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    Honolulu Marathon

    4.2 (90 reviews)

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    2021- going down Kilauea Ave, making the right turn from 18th Ave Makai.
    Ric C.

    The Honolulu Marathon is the people's marathon. The finish line stays intact and there are staff/volunteers who will cheer and applaud for every last runner/walker who has not dropped out of the race. Many people have done this marathon multiple times- some have run the marathon every time it's been run. I was fortunate to have completed one marathon many, many years ago and can at least say I finished it. Checked off one more bucket list item. It's hard to describe being part of a large mass of humanity- moving forward when the gun goes off near Ala Moana Center in the early morning hours of Sunday. The beginning steps of what will be many steps towards completing 26.2 miles. Although I did end up walking the race more than jogging, at least I can say I completed it. A personal accomplishment that I am happy I was able to do. This first race since the start of the pandemic is a special one in so many ways and by going down to watch and cheer on the runners near Kaimuki Middle rekindled memories of what it was like for me. Much mahalos goes to the staff, volunteers, sponsors and everyone who makes the marathon run as smoothly as can be. The people's marathon- the Honolulu Marathon, a treasured and unforgettable experience.

    Right before the starting line.
    Frankie A.

    Founded by former Honolulu Mayor Frank Fasi, since 1973 the Honolulu Marathon is the 4th largest marathon in the US, taking place each December. There is no time limit & this particular marathon attract participants not only for the sake of competition but also the quest for personal longevity and an enhanced quality of life. & where else can you run while having prestine views of Waikiki beaches & the ocean? This year drew almost 30,000 participants & I was so happy to see familiar & new faces alike since the pandemic! Here's my journey during 2nd run of the Honolulu Marathon: -Starting line: Queen St & Ala Moana Blvd -Chinatown Flores building: on your left -Honolulu Hale & @honolulucitylights: on your left - @alamoanacenter & the Santa statue! -Waikiki Beachwalk: on your right (had brunch at @westmancafe last month, check them out before they close this location!) -Waikiki Beach & Kapiolani Park: on your right -Diamond Head hills before passing Kaimuki Middle on your right -Kahala Mall: on your left before entering the Kalaniana'ole Hwy stretch -Hawaii Kai: you'll soon turn around & double back -Diamond Head hills (again): once you see the breathtaking view of the ocean on your left, it's all downhill which is an awesome feeling! (My phone died on me) -Back at Kapiolani Park where it's homestretch towards the finish line! I highly recommend & challange anyone to run this next year, might see you there!

    Helicopter Flight Over Diamondhead (Much Easier than Running Around Diamondhead!)
    Jun L.

    My very last Yelp review for 2018... choosing a bucket list item that I was able to accomplish in 2018... the Honolulu Marathon! So glad that I was able to run my 2nd ever marathon in Honolulu. 4 stars!!!! To me, Honolulu is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. I can never get tired of visiting Hawaii, so why not run a marathon all over Honolulu! It's the perfect runcation! The course starts right in front of Ala Moana Beach and winds through Downtown Honolulu to pass sites such as the Aloha Tower, City Hall, Chinatown, and Iolani Palace. After a warmup of about 5 miles, the course then heads to Waikiki, where one passes by the Ala Wai Canal, Waikiki Beach, and of course the countless high-rise hotels and condos that line Kalakaua Avenue. After Waikiki, the course goes all the way around Diamondhead, where one sees the best ocean views of the course. Yes, the Diamondhead part of the course is the most challenging, but definitely the most breathtaking given the spectacular ocean views. After Diamondhead, the course goes all the way to Hawaii Kai, where one can catch a glimpse of Koko Head. The course then loops back towards Diamondhead where the finish line at Kapiolani Park awaits. The Honolulu Marathon course is definitely deserving of 5 stars! And it's not just the course that makes this race worthy of 5 stars. The staff organizers and volunteers, race website, the email communication leading up to the race, the pre-race expo held at the Hawaii Convention Center, the fireworks at the start of the race, and the free shuttle to the pre-race expo as well as to the start line are also 5-star worthy! So why just 4 stars overall???? The Honolulu Marathon is the 4th largest marathon in the United States with over 25,000 runners. There were designated corrals at the start line in which runners were expected to line up according to their finish time, but the race organizers relied on the honor system, which so many runners (even walkers) did not follow. No one checked so why not just go as close to the start line? To make matters worse, there were no staggered starts for each corral. Once the elite runners crossed the start line, everyone else followed them so a terrible bottleneck of thousands of runners packed like sardines started running together at the start line. So not only do you have to start running at a much slower pace at the start of the race since there's just too many people around you, you'll probably end up having to weave through slower runners and walkers, which wastes much needed energy for the race. Also, there are sections in which the road becomes too narrow for such a massive number of runners, such as the loop around Diamondhead. During the race, I witnessed at least 3 runners accidentally fall due to contact with other runners! Sadly, not feeling safe during a marathon run is more than enough for me to downgrade to 4 overall stars. My only other marathon, the San Francisco marathon, strongly enforced corral start times as well as started each corral of runners with staggered starts. These race features made the SF race so much more pleasant but more importantly safer! The Honolulu Marathon staff can definitely learn a lot from the San Francisco Marathon staff. If you run the Honolulu Marathon, it's still an amazing experience given the course, but just be very careful and mindful of the runners around you. It's definitely a 26.2 mile run/jog/walk in paradise, deserving of 4 stars!!!! Thank you so much to the organizers, staff, sponsors, and volunteers who make it possible. Will I do it again??? The goal is to come back even stronger in the 50th running of the race... I'll conquer you then Diamondhead!!!!

