Honolulu to Hilo Truck Dispatch
Freight route connecting Honolulu, HI to Hilo, HI (215 miles). Connects Honolulu to the Big Island's eastern side via Young Brothers inter-island barge.
What do truck dispatch rates run from Honolulu to Hilo?
Honolulu to Hilo is a 215-mile barge lane paying about $570 - $699 per load, near $2.65 - $3.25 a mile, with typical transit of 2-3 days.
- Distance
- 215 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $570 - $699
- Rate per mile
- $2.65 - $3.25
- Transit time
- Barge / 2-3 days
- Deadhead risk
- 15-20%
Lane rates reviewed September 2026. These numbers reflect 2026 pricing following Young Brothers' January 2026 rate increase. See our dispatch fee structure.
Honolulu to Hilo
Honolulu to Hilo is a 215-mile interisland barge lane, typically 2-3 days transit, connecting Oahu's main port to the Big Island's windward-side commercial harbor. Hilo's port has seen a shift in cargo volume toward Kawaihae on the island's leeward side over the past decade, but Hilo remains a key gateway for the island's eastern half, including its own coffee-growing districts.
Origin
Honolulu, HI
Destination
Hilo, HI
Distance
215 miles
Transit Time
Barge / 2-3 days
Average Rate
$570 - $699
Rate per Mile
$2.65 - $3.25
215-mile interisland barge lane, typically 2-3 days transit
Hilo serves as the Big Island's main windward-side commercial harbor
Cargo volume has shifted toward Kawaihae on the leeward side over the past decade
Honolulu to Hilo: route facts a driver should know
Hilo is the largest settlement on Hawaii Island
Hilo CDP had a population of 44,186 at the 2020 Census, and Hilo Harbor is served by Matson, Pasha Hawaii, and Young Brothers, handling containers, general cargo, raw sugar, petroleum, molasses, lumber, cement, and livestock.
Source: Pasha Group, Hilo Harbor location overview. Checked 30 Sep 2026.
Young Brothers' rates rose 25% in a late-2025 regulatory decision
The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission approved a Young Brothers rate increase of roughly 25% effective in 2026, alongside stricter financial oversight of the inter-island barge operator.
Source: Honolulu Civil Beat, Young Brothers rate hike coverage. Checked 30 Sep 2026.
Diesel for this lane
How much is the diesel for Honolulu to Hilo?
About $244.57 this week. The lane is 215 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 33 gallons, and diesel is averaging $7.39 a gallon on this lane (week of October 19, 2026). The U.S. average diesel price is up 10 cents this week.
An estimate. It uses EIA's weekly average for this region, not the price at each pump. Your mpg and fuel card discounts change it.
- Distance
- 215 mi
- Diesel needed
- 33 gal
- Price used
- $7.39/gal
- Fuel cost
- $244.57
Common Freight Types
General consumer goods, building materials and coffee/agricultural-connected freight fill the barges on this lane.
- General Cargo
- Building Materials
- Agricultural Products
What makes the Honolulu to Hilo lane difficult?
Young Brothers' January 2026 rate increase raises landed costs for all interisland freight
Young Brothers' January 2026 rate increase raises landed costs for all interisland freight.
Businesses on the Kona (leeward) side face a long drive across the island if their freight routes through Hilo instead of Kawaihae
Businesses on the Kona (leeward) side face a long drive across the island if their freight routes through Hilo instead of Kawaihae.
Barge sailing schedules, not driver availability, set this lane's real transit windows
Barge sailing schedules, not driver availability, set this lane's real transit windows.
What freight moves on the Honolulu to Hilo lane?
What moves between Honolulu and Hilo, and why the shift toward Kawaihae matters for routing decisions.
Primary Commodities
- •General Cargo
- •Building Materials
- •Agricultural Products
Secondary Commodities
- •Drayage-connected freight (Hilo Harbor)
- •Building materials
- •Coffee/agricultural-connected freight
Seasonal Cargo
Peak seasons for this lane:
- •General consumer goods (Q4 holiday surge)
- •Coffee/agricultural freight (fall harvest)
- •Building materials (steady)
When is the Honolulu to Hilo lane busiest?
