| 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |
| H (°F) | 83 | 82 | 81 | 83 | 80 |
| L (°F) | 75 | 72 | 74 | 69 | 72 |
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!
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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.
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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!
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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!
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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!).
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Great race, the 50th anniversary of the Honolulu marathon. They had 50 years to get it right and they sure did. Plenty of volunteers to guide you along your way … MORE
Great race, the 50th anniversary of the Honolulu marathon. They had 50 years to get it right and they sure did. Plenty of volunteers to guide you along your way to great fireworks display at the store. Along the way many beautiful Christmas decorations as the rain started at 5 AM and everything was lit up beautifully. And then we got to Diamondhead and were greeted with an absolutely stunning sunrise. The rest of the colors just continued with all the wonderful volunteers, plenty of support and some really wonderful people made a great day
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The Kalakaua Merrie Mile (the official name) is held Saturday Morning, the day before the marathon. It has a unique system, where everyone runs until the last finisher is done, … MORE
The Kalakaua Merrie Mile (the official name) is held Saturday Morning, the day before the marathon. It has a unique system, where everyone runs until the last finisher is done, and only then do they start the Elite race. the women have a 30 second head start before the men, and if they beat a man, they get $5,000 (I think). it has been very close, but so far the men have won it. several runners are sub-4, so it is a very exciting race to watch. for those running it, there is a hairpin U-turn at the halfway mark, so practice that if you are competing. also, start at the front of your wave if you want to run fast, so you don’t get blocked. since the marathon has no time limit, you can run the mile as hard as you want!
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Running in Hawaii is a dream. The scenery and just being in Hawaii is unparalleled. Don't be fooled, the humidity and UV index are no joke. Luckily this race starts … MORE
Running in Hawaii is a dream. The scenery and just being in Hawaii is unparalleled. Don’t be fooled, the humidity and UV index are no joke. Luckily this race starts at 5AM so the first two hours are run in the dark which helps to keep you cool in the beginning. It is also rainy season so the on and off drizzle in the mornings is a godsend. Once the sun appears, it gets significantly more challenging.
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First time post-COVID for the race meant that it was not operating at 'full strength' and didnt feel fully managed/coordinated. Planning to run again in 2022 and hoping that everything … MORE
First time post-COVID for the race meant that it was not operating at ‘full strength’ and didnt feel fully managed/coordinated. Planning to run again in 2022 and hoping that everything will be back to ‘normal’. Coming from the mainland I wasn’t fully prepared for how much my toes/feet would swell from the humidity–I think I lost 5 of 10 toenails from the run. The uphill going up Diamond Head is gradual and not as hard as you would think, coming at mile 22ish.
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I am an Oahu local that has enjoyed participating in this race the past couple years, it was the first marathon I ever did and inspired me to keep going … MORE
I am an Oahu local that has enjoyed participating in this race the past couple years, it was the first marathon I ever did and inspired me to keep going with my running. There is so much to enjoy at the Honolulu Marathon and there is a reason why it’s one of the most popular marathon races in the US. I cant wait to run this one again this year. I am hoping that it will be more support on the course in 2022, last year there were limited water stations past mile 8 with cups and runners that wanted to drink had to cup their hands under a pipe water system, it was a bit of a mess. I chalk this up to there being less runners last year because of COVID but really hoping the water cups come back. The health expo and finishers festival was also scaled back in 2021 I am hoping that COVID concerns will continue to dissipate and there can be a greater turn out in 2022.
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This was the first iteration of the race since the pandemic, and was well-organized with plenty of informative emails beforehand. The expo was tiny but this was due to pandemic … MORE
This was the first iteration of the race since the pandemic, and was well-organized with plenty of informative emails beforehand. The expo was tiny but this was due to pandemic precautions. The race starts early, which is great, and takes you through downtown with Christmas lights. The course weaves along ocean views and then turns inland; there is a long out-and-back that is flat but can be mentally challenging. The last few miles cover the same highway with the ocean views, which is spectacular; there is a hill at miles 24-25. The course support with water was excellent, with a combination of self-serve and fully supported water stops (don’t get your shoes wet at the self-serve stations!); there were also adequate port-a-pots along the route and one station had energy gel around mile 17ish. Course entertainment was lacking, but again, this was due to pandemic modifications–there were a few DJs and live bands out, but otherwise entertainment was sparse. The finish was great, back in Waikiki, and a fresh malasada post-race along with the usual water and banana. All-in-all a lovely race for HI with the expected humidity. I would enjoy doing it again when it is has all of the pre-pandemic amenitities.
