Skip to main content
Trip.ovh Logo
Trip.ovh

Trip from Pukalani, HI to Kīhei, HI

Data updated 4 hours ago

Drive Time

33m

Distance

18.2 mi

29 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$4

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 8 min
4 AM
0h 31m ★
6 AM
0h 34m
8 AM
0h 39m
10 AM
0h 36m
12 PM
0h 35m
3 PM
0h 36m
5 PM
0h 39m
8 PM
0h 32m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
Downtown Pukalani, HI, HI

Pukalani, HI

William Chen

Downtown Kīhei, HI, HI

Kīhei, HI

cottonbro CG studio

Trip Overview

The drive from Pukalani, HI to Kīhei, HI covers 18.2 miles and takes about 33m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Maui Veterans Highway, Haleakala Highway, Piilani Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 6.4 miles on Maui Veterans Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $3.94 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

9.1 miles from Pukalani, HI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 16m into the drive .

Loading map...

Drive Character

Expect a 33m drive with frequent turns across 18.2 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 11 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Maui Veterans Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 6.4 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

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 early in the drive near HI 367 / Old Haleakala Highway.

Route Complexity 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 33m 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: near the start (HI 367 / Old Haleakala Highway): Navigation decision point; at 6.9 miles (HI 36 / Hana Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.7 miles (HI 3800 / Kahului Airport Access Road): Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

4 of 4 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

3
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | HI 367 / Old Haleakala Highway

Turn right onto HI 367 / Old Haleakala Highway

Navigation decision point

4
6.9 mi into trip | ~12m in | HI 36 / Hana Highway

Turn left onto HI 36 / Hana Highway

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
4
8.7 mi into trip | ~15m in | HI 3800 / Kahului Airport Access Road

Turn left onto HI 3800 / Kahului Airport Access Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
4
17.9 mi into trip | ~32m in | Kulanihakoi Street

Enter roundabout onto Kulanihakoi Street

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Maui Veterans Highway 6.4 mi 11m
Haleakala Highway 5.3 mi 8m
Piilani Highway 1.9 mi 3m
Hana Highway 1.7 mi 3m
Old Haleakala Highway 1.7 mi 3m
Kahului Airport Access Road 0.9 mi 1m
Kulanihakoi Street 0.4 mi 1m
Haahaa Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Maui Veterans Highway — 6.4 mi, about 11m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Pukalani, HI and Kīhei, HI.

1

Start on Haahaa Street

222 ft · 11 sec · Haahaa Street
2

Turn right onto HI 367

1.7 mi · 3 min · Old Haleakala Highway
3

Continue on HI 37

5.3 mi · 8 min · Haleakala Highway
Use the straight lane.
4

Turn left onto HI 36

1.7 mi · 3 min · Hana Highway
Use the straight lane.
5

Turn left onto HI 3800

0.9 mi · 1 min · Kahului Airport Access Road
Use the left lane.
6

Turn left onto HI 311

201 ft · 7 sec · South Puunene Avenue
7

Continue on HI 311

6.4 mi · 11 min · Maui Veterans Highway
Use the straight lane.
8

Continue on HI 31

1.9 mi · 3 min · Piilani Highway
Use the left / straight lanes.
9

Enter roundabout onto Kulanihakoi Street

236 ft · 4 sec · Kulanihakoi Street
10

Continue on Kulanihakoi Street

0.3 mi · 1 min · Kulanihakoi Street
11

Arrive at destination

Kulanihakoi Street

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 9.1 miles from Pukalani, HI, or about 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 6.4 miles.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 18.2 miles or 33m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 9.1 miles or 16m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 27m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kīhei, HI than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Pukalani, HI so your first major turns are already loaded.

+

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

+

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Pukalani, HI

This is one driving day of about 18.2 miles and 33m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Pukalani, HI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Maui Veterans Highway for about 6.4 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 9.1 mi from Pukalani, HI · 16m into the drive

census-designated place in Maui County, Hawaii, United States of America

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Wailea, HI

9 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Popular next leg

Wailea, HI to Kīhei, HI

6.3 mi · 15m

Pacing Suggestions

Wailea, HI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 18.2 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Wailea, HI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 9.1 miles from Pukalani, HI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Kīhei, HI

The final approach into Kīhei, HI usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Kīhei, HI.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Haleakalā National Park

Haleakalā National Park

National Park

This special place vibrates with stories of ancient and modern Hawaiian culture and protects the bond between the land and its people. The park also cares for endangered species, some of which exist n...

15 mi from route ~36 min detour $25
Park Closure: Haleakalā Visitor Center Closed 2/19 through the week of 5/17
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$3.94 one way

$7.89 round trip

$5.51/gal 25.4 MPG avg 6 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.79 $4.15 $8.30
premium $5.98 $4.28 $8.57
diesel $5.61 $4.02 $8.04

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$4

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$29–$54

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 6.4 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 5.5 0 $1.91 $0.87
Efficient EV 4.6 0 $1.59 $0.73
EV Truck/SUV 7.3 0 $2.55 $1.16

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.

Forecast data refreshed 5 days ago

Origin

Pukalani, HI

Evening in Pukalani on Tuesday

Local time

5:21 PM

HST

Current temp

64°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Kīhei, HI

Evening in Kīhei on Tuesday

Local time

5:21 PM

HST

Current temp

69°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

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

5 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

33m 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 Pukalani, HI to Kīhei, HI covers 18.2 miles and takes about 33m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Maui Veterans Highway, Haleakala Highway, Piilani Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 9.1 miles from Pukalani, HI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.94 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 is a straightforward 33m drive. You will face about 4 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (HI 367 / Old Haleakala Highway): Navigation decision point; at 6.9 miles (HI 36 / Hana Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.7 miles (HI 3800 / Kahului Airport Access Road): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Pukalani, HI to Kīhei, HI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

Was this route helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

More from Pukalani, HI

Wailea, HI 23.9 mi · 46m

More trips to Kīhei, HI

Wailea, HI 6.3 mi

Explore more options from Pukalani, HI or browse trips ending in Kīhei, HI.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse HI road trips.

Explore maps for Pukalani, HI or Kīhei, HI on MapSof.net.