French drain cost in Kahului, HI
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (60 linear ft)
- $840 – $2,950
- Per linear ft
- $14 – $49
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +41%
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #2
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a French drain in the Kahului area: $840 to $2,950 for 60 linear ft. The low end is a basic job on easy ground; the high end is a premium spec with harder access. The midpoint runs 41% higher than the US figure. Construction laborers earn a median of $38.35 an hour in the Kahului area, 69% above the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Kahului, HI, standard level
$1,500 to $2,300
About $24.50 to $38.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 62% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $560 | $880 |
| Labor | $910 | $1,450 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,500 | $2,300 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Kahului, HI
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $320 | $720 | $1,100 | 38% |
| Labor | $520 | $1,150 | $1,850 | 62% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $840 | $1,900 | $2,950 | 100% |
What is behind the Kahului number
Labor is 62% of the midpoint bill here, against 52% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is construction laborers (50%), operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (30%), pipelayers (20%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Kahului the blended ratio comes out at 1.67.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Kahului is at 111.6 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $650 nationally becomes $720 here (midpoint, 60 linear ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 109.4: $0 to $0.
Data note: 20% of the labor weighting for this project uses a national median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Kahului. The wage table below marks each row.
The best months for French drain in Kahului
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Kahului Ap (5 miles from the city center). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
For digging, grading and setting material in the ground, the comfortable months in Kahului are October through July: 10 of 12. Outside them, August and September have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Kahului gets about 16 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are January, March and December (2.8 inches in December). Inside the workable window, June and July are the driest, at 0.2 and 0.5 inches. The station averages about 39 days a year at 90°F or above.
We do not adjust the estimate by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. It is still worth asking contractors whether an off-peak start date changes their bid.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 82 | 64 | 2.4 | Workable |
| Feb | 82 | 64 | 2.0 | Workable |
| Mar | 83 | 65 | 2.6 | Workable |
| Apr | 85 | 67 | 1.3 | Workable |
| May | 87 | 68 | 0.7 | Workable |
| Jun | 88 | 70 | 0.2 | Workable |
| Jul | 89 | 72 | 0.5 | Workable |
| Aug | 90 | 72 | 0.5 | Hot |
| Sep | 90 | 71 | 0.5 | Hot |
| Oct | 89 | 70 | 0.8 | Workable |
| Nov | 86 | 68 | 1.8 | Workable |
| Dec | 83 | 66 | 2.8 | Workable |
Planning more than one job in Kahului?
Jobs that often go together with French drain are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Kahului wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, gravel driveway comes out highest (+50%) and sod installation lowest (+22%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $9,750 – $17,300 | +32% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $3,800 – $15,200 | +50% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,850 – $4,000 | +22% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $3,500 – $7,100 | +39% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $5,450 – $13,600 | +36% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $50,900 – $159,000 | +41% |
Who does the work: Kahului trade wages
The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 3 trades. We compare each trade's local median with the US median, weight the ratios by how much of the job each trade does, and apply the blend to the national labor cost. For Kahului the blend is 1.67.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 50%) the local median is $38.35 an hour, which is 69% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $28.72 and $47.03 an hour. BLS counts 630 of them working in the area, 85.4 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073), 30% of the weighting: a median of $60.09 an hour, 109% above the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $33.42 and $62.07 an hour. About 400 work in the metro. That is 54.2 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Pipelayers (47-2151) carry 20% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Kahului metro, so we used the national median: $23.56 an hour against $23.56 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $21.15 and $29.52 an hour.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (construction laborers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $130 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $150. That is a swing of roughly 7.9% to 7.1% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Kahului-Wailuku has 73,750 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 250th by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $28.72 | $38.35 | $47.03 | $22.66 | 1.69 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $33.42 | $60.09 | $62.07 | $28.78 | 2.09 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $21.15 | $23.56 | $29.52 | $23.56 | 1.00 | US |
| Blended | 100% | 1.67 | |||||
Specs and site conditions that change a Kahului bid
Exterior versus interior
A shallow exterior French drain is $10-$35 per linear foot; an interior basement drain is $40-$85 per foot, or $4,000-$17,000 installed (HomeGuide).
Where the water goes
A sump pump adds $500-$1,800 and a dry well $50-$3,000+. Discharging to a storm drain can mean extra permit fees.
Depth and soil
Rocky or clay soil and long trenches raise excavation time.