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Signed up for the 1 mile run, the 10k run and the marathon to complete the big kahuna challenge for the extra swag. Def a good combo. Would recommend to … MORE
Signed up for the 1 mile run, the 10k run and the marathon to complete the big kahuna challenge for the extra swag. Def a good combo. Would recommend to anyone else. Wake up early because it is a bitch to park for the start.
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- you think, oh hawaii, it'll be the most gorgeous race ever. you run through waikiki in the dark, then run through gentrified neighborhoods and strip malls. barely see the … MORE
– you think, oh hawaii, it’ll be the most gorgeous race ever. you run through waikiki in the dark, then run through gentrified neighborhoods and strip malls. barely see the beach at all during the course.
– very humid
– i did like the international feel to the race though. a lot of japanese tourists running the race, which added a great unique flavor to the race.
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Although it was my first marathon, I ran a couple of half marathons before this and found that this race was the most disorganized one. The race starts at Ala … MORE
Although it was my first marathon, I ran a couple of half marathons before this and found that this race was the most disorganized one.
The race starts at Ala Moana Park and finishes at Kapiolani Park. There was Bus Service from the goal to the start, but the line was very long and we almost missed the start time.
There was no clothing check-in at the start area on Race Day – it was only on the day before from 10 am to 5 pm at Kapiolani.
At Ala Moana, portable restrooms were also mess. So many people lined up and the area was too dark to see anything inside the toilet.
It was instructed to stage in the corresponding banner area designated by bib color (by estimated goal time), but many were not following the rule. In fact, the staging area was so crowded, it was almost impossible to move from the entrance to the appropriate banner area.
There were no time pacers.
The first 10 K was from Waikiki to Downtown, before dawn. I saw some Christmas illuminations, but nothing was impressive. Since both Marathon and 10 K start from the same place at the same time (and as mentioned above slow runners and “walkers” were at up-front), the course was very crowded by runners/walkers of different pace.
The second 10K around Diamond Head was not so much the challenge, but the following 15 K on the highway was very long – I saw many people walking here. The last 5 K again around Diamond Head was supper challenging due to hill and hot and humid weather; the area was supposed to be with superb scenery, but I could not enjoy it very much.
Aid stations were plenty (16 stations) with water, Gatorade, and occasional gels, but I still got dehydrated.
The finish area was not organized either. Although I enjoyed Malasadas and banana, not much help was provided. It was not easy to find the finisher’s T-shirt distribution tent. Probably, there was enough support for Japanese runners/walkers who attended the race through private tours, but I felt official support from the organizer was minimal.
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I have a family that doesn't run, so this event gave them a holiday and me a chance to run guilt free. I went to the race expo the day … MORE
I have a family that doesn’t run, so this event gave them a holiday and me a chance to run guilt free.
I went to the race expo the day I landed on a Thursday. It was nice and quiet. There was a lot of stuff to buy and try.
The race itself is fairly flat. A few hills , but that isn’t what is going to get you. The heat and humidity are the tough bit. Don’t do what I did. I went into it pretty confident of a good time going out slow, with hopes for a faster second half. That was precisely the wrong strategy. By half way, the sun is up and the sunblock you have put on is making it really hard to sweat. This is a race where you need to cover as much ground as you can before sunrise. The race starts at 5:00 am, so you will get at least and hour and a half before it starts to get warm.
The race finish is well organised and the finisher shirt was great quality. Plenty of water, fruit and malasadas and space to sit down.