    Come the day before for photo opps.
    Yuko H.

    For my 1,500th review, I picked somewhere special. Bucket list: run Honolulu Marathon, checked! Registration for main lander was available late January. Be sure to register within 3 days to take advantage of the lowest price. They were still accepting registration two days before the race, but always good to save money. Cost for 2018 race was $70. Information: download their official app to help you understand the logistics. They will also sends you several emails. I read past participants reviews here and some complained about post race activists at the park. I came the day before to learn where everything is located and it was easy to find where I needed to go to get food and finishers T-shirts. Bib pick up: offered for three days. Very well organized. # of vendors are smaller compared to other large race. Mostly geared towards Japanese visitors. Nothing much was included in the race packet. Race Day: my hotel was near the finish line. A free shuttle bus operates from 2am to 4am to the start line. I was warned how busy they get after 3:30am. I got there around 3:15am and waited just about 5 minutes. Restrooms near the bridge to cross over to the start line had a long line but further ones didn't have any lines. Color coded corral made it easy to follow. They kept making announcements every 5 minutes how important it is to follow the correct corral both in English and Japanese. I thought it was pretty organized. 5am fireworks are spectacular. I didn't realize how close they were. It was really nice. Race: gets pretty hilly near the diamond head. Earlier is easy but coming back around mile 23, I ended up walking. I saw three gel stations but we were advised to pack our own and I carried 5 of them with me. Volunteers had some food for runners. I liked four of sponges section. I sprayed water from my head to helped me cool down. I also tried Sato's cool spray. Not sure how it works but helped me keep going each time. It could have been just in my head. View of the ocean was very nice. Post race: I really liked cold shower. My running pouch was water proof and I just went in and got myself totally wet. I also liked they had bags of ice. I sat on the ice bag for a while and it really helped me with pains. They have lots of sponsored VIP tents, they were all for Japanese visitors. Japanese runners also had special support from sponsors. I suppose those are included in their registration fee. Overall, where else can you run in such a nice weather in December? Great race to end your year. I enjoyed the challenge and views of ocean. Official and unofficial volunteers were very cheerful and great aloha spirits.

    50th Anniversary Finisher's Magazine 2022
    Monique T.