How Kahului compares
Of the five closest metros, 4 are cheaper than Kahului. Santa Cruz is the lowest at about $1,600 (midpoint, 60 linear ft), 2350 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kahului, HIthis page | $840 – $2,950 | $1,900 | |
| Honolulu, HI110 miles | $830 – $2,900 | $1,850 | −2% |
| Santa Rosa, CA2340 miles | $760 – $2,650 | $1,700 | −9% |
| Santa Cruz, CA2350 miles | $710 – $2,500 | $1,600 | −16% |
| San Francisco, CA2355 miles | $840 – $2,950 | $1,900 | level |
| Napa, CA2370 miles | $740 – $2,600 | $1,650 | −12% |
| Hawaii (statewide) | $820 – $2,850 | $1,850 | −3% |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −29% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Kahului ranks #2 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Kahului is 3% above the Hawaii figure.
Elsewhere in Hawaii
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu, HI | 446,380 jobs | $830 – $2,900 | $1,850 | −2% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Kahului against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid City, SD | 73,820 jobs | $590 – $2,050 | $1,300 | −31% |
| Bloomington, IN | 73,240 jobs | $620 – $2,200 | $1,400 | −26% |
| Blacksburg, VA | 74,070 jobs | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −34% |
| Auburn, AL | 72,710 jobs | $530 – $1,850 | $1,200 | −37% |
Cost by quality level and size in Kahului
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Kahului. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from short run (30 linear ft) to long run (120 linear ft).
Basic
$840 to $1,700
Shallow yard drain, easy digging
Standard
$1,500 to $2,300
Standard drain with fabric, gravel and a pop-up outlet
Premium
$2,100 to $2,950
Deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short run (30 linear ft) | $420 – $840 | $740 – $1,150 | $1,050 – $1,500 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $840 – $1,700 | $1,500 – $2,300 | $2,100 – $2,950 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,700 – $3,350 | $2,950 – $4,650 | $4,200 – $5,900 |
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Tell us about the job and we will try to connect you with up to three local contractors for written quotes. It is free and you are under no obligation to hire. Your estimate of $1,500 to $2,300 for Kahului, HI is attached.
Detailed french drain report for Kahului, HI, $9
Multi-page report for Kahului, HI: low, typical and high cost, a line-item breakdown of materials and labor by trade, permit notes, the best months to schedule, a quote comparison sheet, red flags, questions for contractors, checklists and every source. Save your estimate above, preview page 1 free, and unlock the full report for $9 one-time, or get every report with CostLocal Pro.
French drain in Kahului: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Kahului?
For 60 linear ft, expect $840 to $2,950 in the Kahului area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,500 to $2,300. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for French drain in Kahului?
About $14 to $49 per linear ft for materials and labor, plus $0 to $0 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $10 to $35.
+Is French drain cheaper in Kahului or Honolulu?
Honolulu is 110 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,850, which is 2% less than Kahului ($1,900). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Kahului?
About 62% at the midpoint, or $1,150 out of $1,900. Materials are 38% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in Kahului?
$840 to $2,950. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in Kahului?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $0 to $0 for fees in the Kahului area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Kahului expensive for French drain compared with the rest of Hawaii?
Kahului is 3% above the Hawaii statewide estimate ($1,850 at the midpoint). We cover 2 metros in Hawaii; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Kahului?
The BLS median is $38.35 an hour in the Kahului area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $28.72 to $47.03.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Kahului?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $840 to $1,700 and premium work $2,100 to $2,950. Basic means: shallow yard drain, easy digging. Premium means: deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge.
+When is the best time to install a French drain in Kahului?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are October through July. June and July are typically the driest of those months. Local contractors' schedules matter as much as the weather, so book early for the busy months.
French drain near Kahului
Where these numbers come from
Base prices are national ranges from the sources below. We scale labor by local BLS wages, materials by BEA goods prices and permits by the BEA all-items price level. Full method on the methodology page.
- HomeGuide: How Much Does a French Drain Cost? (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- Cost to Renovate: Renovation Labor Report 2026: Where the Money Goes (accessed November 4, 2026)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991-2020
Note on derived figures: Materials = 48% of the installed price, from Cost to Renovate's mid-range 'Outdoor Living' category split (44% labor, 48% materials). It is a category average, not a French-drain figure, so the materials line here is a rough one.