I will do this race again, but I will do a couple of things differently. I will go out harder than I did last time. When the sun is bearing down, I will slow down and take in more of the view. Second, I will wear runners designed for the summer running season instead of the winter version. A lot of people spray hoses in the second half to cool you down on the suburban back streets. Winter season running shoes don’t dry quickly like summer ones. I had the blisters to prove it.
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For me this was an okay marathon, not my favorite (besides the vacation area) by all means. The major sponsor is the Japanese Airlines, so they do cater to the … MORE
For me this was an okay marathon, not my favorite (besides the vacation area) by all means. The major sponsor is the Japanese Airlines, so they do cater to the more multi cultural groups a little more. Of which, the majority of the people on course and at the expo did not speak English. The course itself was great, with beautiful views, loved running at night with all the grand Christmas displays in the city. Course had a few hills, but more of just steady inclines, to me this was not too bad. It was a very hot & humid race, but no body can control the weather. The water stops were good, and always had water & Gatorade ready, as well as cold sponges later in the race (also Honey Stingers). Again the after race party was just okay, with large tents set up for Japanese Airlines groups. I really liked the gold finishers medals, on a rainbow ribbon. Also, enjoyed the short walk after the marathon into Waikiki for lunch and a quick dip in the ocean.
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The ONLY good thing about this event is some of the views. If you’re not from Hawaii, you wanna see the sights. You can see the sights on your own … MORE
The ONLY good thing about this event is some of the views. If you’re not from Hawaii, you wanna see the sights. You can see the sights on your own without wasting half your day on a run. But if you still think you wanna do this race, lemme tell you why you shouldn’t:
1) the tshirt is meh, ok and the medal is subpar, and you have to go hunting through the finish line festival post 26.2 miles to find where to get your shirt (I had to ask around)
2) there is no time limit on the race. This means people who shouldn’t be doing a marathon or going to be doing it. I didn’t have any business being there either as I didn’t train. But at least I’ve been an actual runner. There were too many people who just don’t understand basic race etiquette. Stopping in the middle of the crowd to take pictures of the STARTLINE! Stopping for several seconds in front of the photographers along the course, blocking others from getting their photos as they continue past. Stopping in the middle of the course at water stations. Cutting through and just generally having no regard for anyone else out there.
3) there is no limit on entrants. WAAAAYYYYY too many people on the course. Not enough room in the corrals; I couldn’t even get to my actual starting spot. At the start, there were too many people to really start moving until several hundred yards past the start line. For the first mile I spent more time running left and right than forward because of the slow moving large crowd. There were strollers, wheelchairs, little children (as young as toddlers), and people on crutches and canes. Also, the 10k and the full marathon start in the same place at the same time. So even more crowding than was necessary. (More on that later.) All they have to do is have the 10k start 1 hour later and they can fix that easily.
4) the 10k is course is literally just the first 10k of the marathon. If you do the 10k, you pass the 10k marker on the marathon course, continue a few hundred yards more, then randomly peel off to the right in a narrow hard to notice “finish line.” If you’re an idiot, you might miss it and keep moving down the marathon course. I noticed quite a few of these types of people.
5) there were not enough water stations and NO food stations. Even in December, by 8am it’s hot and humid in Honolulu. Yet this race had fewer water stations than any other one I’ve ever done and it was the first ever that had 0 food stations. It would’ve been an easy way for them to add a sponsor even, but nope. I usually don’t run actual events with my own water as there is always enough on the course. Instead, I had to stop twice to get Powerade or else fall to dehydration due to the hot humid weather and the lack of water stations. Fortunately, I carried extra energy gels with me, so the lack of race stops didn’t affect me there.
6) medical was horribly unprepared and understaffed. Due to there being so nonrunners in a hot and humid environment, medical staff had their hands full with legitimate serious medical concerns (I saw several people removed from course by ambulance). This left no skilled personnel to assist with minor medical needs. I asked for an ice wrap for my knee. I was handed a snack size ziplock bag with a couple pieces of ice and sent away. Only after I insisted and continued to pester the non-emergency staff, did I finally get the tape guy (literally was this one guy’s only task) to come over and get me my wrap. I get it, there are more important medical concerns to deal with than my swollen, aching, and tired knee. But this staff of volunteers were not medically trained and had no clue what they were doing. And they were hopelessly understaffed. With 30,000+ runners, most of whom are not actually physically fit, in an extremely dangerous weather environment, you should know to plan for more medical care.