    Expo 2022: The Expo was finally back in its entirety instead of using the small 4th floor ballroom, it was in Kamehameha I Ballroom one of the largest ballrooms in Hawaii Convention Center. It was well organized with plenty of volunteers as the marathon bib numbers were lined out on the left and the Start to Park and Kalakaua Merrie Mile were on the right side. Since it was the 50th we got a decal included with our clear clothing bags as we picked up our bibs and shirts for the 10k and 1 mile races. The Mizuno Official Merchandise area was crowded, lots of products sold out in the first day of the expo and the best deal was half off of their wave riders 25 running sneakers which for women sold out in the first day of the expo. I did get some shirts, towels, bag and Mizuno wave rider 25 running sneakers at the expo since the deal was too good to pass up on it. The other local and mainland vendors were at the expo from Running Lab Hawaii, Lilikoi Wear, HI Dow, Massage Gun Vendors, Daiwa, Phiten and more all with good discounts and were selling out of their products as well. So get there early if you want anything good at the expo and be prepared to spend money even with good discounts it can add up to be a lot quickly. Two people fainted in the Mizuno area from the heat and humidity requiring EMS medical attention while waiting in the hour plus line to check out. They used to have a Waikiki shuttle that would take you to and from the expo but that hasn't returned yet post pandemic. Kalakaua Merrie Mile 2022: Kalakaua Merrie Mile is always a fun and short race especially seeing all the cute costumes that people wear from dinosaurs, blue dinosaurs, hula girls, Mario and Luigi, and more. There's plenty of children with their parents that do this race as well. It was fun and easy to do, I would highly recommend it. The best part was all the drinks and snacks at the end from moon pie, coconut water, and pressed fresh pineapple juice from Lanikai Juice. I drank the coconut water when I got home, used the moon pie as my breakfast for the 10k race and finished the pineapple juice after my 10k race. We also got to see Elite athletes that had a couple US Olympians run the race after we were all done with our mile race. So much fun! Honolulu Marathon Start to Park 10k 2022: I got to the shuttle pick up at Honolulu Zoo at 2 am on the first shuttle out they used the tourist double decker buses decorated with Christmas lights as we were all escorted by a few solo bike HPD officers to the Start line near Macy's Ala Moana; it was a really cool experience. It was the first year to have the shuttle to the start that they had post pandemic. We still had to walk about a mile to the actual start line after getting dropped off by the marathon shuttle. I don't know why they put the porta potties and self filling water stations so far away at Magic Island this year, which is another mile from Ala Moana Blvd but it wasn't as convenient as years past when they had them lined up closer to the street making easier for runners to get ready and on the race to use it if they really needed to use the restroom. They need more porta potties along the entire route even the 10k route. All the aid stations were well staffed with plenty of volunteers giving out water and first aid. It's beautiful as always seeing the fireworks at the starting line and Honolulu City Lights all decorated for the holidays. The fireworks were a little too close to comfort only a few meters away in the left side of the street closest to the ocean. I always cover my ears as it gets very loud when running close to it and it did make me run faster to get away from the fireworks being so close to me. We got a malasada and small banana at the finish line after our medals but we had to wait 15 to 20 minutes for the malasadas as they were being made fresh for us. There was only a self filled water station for us to use while waiting for the malasadas and bananas. Then I went on to see some professional Elite runners finish the marathon. Finisher's Monday 2022: Well staffed and simple as everyone is there just to pick up their certificates. The lamination costs 20 dollars per certificate with your race bib. I wanted to do it since it's the 50th Anniversary of Honolulu Marathon and first full race back to normal. They also had a Honolulu Marathon history finisher's shirts area, lots of photo areas and a small Mizuno area of whatever was left from the Expo that didn't get sold also heavily discounted. Overall, I would do this weekend again and do Start to Park 10k and Kalakaua Merrie Mile next year. Thank you to all the volunteers and race staff that help make these races, expo and Finisher's Monday possible! Thank you to HPD, bus drivers and medical staff for keeping us safe, escorting us to the start line, and making sure that we get what we need during the race! Thank you to all the fellow runners that made the weekend fun!

    Start to Park 10K at the Honolulu Marathon finisher medal, 12.8.19
    Terri C.

    Review for the 10K Start to Park: I recently did the 10K race that's part of the Honolulu Marathon on December 8, 2019. The 10K participants start at the same time as the marathoners at 5am. It was dark when we started lining up, joining an estimated 30,000+ runners and walkers there to traverse the streets of Honolulu. I was excited to do this event since it was my brother and sis-in-law's first time doing a race of any kind and they actually reside in Waikiki. Once our wave took off, there were fireworks to signal the beginning and everyone was in a great mood. I always enjoy seeing cities on foot and this was no exception. A big highlight was stopping to get pics of the Honolulu City Lights display that was along the run course. The weather was just right with highs in the 60s and a bit humid, but nothing horrible. The friendly volunteers at the aid stations were plentiful and there were lots of people cheering the whole way. 6.2 miles of fun cardio await you with a bunch of happy people exhibiting the aloha spirit if you choose to do this race!

