Overall I liked this race, it was packed but that’s where part of the fun came from. Every part of the race you had people in all shapes and walks … MORE
Overall I liked this race, it was packed but that’s where part of the fun came from. Every part of the race you had people in all shapes and walks of life which made for a great race.
Mainly flat with a climb around mile 7 & 24(ish).
**Hot and humid race** which you should assume since it takes place on a tropical island, but I believe there were quite a few racers unprepared for the heat. Mid race was 80’s with 80% humidity. Lots of water stations, medical stations, viewers spraying people with water hoses along the way to keep everyone cool. I never saw fuel along the way, one table looked like it had stuff but had quickly ran out before half the participants even got there, so bring your own fuel.
Swag was okay, loved the medal but when I got mine it was scuffed up already and the finisher shirt snagged on everything. The expo had lots of additional options for merch just make sure you get there early and don’t wait because stuff sells out very quick.
If I get a wild hair I’d sign up again for it.
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First marathon- would possibly run again
Overall I liked this race, it was packed but that’s where part of the fun came from. Every part of the race you had people in all shapes and walks … MORE
Overall I liked this race, it was packed but that’s where part of the fun came from. Every part of the race you had people in all shapes and walks of life which made for a great race.
Mainly flat with a climb around mile 7 & 24(ish).
**Hot and humid race** which you should assume since it takes place on a tropical island, but I believe there were quite a few racers unprepared for the heat. Mid race was 80’s with 80% humidity. Lots of water stations, medical stations, viewers spraying people with water hoses along the way to keep everyone cool. I never saw fuel along the way, one table looked like it had stuff but had quickly ran out before half the participants even got there, so bring your own fuel.
Swag was okay, loved the medal but when I got mine it was scuffed up already and the finisher shirt snagged on everything. The expo had lots of additional options for merch just make sure you get there early and don’t wait because stuff sells out very quick.
If I get a wild hair I’d sign up again for it.
Start line fireworks
Tough race even with a 5am start. weather was warm and sun is always rough. great supportive crowd and runners were fantastic pushing as well. course was very scenic in … MORE
Tough race even with a 5am start. weather was warm and sun is always rough. great supportive crowd and runners were fantastic pushing as well. course was very scenic in 1/3rd of the race, few more hills then expected but a very good race to conquer Hawaii.
Cross another state off the list
Super chaotic start. No one paid attention to corrals so walkers and slower runners were up front at the start. Also lots of people were stopping to film the fireworks … MORE
Super chaotic start. No one paid attention to corrals so walkers and slower runners were up front at the start. Also lots of people were stopping to film the fireworks at the start. Total chaos.
Half the race is in the dark due to 5am start. Second half is an out and back that really doesn’t have much to look at.
The race is hot! And the final hill on Fiamond Back at mile 25 is ridiculous for the end of a marathon.
Paradise Delight!
The course itself is not so tough. It's the humidity and heat once the sun wakes up. So much aloha. Spectators will hose you down. Volunteers are so gracious. I … MORE
The course itself is not so tough. It’s the humidity and heat once the sun wakes up. So much aloha. Spectators will hose you down. Volunteers are so gracious. I drank sometimes 2 cups of water, gatorade.
The views are gorgeous.
No time limit race erases all pressure.
Running in paradise
The 10k starts and finishes while it’s still dark out so while you don’t get to enjoy the scenery much you do end up skipping the sun. It was already … MORE
The 10k starts and finishes while it’s still dark out so while you don’t get to enjoy the scenery much you do end up skipping the sun. It was already pretty hot and humid, and I was happy to complete the 10k! Hats off to other runners going for the full marathon. You share the course with the marathon runners for the 10k, and given the amount of people running this race, corrals were not enforced which meant dodging a lot of slower runners and walkers for almost half of the race. And the course remains busy with people for all of the 10k distance so I had to remain focused on not bumping into people. There were lots of folks cheering from the sidelines which added to the festive vibe. Overall, I still enjoyed the race. And PR’d!
Not a PR course, but good vibes.
This course was hard. I held my target pace to about 25km, but as the sun came up and the heat increased I fell off hard. I was shocked at … MORE
This course was hard. I held my target pace to about 25km, but as the sun came up and the heat increased I fell off hard. I was shocked at how many people were walking by mile 20. That final crest over Diamond head was brutal.