This race was overcrowded, mismanaged, and just all around extremely disappointing. I will never run it again and I highly suggest you don’t either. But, if you do insist on running it, just don’t plan on a PR (too crowded to get a good pace, too hot to push your hardest) and make sure you properly prepare for the conditions (heat and lack of replenishment on course).
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This is just a fun one-mile family event. Wave started but still there were too many people on the course. Only positive was scenery at Waikiki since it started at … MORE
This is just a fun one-mile family event. Wave started but still there were too many people on the course. Only positive was scenery at Waikiki since it started at 7 am – instead of 5 am for the marathon on the following day. I could see the beach!
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This race is very popular with very poor crowd control. With a mass start and the Marathon and 10K both starting at the same time there was no room to … MORE
This race is very popular with very poor crowd control. With a mass start and the Marathon and 10K both starting at the same time there was no room to move, making pacing at the start of the race very difficult.
The scenery was amazing, the route rather easy with just one hill, which again was super crowded taking away from the experience for me.
The finisher medal is huge and the finisher T-shirt was good quality.
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What could possibly go wrong with a race in paradise? Had high hopes for this race considering it's one of the largest marathons in the world, but in hindsight I … MORE
What could possibly go wrong with a race in paradise? Had high hopes for this race considering it’s one of the largest marathons in the world, but in hindsight I should have gone in with little to zero expectation.
Expo: Held at the Hawaii Convention Center, free trolley transportation was provided to/from Waikiki but my best advice is don’t count on it. The stops were not labeled at all so unless you spotted one of the trolleys with a huge sign that said “Honolulu Marathon Expo” on the road there was no way you could have figured out where the stop was. I asked a cop and some local ambassadors about it but they didn’t seem to have a clue. You’d think a race this big would be organized better.
Race Start: Utter chaos. Heard about the disorganized race start but was told by the production that corral placement would be better enforced this year – didn’t happen. The announcers said many times in English and Japanese that runners were supposed to line up according to their bib colors, but a race with no time limit meant you had walkers who were not trained on proper race etiquette lining up in the front such that they walked right off the bat, creating a huge backlog of runners. I ran the first five miles or so trying to weave through the sea of walkers. The only positive aspect of the race start was the fireworks and the bus that transported runners from Honolulu Zoo to the start line at Ala Moana (highly recommend staying in Waikiki for the race as the walk from my hotel to the zoo was about 10 minutes).
Course: Not too hilly at ~100 ft elevation. Start at Ala Moana, run through Waikiki in the dark and some multi-million dollar homes near Kahala Beach to finally finish at Kapiolani Park. Scenery was just mediocre, so it’s best not to get your hopes up.
Aid Stations: Water and gatorade at every station and three energy gel stations. The pre-race instruction noted that there was energy gel provided at Mile 24 but in actuality that was provided at Mile 22.
Crowd Support: Some but not to the magnitude you’d expect at a large marathon. Some goodies were handed out but they seemed to be catered to Japanese runners only (perhaps sponsored by the tour groups).
Race Finish: After crossing the finish line I was immediately given a shell lei as well as the medal. However, the finisher village was another chaos. There were no signs directing you to the proper area for prize pickup so after running 26.2 miles you had to drag your tired self to every tent looking for the finisher shirt and the infamous malasadas.
Final Thoughts: This isn’t a PR race. In addition to dodging people for the first five miles of the race, running in the heat and humidity is not something I am used to, so that put a damper on my time. In any case, if you want to check Hawaii off on the 50-state challenge then go for it, otherwise don’t bother.
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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!).
Mahalo!
