Waikiki fireworks, then a Kailua beach Jan 1
This is leg 1 of 1, the opening leg.
Travel leg · Honolulu New Year's Eve
Waikiki to Kailua & Lanikai
Waikiki and Kailua & Lanikai sit about 17 km (11 mi) apart in a straight line, with Kailua & Lanikai to the north-east. It is leg 1 of 1 on our Honolulu New Year's Eve itinerary, a 3-day trip. Here is how long it takes by car, what to see on the way and where it fits in a real itinerary.
- Straight-line distance
- 17 km · 11 mi
- Est. road distance
- 21–24 km
- Est. drive time
- 30–60 min
- Direction
- Heading north-east
- Curated routes
- 1 itinerary
Road distance is estimated as 1.2–1.4× the straight line; drive time assumes average speeds of 25–45 km/h with no stops or traffic. These are rough estimates — check a maps app for the actual route.
Ways to get there
We don't have live routing data, so the figures below are labelled estimates built from the straight-line distance. Use them to plan the day, then confirm in a maps app.
By car
Most travelers on our Honolulu New Year's Eve itinerary do this leg by car. We estimate 21–24 km (13–15 mi) of road and 30–60 min behind the wheel, so check live traffic before you set off.
Fly into Daniel K. Inouye International (HNL), about 25 minutes from Waikiki. Walk within Waikiki on Dec 31; Kalakaua Avenue gets crowded near the beach, and rideshare and taxis surge after midnight. TheBus runs through Waikiki and out to Kailua. On Jan 1, Kailua is about 30 minutes by car over the Pali Highway; Lanikai has no public parking, so park in Kailua and walk or bike in.
Worth stopping for
Picks from our curated guides at both ends.
When you arrive in Kailua & Lanikai
A slow Jan 1 on the windward side, with calm turquoise water, a ridge hike and an old beach steakhouse.
Nuuanu Pali Lookout
Windy lookout at the top of the Pali Highway with a view of the green Koolau cliffs and the windward coast.
Kailua Beach Park
Long, soft-sand beach with calm water, a park with showers, and kayak rentals to the Mokulua islets.
Kalapawai Market
Green general store at the beach road since 1932, now selling coffee, sandwiches and beach supplies.
Buzz's Original Steakhouse
Wood-paneled steakhouse across from Kailua Beach since the 1960s, with a salad bar and grilled fish.
Lanikai Beach
Narrow strip of white sand in a residential neighborhood, facing the twin Mokulua islets.
Lanikai Pillbox Trail
Short, steep climb up Kaiwa Ridge to old concrete bunkers with views over Lanikai and the islets.
Before you leave Waikiki
Two nights on the beach for sunset hula, Hawaiian food and midnight fireworks over the water.
Waikiki Beach fireworks
Midnight fireworks launched from a barge off Waikiki, free to watch from the sand along Duke Kahanamoku Beach.
Hilton Hawaiian Village
Large resort on the beach at the west end of Waikiki, right in front of the fireworks barge.
Royal Hawaiian Hotel
Pink 1927 Spanish-Moorish hotel on Waikiki Beach, with gardens and a beachfront bar open to visitors.
On this curated route
Where Waikiki → Kailua sits in the full itinerary. Highlighted stops are this leg.
Going the other way? Kailua & Lanikai to Waikiki is the same 17 km in a straight line, heading south-west. Reverse directions in Google Maps ↗
Waikiki to Kailua: questions travelers ask
How far is Waikiki from Kailua & Lanikai?
Waikiki is about 17 km (11 mi) from Kailua & Lanikai in a straight line, with Kailua & Lanikai to the north-east. By road, we estimate 21–24 km (13–15 mi), or 1.2–1.4 times the straight line. Check a maps app for the exact route.
How long does it take to drive from Waikiki to Kailua & Lanikai?
An estimated 30–60 min, assuming 21–24 km of road at average speeds of 25–45 km/h with no stops or traffic. It is not a routed time, so check a maps app on the day.
Which itineraries include the trip from Waikiki to Kailua & Lanikai?
Our Honolulu New Year's Eve itinerary includes this leg. Honolulu New Year's Eve runs about 3 days across 2 stops, best in Dec 30 – Jan 1.
Guides for both ends
- Waikiki travel guide
- Waikiki weather best time to visit
- Kailua & Lanikai travel guide
- Kailua & Lanikai weather best time to visit
Kailua by month
- Kailua & Lanikai in January
- Kailua & Lanikai in February
- Kailua & Lanikai in March
- Kailua & Lanikai in April
- Kailua & Lanikai in May
- Kailua & Lanikai in June
- Kailua & Lanikai in July
- Kailua & Lanikai in August
- Kailua & Lanikai in September
- Kailua & Lanikai in October
- Kailua & Lanikai in November
- Kailua & Lanikai in December
Plan Waikiki → Kailua with your crew
Add this leg to a shared itinerary, poll the group on where to stop, split fuel and tickets, and keep everyone's packing list in one place in TripsCircle.