Honolulu to Kawaihae Truck Dispatch
Freight route connecting Honolulu, HI to Kawaihae, HI (175 miles). Connects Honolulu to the Big Island's western/Kona side via Young Brothers inter-island barge.
What do truck dispatch rates run from Honolulu to Kawaihae?
Honolulu to Kawaihae is a 175-mile barge lane paying about $464 - $569 per load, near $2.65 - $3.25 a mile, with typical transit of 2-3 days.
- Distance
- 175 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $464 - $569
- 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 Kawaihae
Honolulu to Kawaihae is a 175-mile interisland barge lane, typically 2-3 days transit, connecting Oahu's main port to the Big Island's growing leeward-side harbor. Matson's discharge has moved exclusively to Kawaihae since 2021 to reduce fuel consumption, and container cargo volumes there have surged nearly 75% over the past decade as deliveries shift from Hilo.
Origin
Honolulu, HI
Destination
Kawaihae, HI
Distance
175 miles
Transit Time
Barge / 2-3 days
Average Rate
$464 - $569
Rate per Mile
$2.65 - $3.25
175-mile interisland barge lane, typically 2-3 days transit
Matson's discharge has moved exclusively to Kawaihae since 2021
Container cargo volumes at Kawaihae have surged nearly 75% over the past decade
Honolulu to Kawaihae: route facts a driver should know
Kawaihae is one of only three commercial harbors on Hawaii Island
Kawaihae Harbor, on the Kohala Coast about 35 miles north of Kailua-Kona, is one of only three commercial harbors on Hawaii Island alongside Hilo and Honokohau, moving fuel, construction materials, and general supplies.
Source: Wikipedia, Kawaihae, Hawaii. 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 Kawaihae?
About $199.07 this week. The lane is 175 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 27 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
- 175 mi
- Diesel needed
- 27 gal
- Price used
- $7.39/gal
- Fuel cost
- $199.07
Common Freight Types
General consumer goods, cement/cattle-connected freight and Kona coffee/agricultural-connected freight fill the barges on this lane.
- General Cargo
- Tourism/Hospitality Supplies
- Agricultural Products
What makes the Honolulu to Kawaihae 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.
Traffic congestion along the Kohala Coast corridor can affect drayage timing near the harbor
Traffic congestion along the Kohala Coast corridor can affect drayage timing near the harbor.
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 Kawaihae lane?
What moves between Honolulu and Kawaihae, and why the harbor's rapid cargo growth matters here.
Primary Commodities
- •General Cargo
- •Tourism/Hospitality Supplies
- •Agricultural Products
Secondary Commodities
- •Drayage-connected freight (Kawaihae Harbor)
- •Cement/cattle-connected freight (Pier 1)
- •Kona coffee/agricultural-connected freight
Seasonal Cargo
Peak seasons for this lane:
- •General consumer goods (Q4 holiday surge)
- •Kona coffee/agricultural freight (fall harvest)
- •Cement/cattle-connected freight (steady)
When is the Honolulu to Kawaihae lane busiest?
The fall Kona 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 Kona coffee harvest is a real factor for this lane's leeward-coast freight.
- •Q4 holiday season restocking
- •Fall coffee-harvest season (Kona coast)
- •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, without a major seasonal swing to plan around.
How do I negotiate the best rate on the Honolulu to Kawaihae lane?
When to book, what pays more, and which loads need a traffic buffer.
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 Kona coffee and 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 Kawaihae
- •
This is an inter-island barge lane, not a highway truck route. Grow Trucking's role is drayage coordination on each end, around Young Brothers' sailing schedule.
- •
Confirm current Young Brothers rates before quoting, given the 2026 increase.
- •
Fuel and construction-material freight is worth asking about given Kawaihae's cargo mix.
How do I find a backhaul load on the Honolulu to Kawaihae lane?
Kawaihae's growing cargo role makes a return load realistic.
Best Return Cities
Where to look for the return load:
- •Kawaihae, HI
- •Regional distribution hubs near Kawaihae
Deadhead Risk %
Deadhead risk on this lane: 15-20%
With container volumes up nearly 75% over the past decade, there is real backhaul growth to plan around.
Alternative Routes
If the first load falls through, try these:
- •Serves the Kona side of the Big Island, separate from the Hilo-side terminal.
- •Pre-book return freight on load boards before you arrive, so you don't sit empty
Backhaul Optimization Tips
- •
Kawaihae's fuel and construction-material freight gives you backhaul options, though this is a smaller port than Hilo.
- •
Honolulu Harbor's import volume keeps steady local drayage demand on the Oahu end.
- •
Coordinate drayage pickup around the barge's actual arrival, not the published schedule.
What do experienced dispatchers know about the Honolulu to Kawaihae lane?
Three notes before booking this leeward Big Island barge lane.
Confirm current Young Brothers rates given the January 2026 increase before quoting a load.
Build in a buffer for Kohala Coast corridor traffic near the harbor entrance.
Coordinate drayage pickup in Kawaihae around the barge's actual arrival, not the published schedule.
Kawaihae is a working cargo port, not a tourist harbor. Fuel, construction materials, and general supplies make up most of its freight.
Honolulu to Kawaihae Lane FAQs
Answers on transit time, Kawaihae's growth, and the harbor makeover.
The lane data shows about $464 - $569 per load, or $2.65 - $3.25 a mile, across 175 miles.
Matson's discharge moved exclusively there since 2021 to reduce fuel consumption, and container volumes have surged nearly 75% over the past decade as deliveries shift from Hilo.
A $50 million makeover including road widening, a dedicated turn lane, and 2.3 new acres of cargo yard storage.
Reasonably, given the harbor's rapid cargo growth and role serving the Kona leeward coast.
Other Hawaii freight lanes we dispatch
- Honolulu to Nawiliwili
- Honolulu to Hilo
- Honolulu to Molokai
- Honolulu to Lanai
- Honolulu to San Francisco
- Honolulu to Hilo Coffee Belt
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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