Great race, the 50th anniversary of the Honolulu marathon. They had 50 years to get it right and they sure did. Plenty of volunteers to guide you along your way … MORE
Great race, the 50th anniversary of the Honolulu marathon. They had 50 years to get it right and they sure did. Plenty of volunteers to guide you along your way to great fireworks display at the store. Along the way many beautiful Christmas decorations as the rain started at 5 AM and everything was lit up beautifully. And then we got to Diamondhead and were greeted with an absolutely stunning sunrise. The rest of the colors just continued with all the wonderful volunteers, plenty of support and some really wonderful people made a great day
Love the Elite Race after the Normal one
The Kalakaua Merrie Mile (the official name) is held Saturday Morning, the day before the marathon. It has a unique system, where everyone runs until the last finisher is done, … MORE
The Kalakaua Merrie Mile (the official name) is held Saturday Morning, the day before the marathon. It has a unique system, where everyone runs until the last finisher is done, and only then do they start the Elite race. the women have a 30 second head start before the men, and if they beat a man, they get $5,000 (I think). it has been very close, but so far the men have won it. several runners are sub-4, so it is a very exciting race to watch. for those running it, there is a hairpin U-turn at the halfway mark, so practice that if you are competing. also, start at the front of your wave if you want to run fast, so you don’t get blocked. since the marathon has no time limit, you can run the mile as hard as you want!
Fairytale race in a fairytale place!
Running in Hawaii is a dream. The scenery and just being in Hawaii is unparalleled. Don't be fooled, the humidity and UV index are no joke. Luckily this race starts … MORE
Running in Hawaii is a dream. The scenery and just being in Hawaii is unparalleled. Don’t be fooled, the humidity and UV index are no joke. Luckily this race starts at 5AM so the first two hours are run in the dark which helps to keep you cool in the beginning. It is also rainy season so the on and off drizzle in the mornings is a godsend. Once the sun appears, it gets significantly more challenging.
Watch Your Toes!
First time post-COVID for the race meant that it was not operating at 'full strength' and didnt feel fully managed/coordinated. Planning to run again in 2022 and hoping that everything … MORE
First time post-COVID for the race meant that it was not operating at ‘full strength’ and didnt feel fully managed/coordinated. Planning to run again in 2022 and hoping that everything will be back to ‘normal’. Coming from the mainland I wasn’t fully prepared for how much my toes/feet would swell from the humidity–I think I lost 5 of 10 toenails from the run. The uphill going up Diamond Head is gradual and not as hard as you would think, coming at mile 22ish.
Beautiful Run To Remember
I am an Oahu local that has enjoyed participating in this race the past couple years, it was the first marathon I ever did and inspired me to keep going … MORE
I am an Oahu local that has enjoyed participating in this race the past couple years, it was the first marathon I ever did and inspired me to keep going with my running. There is so much to enjoy at the Honolulu Marathon and there is a reason why it’s one of the most popular marathon races in the US. I cant wait to run this one again this year. I am hoping that it will be more support on the course in 2022, last year there were limited water stations past mile 8 with cups and runners that wanted to drink had to cup their hands under a pipe water system, it was a bit of a mess. I chalk this up to there being less runners last year because of COVID but really hoping the water cups come back. The health expo and finishers festival was also scaled back in 2021 I am hoping that COVID concerns will continue to dissipate and there can be a greater turn out in 2022.
Lovely views with hills and humidity
This was the first iteration of the race since the pandemic, and was well-organized with plenty of informative emails beforehand. The expo was tiny but this was due to pandemic … MORE
This was the first iteration of the race since the pandemic, and was well-organized with plenty of informative emails beforehand. The expo was tiny but this was due to pandemic precautions. The race starts early, which is great, and takes you through downtown with Christmas lights. The course weaves along ocean views and then turns inland; there is a long out-and-back that is flat but can be mentally challenging. The last few miles cover the same highway with the ocean views, which is spectacular; there is a hill at miles 24-25. The course support with water was excellent, with a combination of self-serve and fully supported water stops (don’t get your shoes wet at the self-serve stations!); there were also adequate port-a-pots along the route and one station had energy gel around mile 17ish. Course entertainment was lacking, but again, this was due to pandemic modifications–there were a few DJs and live bands out, but otherwise entertainment was sparse. The finish was great, back in Waikiki, and a fresh malasada post-race along with the usual water and banana. All-in-all a lovely race for HI with the expected humidity. I would enjoy doing it again when it is has all of the pre-pandemic amenitities.
