Origin
Waimea, HI
Afternoon in Waimea on Saturday
Local time
3:21 PM
HST
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Waimea, HI to Wailua, HI
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
48m
Distance
29.8 mi
48 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 45m
★
6 AM
0h 49m
8 AM
0h 57m
10 AM
0h 52m
12 PM
0h 51m
3 PM
0h 52m
5 PM
0h 57m
8 PM
0h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Waimea, HI
Sean Thomas
Wailua, HI
Mike Norris
Trip Overview
Waimea to Wailua is 29.8 miles and takes about 48 minutes via Kaumualiʻi Highway and HI 56, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within the Hawaii region, offering a straightforward journey between two points. Expect a local driving feel with frequent turns, making it a good option for those who prefer a less highway-intensive experience. With minimal stops recommended and a quick transit time, this route is easily manageable within a single day, allowing for plenty of flexibility in your schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Kaumualiʻi Highway | 22.8 mi | 34m |
| HI 56 | 3.7 mi | 7m |
| Kuhio Highway | 2.7 mi | 5m |
| Koki Road | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| Haleilio Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Ola Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Tsuchiya Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Kaumualiʻi Highway
— 22.8 mi, about 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waimea, HI and Wailua, 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
23 mi
·
34 min
·
Kaumualiʻi Highway
4
Continue on HI 56
2.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Kuhio Highway
Use the straight lane.
5
Turn left onto HI 56
3.7 mi
·
7 min
·
HI 56
6
Turn left onto HI-5840
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
Haleilio Road
7
Turn left onto Koki Road
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Koki Road
8
Arrive at destination
Koki Road
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 55 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 29.5 — 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
25.7 mi into trip
|
~40m in
|
HI 56
Turn left onto HI 56
Navigation decision point
3
29.4 mi into trip
|
~47m in
|
HI-5840 / Haleilio Road
Turn left onto HI-5840 / Haleilio Road
Navigation decision point
4
29.5 mi into trip
|
~47m in
|
Koki Road
Turn left onto Koki Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.46 one way
$12.92 round trip
$5.51/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.79 | $6.79 | $13.58 |
| premium | $5.98 | $7.02 | $14.03 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.58 | $13.16 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.9 | 0 | $3.13 | $1.43 |
| Efficient EV | 7.5 | 0 | $2.61 | $1.19 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.9 | 0 | $4.17 | $1.91 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
Wailua, HI
Afternoon in Wailua on Saturday
Local time
3:21 PM
HST
Current temp
70°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
3 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
48m 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 features a 12% highway share, meaning you'll primarily navigate local roads with a 'turn-heavy' profile. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 22.8 miles on Kaumualiʻi Highway. As you progress, expect the road to shift from the Kaumualiʻi Highway to HI 56 and finally Kuhio Highway, signaling a change in the local environment. This drive is less about covering vast distances quickly and more about the experience of local travel, with frequent adjustments to your course.
Only 12% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
8 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 22.8 mi on Kaumualiʻi Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Ola Road.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Waimea, HI to Wailua, HI is easy. At 48m with 12% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
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 25.7 miles (HI 56): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 48m. Total distance: 29.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (12%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 22.8 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 25.7 miles (HI 56): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Wailua, 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
More from Waimea, HI
More trips to Wailua, HI
Explore more options from Waimea, HI or browse trips ending in Wailua, HI.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse HI road trips.