Honolulu to Nawiliwili Truck Dispatch
Freight route connecting Honolulu, HI to Lihue, HI (90 miles). Connects Honolulu to Kauai via Young Brothers inter-island barge.
What do truck dispatch rates run from Honolulu to Lihue?
Honolulu to Nawiliwili is a 90-mile barge lane paying about $234 - $288 per load, near $2.60 - $3.20 a mile, with typical transit of 1-2 days.
- Distance
- 90 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $234 - $288
- 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 Nawiliwili
Honolulu to Nawiliwili (Lihue) is a 90-mile interisland barge lane, typically 1-2 days transit, connecting Oahu's main port to Kauai's primary commercial harbor. Nawiliwili has served as a busy ocean freight and cruise-ship port since 1930, handling both overseas and interisland containerized cargo, with Pasha Hawaii also calling there on inducement.
Origin
Honolulu, HI
Destination
Lihue, HI
Distance
90 miles
Transit Time
Barge / 1-2 days
Average Rate
$234 - $288
Rate per Mile
$2.60 - $3.20
90-mile interisland barge lane, typically 1-2 days transit
Nawiliwili has served as Kauai's primary commercial port since 1930
Pasha Hawaii calls at Nawiliwili on inducement in addition to regular Young Brothers service
Honolulu to Nawiliwili: route facts a driver should know
Nawiliwili ended Young Brothers' inter-island exclusivity in 2018
Young Brothers held a monopoly on inter-island shipping until 2018, when Pasha Hawaii Transport Lines entered the regulated market as a second carrier, including service to Nawiliwili Harbor on Kauai.
Source: Wikipedia, Young Brothers 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 Nawiliwili?
About $102.38 this week. The lane is 90 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 14 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
- 90 mi
- Diesel needed
- 14 gal
- Price used
- $7.39/gal
- Fuel cost
- $102.38
Common Freight Types
General consumer goods, building materials and hospitality-connected freight fill the barges on this lane.
- General Cargo
- Agricultural Export Products
- Tourism/Hospitality Supplies
What makes the Honolulu to Nawiliwili 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.
A new Cargo Wharfage Tariff Rate structure takes effect July 2026 through June 2027, worth checking before quoting long-term contracts
A new Cargo Wharfage Tariff Rate structure takes effect July 2026 through June 2027, worth checking before quoting long-term contracts.
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 Nawiliwili lane?
What moves between Honolulu and Nawiliwili, and why the port's near-century history matters here.
Primary Commodities
- •General Cargo
- •Agricultural Export Products
- •Tourism/Hospitality Supplies
Secondary Commodities
- •Drayage-connected freight (Nawiliwili 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 Nawiliwili lane busiest?
Retail restocking and Kauai'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 occasional weather-driven delays during Hawaii's wetter winter months.
How do I negotiate the best rate on the Honolulu to Nawiliwili 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 and the upcoming July 2026 tariff update.
Rate Negotiation Tips for Honolulu to Nawiliwili
- •
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 rates before quoting, given Young Brothers' 2026 increase.
- •
Coordinate drayage pickup in Nawiliwili around the barge's actual arrival, not the published schedule.
How do I find a backhaul load on the Honolulu to Nawiliwili lane?
Nawiliwili's status as Kauai's primary commercial port makes a return load realistic.
Best Return Cities
Where to look for the return load:
- •Lihue, HI
- •Regional distribution hubs near Nawiliwili
Deadhead Risk %
Deadhead risk on this lane: 15-20%
With both Young Brothers and Pasha calling at the port, there is real backhaul variety to plan around.
Alternative Routes
If the first load falls through, try these:
- •Coffee and farm export freight adds volume on the return leg.
- •Pre-book return freight on load boards before you arrive, so you don't sit empty
Backhaul Optimization Tips
- •
Nawiliwili's two-carrier service, Young Brothers and Pasha, gives you more routing flexibility than some other neighbor-island ports.
- •
Honolulu Harbor's import volume keeps steady local drayage demand on the Oahu end.
- •
Weather can delay barge arrivals here, so build flexibility into your schedule.
What do experienced dispatchers know about the Honolulu to Nawiliwili lane?
Three notes before booking this Kauai barge lane.
Confirm current Young Brothers rates given the January 2026 increase before quoting a load.
Check the updated Cargo Wharfage Tariff Rates that take effect in July 2026 before committing to longer-term freight.
Coordinate drayage pickup in Nawiliwili around the barge's actual arrival, not the published schedule.
Nawiliwili has had real weather-related sailing disruptions in the past, from high winds to tsunami-preparedness closures. Build schedule flexibility into any time-sensitive freight here.
Honolulu to Lihue Lane FAQs
Answers on transit time, Nawiliwili's history, and upcoming tariff changes.
The lane data shows about $234 - $288 per load, or $2.60 - $3.20 a mile, across 90 miles.
Since 1930, making it Kauai's longtime primary commercial harbor for both overseas and interisland cargo.
Typically 1-2 days.
Reasonably, given the harbor's status as Kauai's primary commercial port.
Other Hawaii freight lanes we dispatch
- Honolulu to Molokai
- Honolulu to Kawaihae
- Honolulu to Lanai
- Honolulu to San Francisco
- Honolulu to Hilo Coffee Belt
- Honolulu to Pearl Harbor
Local resources
Dry Van owner-operator, West Coast: +$2,010/week after moving to $2.62/mi on general freight / consumer goods freight.
Read the case studyNeed help running Honolulu, HI to Lihue, HI consistently?
Running Honolulu to Nawiliwili often? Ask about a free custom growth plan.