Hawaii Bird Conservation Marathon

This beautiful USATF Certified course is all downhill except for a few gently rolling uphill sections at the beginning and end of the course.  During the first 3 miles, the course is along Highway 11 as it passes through Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park and then enters the community of Volcano.  For the first 15 miles the course is surrounded by a mixture of original Hawaiian hapu‘u & ʻōhiʻa rainforest, residential and agricultural land.  The Start on a clear day offers a spectacular view of Hawai‘i’s highest volcanoes, Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea, and during the first few miles runners will experience the dawn chorus of many Hawaiian endemic birds that may include the Apapane, Hawai‘i Amakihi, I‘iwi (all three are Hawaiian Honeycreepers), Oma‘o (Hawaiian Thrush), and Hawai‘i Elepaio (a monarch flycatcher).  As you run, keep your eyes open for the Nene (Hawaiian Goose) and the ‘Io (Hawaiian Hawk), both endangered Hawaiian endemic species. After Volcano at Mile 4.36, the race continues downhill along Highway 11 until Mile 26.06 when runners turn left onto Stainback Hwy to finish in Herbert Shipman Park.

Race Time Limit:  Runners are expected to finish the race by 12 pm.  Water Stops will be closed based on a 6 hour marathon pace and runners slower than 15 min per mile pace will be required to be self-sufficient.

The race is restricted to 165 runners and race walkers. Additional participants may be added from the Waitlist.

A race to support the endemic birds of Hawai‘i through the Hawai‘i Forest Institute sponsored Keauhou Bird Conservation Center Discovery Forest in Volcano, HI.