Honolulu to Maui (Kahului) Truck Dispatch
Freight route from Honolulu, HI to Kahului, HI (100 miles). The highest-volume Young Brothers inter-island route, with dedicated weekly cold-chain LCL service.
What do truck dispatch rates run from Honolulu to Kahului?
Honolulu to Maui (Kahului) is a 100-mile barge lane paying about $260 - $320 per load, near $2.60 - $3.20 a mile, with typical transit of 1-2 days.
- Distance
- 100 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $260 - $320
- Rate per mile
- $2.60 - $3.20
- Transit time
- Barge / 1-2 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 Maui (Kahului)
Honolulu to Maui (Kahului) is a 100-mile interisland barge lane, typically 1-2 days transit, connecting Oahu's main port to Maui's commercial harbor. Young Brothers is the only regularly scheduled common carrier authorized to move goods between the Hawaiian Islands, and its rates rose 25.75% effective January 1, 2026, following a Public Utilities Commission decision aimed at keeping the service financially viable.
Origin
Honolulu, HI
Destination
Kahului, HI
Distance
100 miles
Transit Time
Barge / 1-2 days
Average Rate
$260 - $320
Rate per Mile
$2.60 - $3.20
100-mile interisland barge lane, typically 1-2 days transit
Young Brothers is the only regularly scheduled common carrier for interisland cargo
Young Brothers' rates rose 25.75% effective January 1, 2026
Honolulu to Maui (Kahului): route facts a driver should know
Kahului is Hawaii's second-busiest port after Honolulu
Kahului CDP had a population of 28,219 at the 2020 Census, and its harbor is Maui's main commercial port, served by Young Brothers barges and direct Pasha Hawaii sailings from the mainland.
Source: Wikipedia, Kahului, 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 Maui (Kahului)?
About $113.75 this week. The lane is 100 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 15 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
- 100 mi
- Diesel needed
- 15 gal
- Price used
- $7.39/gal
- Fuel cost
- $113.75
Common Freight Types
General consumer goods, building materials and hospitality-connected freight fill the barges on this lane.
- Chilled & Frozen Foods
- General Cargo
- Vehicles
What makes the Honolulu to Maui (Kahului) 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.
Young Brothers has not been profitable since August 2024, adding uncertainty to long-term service reliability
Young Brothers has not been profitable since August 2024, adding uncertainty to long-term service reliability.
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 Maui (Kahului) lane?
What moves between Honolulu and Kahului, and why Young Brothers' monopoly position matters here.
Primary Commodities
- •Chilled & Frozen Foods
- •General Cargo
- •Vehicles
Secondary Commodities
- •Drayage-connected freight (Kahului Harbor)
- •Building materials
- •Hospitality/tourism-connected freight
Seasonal Cargo
Peak seasons for this lane:
- •General consumer goods (Q4 holiday surge)
- •Building materials (steady)
- •Hospitality/tourism-connected freight (summer peak)
When is the Honolulu to Maui (Kahului) lane busiest?
Retail restocking and Maui's summer tourist season 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?
Not a major factor; this lane runs mostly on consumer goods and building materials.
- •Q4 holiday season restocking
- •Summer tourist season (Jun-Aug)
- •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 and Maui's summer tourist season.
How do I negotiate the best rate on the Honolulu to Maui (Kahului) lane?
When to book, what pays more, and which loads need a rate check.
When to Book
Suggested booking window:
Book barge space a few days ahead during normal periods, earlier during Q4 and summer tourist peaks.
What Brokers Pay More
Loads that command more:
Time-critical drayage connecting to a tight barge sailing window tends to pay a premium.
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 Maui (Kahului)
- •
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' or Pasha's sailing schedule.
- •
Confirm current Young Brothers rates before quoting, given the 2026 increase.
- •
Coordinate drayage pickup in Kahului around the barge's actual arrival, not the published schedule.
How do I find a backhaul load on the Honolulu to Maui (Kahului) lane?
Kahului Harbor's role as Maui's main port makes a return load realistic.
Best Return Cities
Where to look for the return load:
- •Kahului, HI
- •Regional distribution hubs near Maui (Kahului)
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:
- •Set barge schedule, not daily service. Plan around Young Brothers' sailing days.
- •Pre-book return freight on load boards before you arrive, so you don't sit empty
Backhaul Optimization Tips
- •
Kahului Harbor's role as Maui's main commercial port keeps steady demand for return drayage.
- •
Honolulu Harbor's import volume keeps steady local drayage demand on the Oahu end.
- •
Book ahead during Maui's peak tourism and retail-restocking seasons.
What do experienced dispatchers know about the Honolulu to Maui (Kahului) lane?
Three notes before booking this interisland barge lane.
Confirm current Young Brothers rates given the January 2026 increase before quoting a load.
Coordinate drayage pickup in Kahului around the barge's actual arrival, not the published schedule.
Book ahead during Maui's peak tourism and retail-restocking seasons.
Young Brothers has been the dominant inter-island carrier since 1913, though Pasha Hawaii entered this regulated market in 2018, ending that long-standing exclusivity.
Honolulu to Kahului Lane FAQs
Answers on transit time, Young Brothers' rate increase, and barge scheduling.
The lane data shows about $260 - $320 per load, or $2.60 - $3.20 a mile, across 100 miles.
The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission approved a 25.75% rate increase effective January 1, 2026, to keep interisland shipping service financially viable.
Typically 1-2 days.
Reasonably, given the harbor's role as Maui's main commercial port.
Other Hawaii freight lanes we dispatch
- Honolulu to Hilo
- Honolulu to Seattle
- Honolulu to Kawaihae
- Honolulu to Nawiliwili
- Honolulu to Molokai
- Honolulu to Lanai
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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