Amazing views and the most “major” you can get without a lottery. I’ll run it again in a few years with more prep for the heat.
Advice for first timers:
1. Get to your corral early. It was madness trying to push up to the right start pen.
2. Until the 10k split off it was very very crowded which made it difficult, lots of weaving around lost walkers.
3. Hit those water stations. The first hour and a half is in the dark but the sunrise changed everything.
4. Leave some gas in the tank for mile 24, the elevation chart downplays how hard that hill is.
The medal and race production was great, I felt like the expo was lackluster, expected more major brands to represent.
Overall, I felt like it was a great race even if it crushed me. Just go into it with appropriate expectations of the challenge.
Pre-holiday vacation destination race
Having an early morning start (before dawn) works out well for this race because once the sun comes up it really heats up on the island. The thought that you’d … MORE
Having an early morning start (before dawn) works out well for this race because once the sun comes up it really heats up on the island. The thought that you’d miss the coastal views goes away when you realize that much of the second half is a return from earlier on the course. Other bonuses for starting early are having fireworks at the start line and seeing the Christmas lights on full display downtown over the opening miles. The crowd support was fantastic, and I was even bequeathed a homemade lei from a local child. Staying in Waikiki Beach makes it walkable to the start and back again after finishing near the zoo. This was a great race to check off the Hawaii box for my 50-state quest.
Second Half got Hot
Awesome start with a firework show that continued as runners crossed the starting line. Recommend staying where you can walk to the start as traffic is tough race morning. Prepare … MORE
Awesome start with a firework show that continued as runners crossed the starting line. Recommend staying where you can walk to the start as traffic is tough race morning. Prepare for humidity and heat but this is a fun race with no time limit. Finisher medal is beautiful.
Scenic and memorable
I had some low expectations of this race due to some unfavorable reviews that I've read and heard. But, I was pleasantly surprised... Location: Waikiki Beach - lots of tourists, … MORE
I had some low expectations of this race due to some unfavorable reviews that I’ve read and heard. But, I was pleasantly surprised…
Location: Waikiki Beach – lots of tourists, but I didn’t mind. It was fun coming in the winter and seeing everyone on the beach swimming, surfing and walking around with bikinis and swim trunks. So many shops along the strip. I’m not much of a shopper but even I found a few things to purchase. Beautiful sunsets and sunrises.
Expo: In a big convention center but pretty sparse. Plenty of volunteers so no waiting. The thing I liked about it was that there was good race merch so I bought a little more than usual.
Race Start: This race set a record for me waking up at 2am. I was too far from the start to want to walk (2.5mi) but the shuttle pickup was next door. I was worried about not getting on the shuttle from previous years’ reports (and even this year I heard stories of missing the shuttles) , so I got there around 3am and hopped right on, getting to the race at 3:15am with a lot of time to, well, walk around and use the porto-potties a dozen times. The starting area is large, and there are plenty of porto-potties, but my biggest surprise is that there was no hydration or food available, besides some park drinking fountains. Quite surprising for a race this large. The corral system was fine, and, yes, I observed many people in a corral they were not supposed to be in, but I didn’t care as long as they didn’t start walking from the start. The ceremony is long but interesting and different with some Hawaiian traditions thrown in. Fireworks go off when it starts, and yes, several people videoing the fireworks rather than running. The first several miles is just about not tripping over people and watching your step. But this is nothing unique for a big city race. Overall I didn’t have any negative experiences with the congestion.
Race Course: Starting at 5am, it remains dark for a couple of hours. This is good because when the sun comes out it can definitely beat on you. It is well lit and no need for any additional lighting. I found it very beautiful at times, looking at lights on the hills and the ocean as the sun came up. The course goes up hill around mile 8-9 and it is long. And then it goes down some. Going out, the hill is not bad and a welcome change. The course goes out along the coast with very scenic views. I was sight-seeing while running the first 17 miles and even stopped for a couple of pictures. Then the course turns back. For me, it was down to business on the way back, more concentration on keeping my pace, looking at all of the people going out, and keeping my body as cool as possible. The sun is out, and my body starts to feel it. Around mile 23? the hills start again and this time not as easy. I had to do some walking and my legs were struggling. The good part was that around mile 24-25 it is a significant downhill. So even with my worn out legs, the gravity allowed me to keep running. The last half-mile goes flat but you can see the finish line. Seeing that kept me going.