the big kahuna challenge
Signed up for the 1 mile run, the 10k run and the marathon to complete the big kahuna challenge for the extra swag. Def a good combo. Would recommend to … MORE
Signed up for the 1 mile run, the 10k run and the marathon to complete the big kahuna challenge for the extra swag. Def a good combo. Would recommend to anyone else. Wake up early because it is a bitch to park for the start.
little disappointing
- you think, oh hawaii, it'll be the most gorgeous race ever. you run through waikiki in the dark, then run through gentrified neighborhoods and strip malls. barely see the … MORE
– you think, oh hawaii, it’ll be the most gorgeous race ever. you run through waikiki in the dark, then run through gentrified neighborhoods and strip malls. barely see the beach at all during the course.
– very humid
– i did like the international feel to the race though. a lot of japanese tourists running the race, which added a great unique flavor to the race.
Hot, humid, and crowded
Although it was my first marathon, I ran a couple of half marathons before this and found that this race was the most disorganized one. The race starts at Ala … MORE
Although it was my first marathon, I ran a couple of half marathons before this and found that this race was the most disorganized one.
The race starts at Ala Moana Park and finishes at Kapiolani Park. There was Bus Service from the goal to the start, but the line was very long and we almost missed the start time.
There was no clothing check-in at the start area on Race Day – it was only on the day before from 10 am to 5 pm at Kapiolani.
At Ala Moana, portable restrooms were also mess. So many people lined up and the area was too dark to see anything inside the toilet.
It was instructed to stage in the corresponding banner area designated by bib color (by estimated goal time), but many were not following the rule. In fact, the staging area was so crowded, it was almost impossible to move from the entrance to the appropriate banner area.
There were no time pacers.
The first 10 K was from Waikiki to Downtown, before dawn. I saw some Christmas illuminations, but nothing was impressive. Since both Marathon and 10 K start from the same place at the same time (and as mentioned above slow runners and “walkers” were at up-front), the course was very crowded by runners/walkers of different pace.
The second 10K around Diamond Head was not so much the challenge, but the following 15 K on the highway was very long – I saw many people walking here. The last 5 K again around Diamond Head was supper challenging due to hill and hot and humid weather; the area was supposed to be with superb scenery, but I could not enjoy it very much.
Aid stations were plenty (16 stations) with water, Gatorade, and occasional gels, but I still got dehydrated.
The finish area was not organized either. Although I enjoyed Malasadas and banana, not much help was provided. It was not easy to find the finisher’s T-shirt distribution tent. Probably, there was enough support for Japanese runners/walkers who attended the race through private tours, but I felt official support from the organizer was minimal.
Christmas in Hawaii
I have a family that doesn't run, so this event gave them a holiday and me a chance to run guilt free. I went to the race expo the day … MORE
I have a family that doesn’t run, so this event gave them a holiday and me a chance to run guilt free.
I went to the race expo the day I landed on a Thursday. It was nice and quiet. There was a lot of stuff to buy and try.
The race itself is fairly flat. A few hills , but that isn’t what is going to get you. The heat and humidity are the tough bit. Don’t do what I did. I went into it pretty confident of a good time going out slow, with hopes for a faster second half. That was precisely the wrong strategy. By half way, the sun is up and the sunblock you have put on is making it really hard to sweat. This is a race where you need to cover as much ground as you can before sunrise. The race starts at 5:00 am, so you will get at least and hour and a half before it starts to get warm.
The race finish is well organised and the finisher shirt was great quality. Plenty of water, fruit and malasadas and space to sit down.
