Hibiscus Half Marathon, 15K and 5 Miler
Honolulu, HI
- Half Marathon, 15K, 5 Miler
- Road (Paved)
- Official race website
The annual Hibiscus Half Marathon is a fun, family-friendly way to spend Memorial Day weekend! The course starts and ends at Kapiolani Park at the Diamond Head end of Waikiki. Half Marathon, 15K or 5 miler options – if you walk a 17 minute mile or slower, we recommend you … MORE
Local Historical Weather (May 24):
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
| H (°F) | 82 | 84 | 84 | 85 | 85 |
| L (°F) | 70 | 73 | 75 | 74 | 72 |
Find Nearby Lodging (hotel, rental, etc.):
Just do one thing well
Pros: 1. Course had mile markers and six passes at aid stations that had water and Gatorade 2. Orange cones throughout course but only one to distinguish between the three … MORE
Pros:
1. Course had mile markers and six passes at aid stations that had water and Gatorade
2. Orange cones throughout course but only one to distinguish between the three distances
3. One stretch along diamond head that showed the beach, one inland
4. Aid station volunteers were helpful
5. Times race with early enough time before it got hot and humid (5:30 start) for half
6. Plenty of police to guide the route and stop cars and even an escort at the head
7. A tiny metal turtle luck charm
8. Orange slices and pocari sweat at the finish
9. Big cheers at the sprint finish!
Cons:
1. Mostly through residential streets so not much to see in terms of scenery. Quite a boring course. A trail half here would be awesome.
3. No snacks at aid stations
4. Quiet race. No music at the start at the park and minimal support throughout race but quite zen so it’s fine
5. Thin race shirt worse quality than 3 dollar swap meet. Just super thin cotton with white print. No thought into design.
6. Basic print medal usually reserved for low end races that cost 35 bucks in Cali. The medals looking at from 10 years ago looked best with an actual flower shape and well designed. It’d have been much better to do one thing well, like a good medal, than to do many of the other things poorly, crap shirt, crap medal, crap stations, crap mc.
7. There really wasn’t an expo as only one local run shop showed up, the run lab and some old swag from previous races for sale.
I’d much prefer a trail race through the mountains inland with views at the top. This one needed a much better course. This one had 400 feet of vert but a really flat vibe
Vacation or Race? Why Not Both!
A tropical getaway and a half marathon—turns out, I didn’t have to choose. The Hibiscus Half Marathon in Honolulu was the perfect blend of both. The race started at sunrise, … MORE
A tropical getaway and a half marathon—turns out, I didn’t have to choose. The Hibiscus Half Marathon in Honolulu was the perfect blend of both.
The race started at sunrise, with the first half heading straight into the golden light of a Hawaiian morning. After the turnaround, we cruised back with the island trade winds at our backs. Everything about it felt just right—scenery, vibes, and energy.
That said, it had been a long time since I ran in such warm and humid conditions. Just jogging from my hotel to the start line left me drenched in sweat. During the race, I made sure to grab at least two cups of water at every aid station—hydration was survival.
I finished in just under two hours—not chasing a PR, just soaking in the moment. It ended up being the perfect preview for something I’m already looking forward to: the Honolulu Marathon in the future. Can’t wait to be back!
Beautiful run and well organized race
Built a family vacation in O'ahu around this race as I work towards doing a half in all 50 states, so chose the race over other 1/2's on the islands … MORE
Built a family vacation in O’ahu around this race as I work towards doing a half in all 50 states, so chose the race over other 1/2’s on the islands mostly based on timing. So glad I did. Beautiful run with a well organized race. Packet pickup in a hotel was easy and low key (we stayed nearby so packet pickup and the start/finish line were walking distance. Park toilets at the start/finish meant real plumbing and that was a plus. Swag was modest, but the medal was perfect. Loved the sunrise over the ocean as we ran around the side of the island. There are some hills, but nothing devastating, if you’re taking it easy to enjoy the views it’s worth it. If you’re planning a trip for this one, the beaches, snorkeling, surfing, and Polynesian Cultural Center are all awesome. You should run this.
Breathtaking Views
What can I say? I'm running in paradise -- Diamond Head, the ocean ... ahhh. This race was soon after my foot surgery and I was not able to run … MORE
What can I say? I’m running in paradise — Diamond Head, the ocean … ahhh. This race was soon after my foot surgery and I was not able to run the half. One day I’ll be back to run the half!