Honolulu to Molokai Truck Dispatch
Freight route from Honolulu, HI to Kaunakakai, HI (55 miles). Connects Honolulu to Molokai, one of the smaller inter-island barge destinations.
What do truck dispatch rates run from Honolulu to Kaunakakai?
Honolulu to Molokai is a 55-mile barge lane paying about $148 - $184 per load, near $2.70 - $3.35 a mile, with typical transit of 1-2 days.
- Distance
- 55 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $148 - $184
- Rate per mile
- $2.70 - $3.35
- Transit time
- Barge / 1-2 days
- Deadhead risk
- 20-25%
Lane rates reviewed September 2026. These numbers reflect 2026 pricing following Young Brothers' January 2026 rate increase. See our dispatch fee structure.
Honolulu to Molokai
Honolulu to Molokai (Kaunakakai) is a 55-mile interisland barge lane, typically 1-2 days transit, connecting Oahu's main port to one of Hawaii's smallest and most rural island communities. Young Brothers' new 286-foot Kalohi barge, part of a $45 million investment, was purpose-built for smaller ports like Kaunakakai, providing what the company calls a vital lifeline for the community.
Origin
Honolulu, HI
Destination
Kaunakakai, HI
Distance
55 miles
Transit Time
Barge / 1-2 days
Average Rate
$148 - $184
Rate per Mile
$2.70 - $3.35
55-mile interisland barge lane, typically 1-2 days transit
Young Brothers' new 286-foot Kalohi barge was purpose-built for smaller ports like Kaunakakai
Named for the channel between Lanai and Molokai, the Kalohi represents a $45 million fleet investment
Honolulu to Molokai: route facts a driver should know
Kaunakakai Harbor has Hawaii's longest pier
Kaunakakai Harbor's wharf extends 1,900 feet into the harbor, Hawaii's longest pier, serving Molokai's largest town (population 3,419 at the 2020 Census) with essential food, fuel, and building-material imports.
Source: To-Hawaii.com, Kaunakakai Harbor overview. Checked 30 Sep 2026.
Young Brothers loses money on the Molokai route
Young Brothers reported losing nearly $3.5 million on its Molokai route in 2024, part of a combined roughly $7 million a year in losses on its Molokai and Lanai routes together.
Source: Maui Now, Young Brothers rate increase coverage. Checked 30 Sep 2026.
Diesel for this lane
How much is the diesel for Honolulu to Molokai?
About $62.56 this week. The lane is 55 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 8 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
- 55 mi
- Diesel needed
- 8 gal
- Price used
- $7.39/gal
- Fuel cost
- $62.56
Common Freight Types
General consumer goods, essential-goods-connected freight and building materials fill the barges on this lane.
- General Cargo
- Agricultural Products
- Consumer Goods
What makes the Honolulu to Molokai 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.
Molokai's small, rural market limits load volume and reload variety compared to larger islands
Molokai's small, rural market limits load volume and reload variety compared to larger islands.
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 Molokai lane?
What moves between Honolulu and Molokai, and why the new Kalohi barge matters here.
Primary Commodities
- •General Cargo
- •Agricultural Products
- •Consumer Goods
Secondary Commodities
- •Essential-goods-connected freight (Kaunakakai)
- •Building materials
- •Agricultural-connected freight
Seasonal Cargo
Peak seasons for this lane:
- •General consumer goods (Q4 holiday surge)
- •Essential-goods freight (steady, year-round)
- •Building materials (steady)
When is the Honolulu to Molokai lane busiest?
Steady essential-goods demand shapes this lane more than any retail season.
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 essential goods for the local community.
- •Q4 holiday season restocking
- •Steady essential-goods freight year-round
- •Summer freight demand
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 Molokai lane?
When to book, what pays more, and which loads need extra lead time.
When to Book
Suggested booking window:
Book barge space a few days ahead during normal periods, earlier during the Q4 holiday peak.
What Brokers Pay More
Loads that command more:
Time-critical essential-goods freight for this small, underserved market 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 Molokai
- •
This is an inter-island barge lane to a small, low-population island, not a highway truck route. Grow Trucking's role is drayage coordination around Young Brothers' sailing schedule.
- •
Molokai's barge freight is essential-goods focused: food, fuel, and building materials.
- •
Confirm current Young Brothers rates before quoting, given the service's ongoing financial pressure on this route.
How do I find a backhaul load on the Honolulu to Molokai lane?
This route's role as Molokai's sole cargo lifeline makes ongoing demand realistic, though return volume stays limited.
Best Return Cities
Where to look for the return load:
- •Kaunakakai, HI
- •Regional distribution hubs near Molokai
Deadhead Risk %
Deadhead risk on this lane: 20-25%
With Molokai's small rural market, expect steadier one-way flow rather than dense two-way backhaul.
Alternative Routes
If the first load falls through, try these:
- •A lower-volume route with less frequent barge service than the major islands.
- •Pre-book return freight on load boards before you arrive, so you don't sit empty
Backhaul Optimization Tips
- •
Molokai's small population and limited freight base make backhauls genuinely harder to find on this lane than on larger-island routes.
- •
Honolulu Harbor's import volume keeps steady local drayage demand on the Oahu end.
- •
Molokai's macadamia nut, coffee, and tropical fruit exports are worth asking about for return loads.
What do experienced dispatchers know about the Honolulu to Molokai lane?
Three notes before booking this small-island barge lane.
Confirm current Young Brothers rates given the January 2026 increase before quoting a load.
Coordinate drayage pickup in Kaunakakai around the barge's actual arrival, not the published schedule.
Plan for limited return-load volume given Molokai's small rural market.
Molokai is a small, essential-goods-dependent market. Young Brothers has reported real financial losses on this route, so service reliability is worth monitoring.
Honolulu to Kaunakakai Lane FAQs
Answers on transit time, the new Kalohi barge, and Molokai's freight market.
The lane data shows about $148 - $184 per load, or $2.70 - $3.35 a mile, across 55 miles.
A new 286-foot Young Brothers barge, part of a $45 million investment, purpose-built for smaller ports like Kaunakakai on Molokai.
Typically 1-2 days.
Volume runs lighter given Molokai's small rural market; plan for mostly one-way flow rather than dense backhaul.
Other Hawaii freight lanes we dispatch
- Honolulu to Lanai
- Honolulu to Nawiliwili
- Honolulu to San Francisco
- Honolulu to Hilo Coffee Belt
- Honolulu to Pearl Harbor
- Honolulu to San Diego
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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