I will do this race again, but I will do a couple of things differently. I will go out harder than I did last time. When the sun is bearing down, I will slow down and take in more of the view. Second, I will wear runners designed for the summer running season instead of the winter version. A lot of people spray hoses in the second half to cool you down on the suburban back streets. Winter season running shoes don’t dry quickly like summer ones. I had the blisters to prove it.
Honolulu
For me this was an okay marathon, not my favorite (besides the vacation area) by all means. The major sponsor is the Japanese Airlines, so they do cater to the … MORE
For me this was an okay marathon, not my favorite (besides the vacation area) by all means. The major sponsor is the Japanese Airlines, so they do cater to the more multi cultural groups a little more. Of which, the majority of the people on course and at the expo did not speak English. The course itself was great, with beautiful views, loved running at night with all the grand Christmas displays in the city. Course had a few hills, but more of just steady inclines, to me this was not too bad. It was a very hot & humid race, but no body can control the weather. The water stops were good, and always had water & Gatorade ready, as well as cold sponges later in the race (also Honey Stingers). Again the after race party was just okay, with large tents set up for Japanese Airlines groups. I really liked the gold finishers medals, on a rainbow ribbon. Also, enjoyed the short walk after the marathon into Waikiki for lunch and a quick dip in the ocean.
HUGE disappointment
The ONLY good thing about this event is some of the views. If you’re not from Hawaii, you wanna see the sights. You can see the sights on your own … MORE
The ONLY good thing about this event is some of the views. If you’re not from Hawaii, you wanna see the sights. You can see the sights on your own without wasting half your day on a run. But if you still think you wanna do this race, lemme tell you why you shouldn’t:
1) the tshirt is meh, ok and the medal is subpar, and you have to go hunting through the finish line festival post 26.2 miles to find where to get your shirt (I had to ask around)
2) there is no time limit on the race. This means people who shouldn’t be doing a marathon or going to be doing it. I didn’t have any business being there either as I didn’t train. But at least I’ve been an actual runner. There were too many people who just don’t understand basic race etiquette. Stopping in the middle of the crowd to take pictures of the STARTLINE! Stopping for several seconds in front of the photographers along the course, blocking others from getting their photos as they continue past. Stopping in the middle of the course at water stations. Cutting through and just generally having no regard for anyone else out there.
3) there is no limit on entrants. WAAAAYYYYY too many people on the course. Not enough room in the corrals; I couldn’t even get to my actual starting spot. At the start, there were too many people to really start moving until several hundred yards past the start line. For the first mile I spent more time running left and right than forward because of the slow moving large crowd. There were strollers, wheelchairs, little children (as young as toddlers), and people on crutches and canes. Also, the 10k and the full marathon start in the same place at the same time. So even more crowding than was necessary. (More on that later.) All they have to do is have the 10k start 1 hour later and they can fix that easily.
4) the 10k is course is literally just the first 10k of the marathon. If you do the 10k, you pass the 10k marker on the marathon course, continue a few hundred yards more, then randomly peel off to the right in a narrow hard to notice “finish line.” If you’re an idiot, you might miss it and keep moving down the marathon course. I noticed quite a few of these types of people.
5) there were not enough water stations and NO food stations. Even in December, by 8am it’s hot and humid in Honolulu. Yet this race had fewer water stations than any other one I’ve ever done and it was the first ever that had 0 food stations. It would’ve been an easy way for them to add a sponsor even, but nope. I usually don’t run actual events with my own water as there is always enough on the course. Instead, I had to stop twice to get Powerade or else fall to dehydration due to the hot humid weather and the lack of water stations. Fortunately, I carried extra energy gels with me, so the lack of race stops didn’t affect me there.
