Spanning 36.9 miles across Oahu, this drive connects Waianae to Maunawili in approximately one hour. You will primarily navigate a path defined by the Queen Liliʻuokalani Freeway, the John A. Burns Freeway, and the Farrington Highway. Because the trip is short, it is easily manageable as a single-day excursion without the need for an overnight stay. Expect to spend around $8 on fuel for the journey, making it a budget-friendly way to cross from the leeward side of the island toward the windward region. Whether you are commuting or exploring, this highway-focused route offers a straightforward transition between these two distinct Hawaii locations.
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
18.4 miles from Waianae, HI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 31m into the drive
.
Loading map...
Drive Character
This trip is heavily highway-focused, with 64% of your time spent on major thoroughfares. You should prepare for a consistent driving experience as you transition between the primary freeways and the Farrington Highway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 12.9-mile segment along the Queen Liliʻuokalani Freeway, which allows for steady progress. While you won't face complex navigation, the road’s personality is defined by these fast-moving stretches rather than winding local roads. Expect a functional drive that prioritizes efficiency as you move through the island's infrastructure.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 9 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Queen Liliʻuokalani Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 12.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Queen Liliʻuokalani Freeway and John A. Burns Freeway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near HI 93 / Farrington Highway.
Route Complexity4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 1h 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 93 / Farrington Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 23.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 23.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
4 of 4 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|HI 93 / Farrington Highway
Depart onto HI 93 / Farrington Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
23.3 mi into trip|~37m in
Take the exit toward Kaneohe, Honolulu, Aiea
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Kaneohe, Honolulu, Aiea
8
23.5 mi into trip|~37m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I H3, HI 78 East: Kaneohe, Honolulu
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I H3, HI 78 East: Kaneohe, Honolulu
4
34.9 mi into trip|~54m in
Take the exit toward Kaneohe
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Kaneohe
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Waianae, HI and Maunawili, HI, road signs point toward Kaneohe, Honolulu, Aiea and I H3.
Kaneohe
23.3 mi in|~37m
Honolulu
23.3 mi in|~37m
Aiea
23.3 mi in|~37m
I H3
23.5 mi in|~37m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Queen Liliʻuokalani Freeway
12.9 mi
16m
John A. Burns Freeway
10.6 mi
15m
Farrington Highway
10.4 mi
21m
Kamehameha Highway
0.9 mi
1m
Auloa Road
0.8 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Queen Liliʻuokalani Freeway
— 12.9 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waianae, HI and Maunawili, HI.
1
Start on HI 93
10 mi·21 min·Farrington Highway
Use the left lane.
2
Continue on I H1
13 mi·16 min·Queen Liliʻuokalani Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
3
Take the exit
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward Kaneohe, Honolulu, Aiea
4
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward I H3, HI 78 East: Kaneohe, HonoluluUse the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on I H3
11 mi·15 min·John A. Burns Freeway
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward Kaneohe
7
Turn right onto HI 83
0.9 mi·1 min·Kamehameha Highway
8
Continue on Auloa Road
0.8 mi·3 min·Auloa Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
9
Arrive at destination
Auloa Road
Trip Plan
Given the one-hour duration, you have significant flexibility in your departure time to avoid peak traffic periods. Since the route is efficient and requires zero planned stops, you can easily complete the trip in a single push. Keep your $8 fuel budget in mind, and ensure your tank is topped off before leaving the Waianae area to maintain a stress-free pace. Because there are no mandatory stops, take advantage of the directness of the route to reach Maunawili quickly. Your best strategy is to monitor local traffic reports for the Queen Liliʻuokalani Freeway before you head out, as highway conditions can change quickly on this island corridor.
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 18.4 miles from Waianae, HI, or about 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 12.9 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 36.9 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 18.4 miles or 31m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Maunawili, HI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Waianae, 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 Waianae, HI
This is one driving day of about 36.9 miles and 1h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Waianae, 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 Queen Liliʻuokalani Freeway for about 12.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 18.4 mi from Waianae, HI
· 31m into the drive
The midpoint is around 18.4 miles from Waianae, HI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Maunawili, HI
The final approach into Maunawili, 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 Maunawili, 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.
Pearl Harbor National Memorial
National Memorial
At Pearl Harbor National Memorial, we honor the lives affected by the December 7, 1941, attack. This pivotal moment in global history marked the United States' entry into World War II, impacting natio...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.00 one way
$15.99 round trip
$5.51/gal25.4 MPG avg13 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.79
$8.41
$16.82
premium
$5.98
$8.69
$17.37
diesel
$5.61
$8.15
$16.29
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$8
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$33–$58
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging
· 0 stops
· 69% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
11.1
0
$3.87
$1.77
Efficient EV
9.2
0
$3.23
$1.48
EV Truck/SUV
14.8
0
$5.17
$2.36
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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
Waianae, HI
Afternoon
in Waianae on Tuesday
Local time
1:43 PM
HST
Current temp
--
Unavailable
Destination
Maunawili, HI
Afternoon
in Maunawili on Tuesday
Local time
1:43 PM
HST
Current temp
66°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.
Road read
1h 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 Waianae, HI to Maunawili, HI covers 36.9 miles and takes about 1h without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Queen Liliʻuokalani Freeway, John A. Burns Freeway, Farrington Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 18.4 miles from Waianae, HI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.00 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 1h 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 93 / Farrington Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 23.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 23.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Waianae, HI and Maunawili, HI, road signs point toward Kaneohe, Honolulu, Aiea and I H3.