Post race: I was zapped at the end, and needed to sit for a while. There is plenty of space and nice area to just hang and watch people. I was underwhelmed with the food and beverage offerings at the party, and this is my only minor gripe.
The medal is very nice!
I enjoyed this race quite a lot, and enjoyed staying in Waikiki.
Hot and humid race to be expected
Honolulu Marathon is a well staged event in December and works great as a destination/vacation race. Be prepared for heat and humidity. The start temperatures were in the low 70s … MORE
Honolulu Marathon is a well staged event in December and works great as a destination/vacation race. Be prepared for heat and humidity. The start temperatures were in the low 70s with the day getting into the 80s. The start line is jam packed as other reviewers have pointed out. Expect novice runners to be looking up at the fireworks after the gun instead of paying attention to their direction. Diamond Head is difficult in both directions and the middle part of the course in on an extended (5+miles) 3 lane highway with little shade. Be aware that the convention center has 650 parking spots but can fill up early on Saturday mornings.
Tough and Humbling Race
Location: The location is fantastic for a long weekend away. Beautiful beaches and plenty of fun things to do and see. Expo: No frills expo. Plenty of merch to buy. … MORE
Location: The location is fantastic for a long weekend away. Beautiful beaches and plenty of fun things to do and see.
Expo: No frills expo. Plenty of merch to buy. No giveaways or samples that I could see. The bib bag came with the bib and a Honolulu marathon sticker. You get your finisher shirt after the race.
Race: Expect to wake up at 2 AM for the 5AM race. I was glad to see that they had shuttles for participants on the far side of Waikiki (by the zoo). Shuttles run from 2-3:45. I got to the shuttle area around 3 and there were probably 30 buses and shuttles lined up and ready to go. Made it to the race corrals around 3:15 and it was a long wait from there. Ample restrooms. They show water at the start but it was literally a park water fountain. Also, bag drop is at the finish which is a different location (by the zoo). One poor guy had a full bag of things and didn’t have anywhere to check them at the start.
When race time came I moved to the corrals. Total honors system. They assign you a corral color based on expected finish time but nobody was looking so people just went where they wished. They did a Hawaiian prayer and song along with the national anthem which was pretty cool. The fireworks at the start were great! Probably at least 15 minutes of them. The first half of the race if you are towards the front is in the dark (not a bad thing). The second half is in the hot sun. Before the race I took in the race profile and saw a hill around mile 8/9 but I was not prepared for how big that hill would be. The map says 124 feet but it sure felt much higher and longer. Thank goodness it was still dark. The long and short of my race experience is that I was humbled by Honolulu. The sun, heat and humidity really got to me after months of fall/winter training in Michigan. I was about 20 minutes off of my Fall race in Chicago. It was a good experience but make sure you are fully prepped to run in 70-80 degree and humid weather.
Post race: Medal is really nice and shirt is ok quality. They give you a water, banana and Malisada pastry. You can watch your finish on a big screen which is a nice touch.
Other races: the weekend is set up so friends and family can also participate. My husband and I ran the Merrie Mile on Saturday. Fun little mile fun run. All sorts of costumes and antics. After the Merrie Mile a group of Elite runners run. It is amazing to see them run a sub4 minute mile. On the day of the marathon there is a Start to the Park 10k that begins at the same time. If marathons aren’t a thing for your spouse they can run the first 6 with you!
Way to many hills 😂
Very organized run, scenery was amazing but way too many hills back to back for me. Other than that it’s should be a bucket list run for sure. MORE
Very organized run, scenery was amazing but way too many hills back to back for me. Other than that it’s should be a bucket list run for sure.
Watch the elite!
The elite runners run after everyone else is done. Everyone Lines up around the route to see them run which is an amazing site. A really cool medal given. MORE
The elite runners run after everyone else is done. Everyone Lines up around the route to see them run which is an amazing site. A really cool medal given.