Fall coffee harvest and steady retail freight both shape this lane.
Q1 (Jan-Mar): Slow Period?
A modest dip after the holiday restocking surge.
Q4 (Oct-Dec): Peak Period?
Consumer-goods barge volume climbs from October through December.
Produce Season?
The fall coffee harvest on the eastern Big Island is a real factor for this lane.
- •Q4 holiday season restocking
- •Fall coffee-harvest season (eastern Big Island)
- •Steady general freight year-round
Hurricane Risk?
Pacific hurricane season (June-November) can affect interisland barge scheduling.
Seasonal Strategy Summary
This lane runs steady year-round, with a bump in consumer-goods volume during the Q4 holiday season.
How do I negotiate the best rate on the Honolulu to Hilo lane?
When to book, what pays more, and which loads need a routing check.
When to Book
Suggested booking window:
Book barge space a few days ahead during normal periods, earlier during Q4 and fall harvest.
What Brokers Pay More
Loads that command more:
Time-critical coffee/agricultural-connected freight tends to pay a premium during harvest.
When to Avoid
Loads to price carefully:
Be careful quoting old rates; confirm current pricing given the January 2026 Young Brothers increase.
Rate Negotiation Tips for Honolulu to Hilo
- •
This is an inter-island barge or ship lane, not a highway truck route. Grow Trucking's role is drayage coordination on each end, around Matson's, Pasha's, or Young Brothers' sailing schedules.
- •
Confirm current Young Brothers rates before quoting, given the 2026 increase.
- •
Coordinate drayage pickup in Hilo around the vessel's actual arrival, not the published schedule.
How do I find a backhaul load on the Honolulu to Hilo lane?
Hilo's role as the eastern Big Island gateway makes a return load realistic.
Best Return Cities
Where to look for the return load:
- •Hilo, HI
- •Regional distribution hubs near Hilo
Deadhead Risk %
Deadhead risk on this lane: 15-20%
With Young Brothers' recent $120 million infrastructure investment, there is real scheduling reliability to plan around.
Alternative Routes
If the first load falls through, try these:
- •Serves the wetter, more populous side of the Big Island.
- •Pre-book return freight on load boards before you arrive, so you don't sit empty
Backhaul Optimization Tips
- •
Hilo Harbor's broad cargo mix, from containers to livestock, gives you real backhaul options.
- •
Honolulu Harbor's import volume keeps steady local drayage demand on the Oahu end.
- •
Weather disruptions have affected Big Island ports before, so build in flexibility around sailing schedules.
What do experienced dispatchers know about the Honolulu to Hilo lane?
Three notes before booking this Big Island barge lane.
Confirm current Young Brothers rates given the January 2026 increase before quoting a load.
Check whether Kawaihae might be a faster option for leeward-side deliveries before routing through Hilo.
Coordinate drayage pickup in Hilo around the barge's actual arrival, not the published schedule.
Hilo Harbor's three-carrier service, Matson, Pasha, and Young Brothers, gives it more routing options than some of the smaller neighbor-island ports.
Honolulu to Hilo Lane FAQs
Answers on transit time, Kawaihae's growing role, and the fall harvest.
The lane data shows about $570 - $699 per load, or $2.65 - $3.25 a mile, across 215 miles.
Not always; cargo volume has shifted toward Kawaihae on the leeward side over the past decade, and Kona-coast businesses face a long drive if routed through Hilo instead.
Typically 2-3 days.
Reasonably, given the harbor's role serving the island's eastern communities and coffee-growing districts.
Other Hawaii freight lanes we dispatch
- Honolulu to Kawaihae
- Honolulu to Maui (Kahului)
- Honolulu to Nawiliwili
- Honolulu to Molokai
- Honolulu to Lanai
- Honolulu to San Francisco
Local resources
Dry Van owner-operator, West Coast: +$2,010/week after moving to $2.62/mi on general freight / consumer goods freight.
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