Origin
Hālawa Heights, HI
Late night in Hālawa Heights on Friday
Local time
3:39 AM
HST
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hālawa Heights, HI to Kailua, HI
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
29m
Distance
16.7 mi
27 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 27m
★
6 AM
0h 29m
8 AM
0h 34m
10 AM
0h 31m
12 PM
0h 30m
3 PM
0h 31m
5 PM
0h 34m
8 PM
0h 28m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hālawa Heights, HI
Mike Norris
Kailua, HI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Hālawa Heights to Kailua covers a convenient 16.7-mile distance that typically takes about 29 minutes to complete. Because this route is a quick, highway-focused drive, it is perfectly suited for a single-day trip without the need for an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $4 for fuel to cover the journey between these two Hawaii locations. Navigating primarily via the John A. Burns Freeway, you will find this path serves as an efficient connection across the region. Whether you are heading out for business or leisure, the straightforward nature of this drive makes it an easy transit option. It is a practical choice for those who value speed and simplicity over a long, winding road trip experience.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 29m. Total distance: 16.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a trip dominated by high-speed travel, as highway driving accounts for 77% of your total time behind the wheel. The longest uninterrupted portion of your journey occurs on the John A. Burns Freeway, spanning 12.7 miles of the total distance. Once you exit the freeway, the driving experience shifts as you transition onto North Kainalu Drive and Kainui Drive to reach your destination. This mix of fast-paced highway segments and local road navigation defines the character of the route. You will find that the personality of the road remains consistent and functional, providing a predictable rhythm from start to finish.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
John A. Burns Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 12.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on John A. Burns Freeway and North Kainalu Drive. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Nahiolea 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 16.7 miles you will encounter 13 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 0.1 miles (Nahiolea Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Nahiolea Street
Turn right onto Nahiolea Street
Navigation decision point
7
0.7 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the ramp toward I H201 East, I H3 East: Honolulu, Kaneohe
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward I H201 East, I H3 East: Honolulu, Kaneoh...
7
1.2 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the exit toward I H3 East: Kaneohe
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 1C
Toward I H3 East: Kaneohe
7
14.2 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Take the exit toward HI 65: Kailua
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 14
Toward HI 65: Kailua
7
15.2 mi into trip
|
~24m in
|
Oneawa Street
Turn right onto Oneawa Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Hālawa Heights, HI to Kailua, HI, road signs begin pointing toward I H3 East: Kaneohe along the way.
I H3 East: Kaneohe
1.2 mi in
|
~3m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| John A. Burns Freeway | 12.7 mi | 18m |
| North Kainalu Drive | 1 mi | 2m |
| Kainui Drive | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Mokapu Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Mokapu Boulevard | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Kahuapaani Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Halawa Heights Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Moanalua Freeway | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
John A. Burns Freeway
— 12.7 mi, about 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hālawa Heights, HI and Kailua, HI.
1
Start on Hulumanu Street
382 ft
·
18 sec
·
Hulumanu Street
2
Turn right onto Nahiolea Street
0.1 mi
·
35 sec
·
Nahiolea Street
3
Turn right onto Iwaiwa Street
352 ft
·
19 sec
·
Iwaiwa Street
4
Turn left onto HI 7241
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Halawa Heights Road
5
Continue on Kahuapaani Street
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Kahuapaani Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Toward I H201 East, I H3 East: Honolulu, Kaneohe
Use the right lane.
7
Merge onto I H201
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
·
Moanalua Freeway
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Exit 1C
Toward I H3 East: Kaneohe
Use the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto I H3
13 mi
·
18 min
·
John A. Burns Freeway
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Exit 14
Toward HI 65: Kailua
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn straight onto HI 65
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
Mokapu Road
12
Continue on HI 65
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
Mokapu Boulevard
13
Turn right onto Oneawa Street
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
Oneawa Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
14
Turn left onto Kainui Drive
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
·
Kainui Drive
15
Turn right onto North Kainalu Drive
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
North Kainalu Drive
16
Turn left onto Mookua Street
0.1 mi
·
30 sec
·
Mookua Street
17
Arrive at destination
Mookua Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.62 one way
$7.24 round trip
$5.51/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.79 | $3.81 | $7.61 |
| premium | $5.98 | $3.93 | $7.86 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.69 | $7.37 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5 | 0 | $1.75 | $0.80 |
| Efficient EV | 4.2 | 0 | $1.46 | $0.67 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.7 | 0 | $2.34 | $1.07 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 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
Kailua, HI
Late night in Kailua on Friday
Local time
3:39 AM
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
9 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
29m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Hālawa Heights, HI to Kailua, HI covers 16.7 miles and takes about 29m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are John A. Burns Freeway, North Kainalu Drive, Kainui Drive. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 8.3 miles from Hālawa Heights, HI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.62 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 16.7 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Nahiolea Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Hālawa Heights, HI to Kailua, HI, road signs begin pointing toward I H3 East: Kaneohe along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Pearl Harbor National Memorial.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry@if($hasFuel), EIA for fuel prices@endif@if($hasWeather), NOAA Climate Normals for seasonal conditions@endif@if($hasElevation), USGS 3DEP for elevation@endif@if($hasEv), NREL for EV charging@endif@if($hasParks), and NPS for national parks@endif. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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