Not happy about the stations
The temperature was perfect and the scenery was absolutely beautiful. We did not know that there were no refueling options at the stations so we struggled with not being able … MORE
The temperature was perfect and the scenery was absolutely beautiful. We did not know that there were no refueling options at the stations so we struggled with not being able to eat while walking. We ended up stopping at a gas station to get some food just so we could finish. I recommend bringing snack to have along the way to make it easier.
Very Touristy
The race was definitely more geared towards tourists because most people were not runners (or experienced marathon runners). Most people that did this were walkers because this course has no … MORE
The race was definitely more geared towards tourists because most people were not runners (or experienced marathon runners). Most people that did this were walkers because this course has no time limit. The expo was huge and very nice to walk through! I wish I could’ve used the opportunities by the vendors, but I’m not from Hawaii, so I wouldn’t have been able to return.
The course itself wasn’t bad, but it was mostly flat. It was extremely hot (even at 5 am), so I didn’t enjoy that at all. There really weren’t many spectators, even though Honolulu is a big city. The finish line party was at a big park, so it was nice to relax there and drink coconut milk!
My first marathon ever and I loved it!
Aid stations were wonderful and adequately spaced and provided. Beautiful surroundings, amazing atmosphere, and fun finish with the ability to watch yourself cross the finish line via recorded video! MORE
Aid stations were wonderful and adequately spaced and provided. Beautiful surroundings, amazing atmosphere, and fun finish with the ability to watch yourself cross the finish line via recorded video!
Big Race, Beautiful City to Run
Very Big Race with majority of folks coming from Japan. Big Expo for 3 days. All Merchandize sold by second day with big queues for billing Easy to access start … MORE
Very Big Race with majority of folks coming from Japan.
Big Expo for 3 days. All Merchandize sold by second day with big queues for billing
Easy to access start line from Waikiki
Beautiful course with mercy on weather. On race day it depends on Wind and Hot weather. Enough Aid stations on course but not liked the self service where they are leaving running water all race time.
Post race area fine but too much walking for different areas.
Overall good race to tick off Hi with vacation.
Aloha Spirit
Note: This was my first marathon, let alone my first “world-class” marathon, so I can’t speak to how this race stacks up against others of its kind. Note: Due to … MORE
Note: This was my first marathon, let alone my first “world-class” marathon, so I can’t speak to how this race stacks up against others of its kind.
Note: Due to a knee injury in October 2022, I completed this race as a walker.
PRODUCTION PROS: The Expo before the race was efficient and orderly; bib pickup only took a few minutes despite how many participants there were. There were a bunch of vendors selling a wide variety of items, and there were Expo specials/discounts on many items. (I purchased three unique racing singlets and a tech hat for about a hundred dollars total: cuter and cheaper than the stock at my local running store in NH.)
The website was very helpful in terms of providing the information we needed to make it to the start line. The race shuttles were double-decker tour buses.
The race itself began with a bang (literally) as the runners were treated to a lengthy fireworks show at the start line. Water, Gatorade, Bathroom, and Medical stations were all present where the course map indicated. Most of the water stations were self-serve, and I used them as opportunities to re-wet my cooling towel. Many stations also had Vaseline, which was a godsend. All the volunteers where cheerful, encouraging, and enthusiastic, even 7+ hours into the event.
PRODUCTION CONS: The front of the “yellow” or 7+hr zone was almost a mile away from the starting line, and it took me 17 minutes to reach the start line after the race began. This is not a complaint against the race, just something to keep in mind if you’re planning to complete this or another large event as a walker/slow runner. A complaint I do have is that all the mile markers appeared to be off by 0.33-0.45 miles FARTHER away than anticipated. Several other runners I encountered noticed this as well. My Garmin watch indicated that I walked 26.98 miles from the START line to the FINISH line. The total distance from my “start spot” to the finish line was 27.5 miles.
