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Kūhiō Highway: Kapaʻa to Princeville, Northeast Kauaʻi, Hawaii
Photo: Famartin · CC BY-SA 4.0 · cropped

Drives Hawaii Kauaʻi

Kūhiō Highway: Kapaʻa to Princeville

Kuhio Highway, Kūhiō Highway, HI 56 · Kapaʻa → Princeville

Leisurely20 mi35 min1,800 ft climbHigh point ≈ 500 ftOne way
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The drive

This is the north-shore half of Kauaʻi's main road. Kūhiō Highway (Highway 56) starts at the north end of Kapaʻa and runs 20.1 miles up the coast past Anahola and Kīlauea to Princeville, where the Hanalei drive begins. Pasture and old cane-field country roll down to the sea, and the ocean is in view for much of the way.

The road climbs in long, easy grades and bends gently, with no tight stretches. Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge, on the island's northernmost point, has red-footed boobies, great frigatebirds and Laysan albatrosses, and it requires reservations. Albatrosses typically arrive in early November for the breeding season.

The drive ends at Princeville and hands over to the Kūhiō Highway drive to Hāʻena beyond it.

Along the way

  1. Kapaʻa (north end)
  2. Princeville
Elevation
1,800 ft of climbing · high point ≈ 500 ft
KapaʻaPrinceville
Curves
Mostly gentle curves
KapaʻaPrinceville
GentleHairpins

Good to know

  • Traffic can build around Kapaʻa, especially at morning and afternoon peaks.
  • Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge needs advance reservations, sold on Recreation.gov.
  • The state posts weekly Kauaʻi lane closures for Kūhiō Highway, usually single-lane work, so allow extra time if you see cones.

Open all year, weather permitting. Roads close for snow, fire, storms and repairs: before you set off, check Hawaii DOT: Kauaʻi lane closures.

Questions about this drive

How long does Kūhiō Highway from Kapaʻa to Princeville take?

Kapaʻa to Princeville on Highway 56 is 20.1 miles and takes about 35 minutes without stops.

Is Kūhiō Highway on Kauaʻi twisty?

No. Between Kapaʻa and Princeville it is mostly gentle curves and rolling grades, a relaxed coastal drive.

Is traffic bad on Kūhiō Highway near Kapaʻa?

Congestion around Kapaʻa and Wailua is a long-running local issue, worst at morning and afternoon peaks.

Do I need a reservation for Kīlauea Point?

Yes. Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge requires reservations, and tickets are sold on Recreation.gov up to two months in advance.

What you get in the app

Turn by turn, on this roadSpoken directions along the exact route. Carve never reroutes you onto a faster one.
Preview it in 3DFly the whole drive over satellite and terrain before you go.
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Live Group TrackingAPEXEveryone on the route, on the map, by name.
Road conditionsAPEXWet or dry, ice, fog and wind along the road before you go.
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Distance, time, elevation, curves and intensity are from Carve's route. Checked 2026-10-28.

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Map of Kūhiō Highway: Kapaʻa to Princeville, from Kapaʻa to Princeville