6) medical was horribly unprepared and understaffed. Due to there being so nonrunners in a hot and humid environment, medical staff had their hands full with legitimate serious medical concerns (I saw several people removed from course by ambulance). This left no skilled personnel to assist with minor medical needs. I asked for an ice wrap for my knee. I was handed a snack size ziplock bag with a couple pieces of ice and sent away. Only after I insisted and continued to pester the non-emergency staff, did I finally get the tape guy (literally was this one guy’s only task) to come over and get me my wrap. I get it, there are more important medical concerns to deal with than my swollen, aching, and tired knee. But this staff of volunteers were not medically trained and had no clue what they were doing. And they were hopelessly understaffed. With 30,000+ runners, most of whom are not actually physically fit, in an extremely dangerous weather environment, you should know to plan for more medical care.
This race was overcrowded, mismanaged, and just all around extremely disappointing. I will never run it again and I highly suggest you don’t either. But, if you do insist on running it, just don’t plan on a PR (too crowded to get a good pace, too hot to push your hardest) and make sure you properly prepare for the conditions (heat and lack of replenishment on course).
Not good enough for Marathon warmup
This is just a fun one-mile family event. Wave started but still there were too many people on the course. Only positive was scenery at Waikiki since it started at … MORE
This is just a fun one-mile family event. Wave started but still there were too many people on the course. Only positive was scenery at Waikiki since it started at 7 am – instead of 5 am for the marathon on the following day. I could see the beach!
Too busy to enjoy
This race is very popular with very poor crowd control. With a mass start and the Marathon and 10K both starting at the same time there was no room to … MORE
This race is very popular with very poor crowd control. With a mass start and the Marathon and 10K both starting at the same time there was no room to move, making pacing at the start of the race very difficult.
The scenery was amazing, the route rather easy with just one hill, which again was super crowded taking away from the experience for me.
The finisher medal is huge and the finisher T-shirt was good quality.
Run once and move on
What could possibly go wrong with a race in paradise? Had high hopes for this race considering it's one of the largest marathons in the world, but in hindsight I … MORE
What could possibly go wrong with a race in paradise? Had high hopes for this race considering it’s one of the largest marathons in the world, but in hindsight I should have gone in with little to zero expectation.
Expo: Held at the Hawaii Convention Center, free trolley transportation was provided to/from Waikiki but my best advice is don’t count on it. The stops were not labeled at all so unless you spotted one of the trolleys with a huge sign that said “Honolulu Marathon Expo” on the road there was no way you could have figured out where the stop was. I asked a cop and some local ambassadors about it but they didn’t seem to have a clue. You’d think a race this big would be organized better.
Race Start: Utter chaos. Heard about the disorganized race start but was told by the production that corral placement would be better enforced this year – didn’t happen. The announcers said many times in English and Japanese that runners were supposed to line up according to their bib colors, but a race with no time limit meant you had walkers who were not trained on proper race etiquette lining up in the front such that they walked right off the bat, creating a huge backlog of runners. I ran the first five miles or so trying to weave through the sea of walkers. The only positive aspect of the race start was the fireworks and the bus that transported runners from Honolulu Zoo to the start line at Ala Moana (highly recommend staying in Waikiki for the race as the walk from my hotel to the zoo was about 10 minutes).
Course: Not too hilly at ~100 ft elevation. Start at Ala Moana, run through Waikiki in the dark and some multi-million dollar homes near Kahala Beach to finally finish at Kapiolani Park. Scenery was just mediocre, so it’s best not to get your hopes up.
Aid Stations: Water and gatorade at every station and three energy gel stations. The pre-race instruction noted that there was energy gel provided at Mile 24 but in actuality that was provided at Mile 22.
Crowd Support: Some but not to the magnitude you’d expect at a large marathon. Some goodies were handed out but they seemed to be catered to Japanese runners only (perhaps sponsored by the tour groups).
Race Finish: After crossing the finish line I was immediately given a shell lei as well as the medal. However, the finisher village was another chaos. There were no signs directing you to the proper area for prize pickup so after running 26.2 miles you had to drag your tired self to every tent looking for the finisher shirt and the infamous malasadas.
Final Thoughts: This isn’t a PR race. In addition to dodging people for the first five miles of the race, running in the heat and humidity is not something I am used to, so that put a damper on my time. In any case, if you want to check Hawaii off on the 50-state challenge then go for it, otherwise don’t bother.