COURSE PROS: It was awesome to walk through Honolulu at night, passing several famous landmarks all lit up for the event. The views were beautiful throughout much of the course, and those faster than I had the opportunity to see the sun rise on the beach. Mount Mauna Loa was erupting during the 2022 event, which made my course photos quite unique. I had hiked Diamond Head a couple days before the marathon (highly recommend!), and it was great to see the crater up close as we went around it. It was also really neat to see landmarks on the ground that I’d seen from the summit of DH (such as the lighthouse). The parts of this course that were enjoyable were incredibly enjoyable, and where there were views, they were stunning. Many locals came out to cheer and support, including a drumming team, a local band, and others holding up signs or wearing costumes.
COURSE CONS: Unfortunately, almost half of this out-and-back course was highway during which we had to watch other runners coming back. Walking on the black top was very hot, and there was no shade or scenery for many of the miles. In addition, I’d hoped for more beach than gentrified neighborhoods on this “race in paradise.” One final annoyance is that the bathroom lines were about 15 minutes *each* for the two stops I had to make.
SWAG: The medal for this event is amazing. It’s huge and gold and marks this race as the 50th anniversary of the Honolulu Marathon. The finisher shirt for this year is a gorgeous, universally-flattering green, with a beautiful logo design. For looks alone, these are by far my favorite two pieces of race swag. They did not give out shell necklaces as they had in previous years for this event. The only other “freebie” from the race pack was a large sticker commemorating the 50th anniversary of the race, which we received when we picked up our bibs.
AFTER-PARTY: Despite my slow finish time, the finisher area was still lively with enthusiastic staff. The medal volunteers were very smiley and congratulatory. The production unfortunately ran out of malasadas before I finished the race, so I went to Leonard’s Bakery the next morning on a local’s recommendation to get some. (AMAZING!) At the finish area, the production provided water, cold cans of coconut water, a banana, and one package of wafer cookies. It was a bit of a walk to find the finisher shirts, but they were very well-organized with different lines for men/women and each size, which made picking up my shirt very efficient. They had a huge video screen with the finish line video running on a 40-minute delay, so there was plenty of time to hydrate, refuel, change, and recover with legs up before walking over to the screen to watch my finish. They didn’t have any music or finish line events/attractions, but this made the park less crowded and noisy, which I appreciated.
OVERALL: For my first marathon, I don’t think I could have done better than this race. The lack of time limit made it a stress-free experience even knowing I’d have to walk every step, and the “aloha spirit” was present from the other runners, spectator/supporters, and volunteers. Overall, this was a great event, and if I lived in Hawai’i I’d probably do it every year. Mahalo!
Very Unorganized but you are in Hawaii
This race was beautiful, because it's in hawaii. That was the only positive that I would give the race. The expo was very small and had very little parking. The … MORE
This race was beautiful, because it’s in hawaii. That was the only positive that I would give the race. The expo was very small and had very little parking. The race start was a few miles from my hotel so I decided to take the shuttle. There was a mile long line of people that had the same idea as me. The race starts at 5 so at 430 having not even made it to the halfway point of the line (got there at 345) I got an uber. Once I got there the staging area was divided parallel to the course with several sets of barricades and the outhouses on the opposite side of me. I decided to wait till I saw one on the course. Well, the first set of toilets were all locked, so I wasn’t able to drop one till between mile 5 and 6. The views were great tho, and I hit sunrise right at the diamond head overlook so that was awesome. Water was staged very evenly and plentifully along with Gatorade. There was 1 gel station along the course. Finally, the finish corral was very disorganized and sprawling with various club tents. You had to leave the finishers area to get your shirt (a very rough fabric shirt that I will not be wearing) and a donut and water. Overall, the race isn’t organized, and you don’t really get much for doing it, but you are in Hawaii, so that makes up for it!
Way too busy, disorganized start
This was my first marathon experience, but I can’t imagine other races are so casual with starts. The line up was so clogged with walkers, elderly, and families with young … MORE
This was my first marathon experience, but I can’t imagine other races are so casual with starts. The line up was so clogged with walkers, elderly, and families with young children who were able to line up and start ahead of actual runners. This created a horrible back-up that lasted the first 5K. At this point, the race is too big to combine 10K traffic with the marathoners (27K runners this year). They should definitely split up the races at this point to facilitate better starts and ensure everyone starts according to ability (ie: legitimate runners should not have to bob and weave around old folks on crutches and young children—it’s dangerous for everyone!).