
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Waimea, HI to Kalāheo, HI
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
18m
Distance
11.5 mi
18 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 17m
★
6 AM
0h 18m
8 AM
0h 21m
10 AM
0h 19m
12 PM
0h 19m
3 PM
0h 20m
5 PM
0h 21m
8 PM
0h 17m
★
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
Trip Overview
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.
Main Roads
| 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 |
Longest stretch:
Kaumualiʻi Highway
— 11.1 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waimea, HI and Kalāheo, 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
11 mi
·
16 min
·
Kaumualiʻi Highway
4
Turn right onto Papalina Road
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
Papalina Road
5
Turn left onto Jervis Tract
235 ft
·
17 sec
·
Jervis Tract
6
Arrive at destination
Jervis Tract
Heads-up: tricky spots
4 of 44 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.
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
3
11.3 mi into trip
|
~17m in
|
Papalina Road
Turn right onto Papalina Road
Navigation decision point
5
11.4 mi into trip
|
~17m in
|
Jervis Tract
Turn left onto Jervis Tract
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.49 one way
$4.98 round trip
$5.51/gal
25.4 MPG avg
4 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.79 | $2.62 | $5.24 |
| premium | $5.98 | $2.71 | $5.41 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.54 | $5.08 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4 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 | 3.4 | 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Kalāheo, HI
Evening in Kalāheo on Saturday
Local time
6:41 PM
HST
Current temp
68°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
1 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
18m 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 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.
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: 11.1 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 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.
Who Is This Route For?
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 11.1 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 11.3 miles (Papalina Road): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Kalāheo, 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.
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