    No training... it's finally done! Yay!
    Ryan Y.

    This is my 3rd year in a roll doing the marathon and I must say this is probably one of the greatest accomplishments I have done so far in terms of pushing myself physically and mentally. The volunteers are all very supportive and energetic when cheering the runners on. I am very thankful for all of them especially when you approach the hydration stations. I also noticed that the community is very supportive, despite them being stuck at home due to the road blocks. The only thing I would improve is the medical response after the race. They had a medical tent and appeared to have a lot of responders, but when we had an emergency with my gf's brother fainting the response was slower then I would have expected. Seem like we shouted for help for a while until responders came to the scene. I would like to thank the police officers and Japanese tent volunteers that came rushing to help while the ems team arrived. Once EMS arrived they were very helpful. I'm not trying to take anything away from the great help they provided. I just think after the race maybe they need to have more EMS roaming around the park. All in all the marathon was organized very well and I am very thankful for all the support they staff and volunteers provide to all the runners.

    the Big Bird Tuba man I ran along with most of the way
    Paul C.

    Last year when I had the stomach flu, I dragged myself out of bed at 330am to shower and head over to Ala Moana Beach Park. I still had the runs so I carried tissues with me. Although I required numerous bathroom breaks I dug deep and was able to complete my very first marathon in 7h 46m 46s. I didn't train except for completing the Great Aloha Run and hiking often. I was disappointed with myself as I wanted to break 7 hrs. I wanted REDEMPTION this year really, really bad... So when the "early-bird special" for Kama'aina registration took place, I signed up and wanted a second stab at it. I mean, who can turn down an entry fee for only $26.20??? I'll admit that I HATE long-distance running as I am lazy. I am easily bored and don't care to listen to music while exercising. But I do like to push myself as I'll take on challenges. After you register for the Honolulu Marathon, you receive confirmation via email immediately. Then in late-November you receive a letter informing you of the packet pick-up as well as the various marathon related events. The Honolulu Marathon Expo held at the Hawaii Convention Center in my opinion, is well organized. Upon entry the red carpet leads you to the pick-up station where you present your letter and you receive your BIB. You are then led to the computer system to register the microchip on your BIB and asked to confirm your information. Because the Honolulu Marathon attracts more than 20,000 runners and their families from Japan, this Expo pretty much caters to the Japanese tourists. You then get to walk around and check the various vendors for you to gain information and spend your money! All sorts of booths looking to get your attention but I pretty much only go to ones that sold energy gummy candies. They also have complimentary bus shuttle service from Honolulu Zoo parking lot from 2am to 4am to the start area. What a plus for those who don't live in town! After taking part in the Honolulu Marathon the last 2 years, here is my advice: 1) get a good night's sleep before the marathon 2) load up on "good" carbs about a week before the marathon 3) keep your body healthy (illness and injury) 4) keep well-hydrated before and during the marathon 5) eat bananas to prevent cramping 6) get yourself WRIGHT socks, which are made for long-distance running to prevent blistering 7) although this may NOT be for everyone, try running with a friend or set a target during the course** **I am very fortunate for fellow Elite Yelper Arthur S. who reached out to me the night before asking who I was running with. When I advised him no one, he offered me to join him and his GF Hiroko S. and some other Elite Yelpsters (Jayson N. and Arthur T.). Because I didn't train at all, I didn't want to hold them up so it was okay for them to pass me but I did my best to keep up with them. I noticed the "Big Bird Tuba" man, a Japanese runner who carried a tuba decorated like Big Bird and would play the instrument during the course. For a small man carrying a big tuba, he moved FAST so I was encouraged to keep up with him. 8) pace yourself during the course - - I highly encourage you to NOT start fast where you run out of gas at the end. Whenever I had a hill / incline (i.e. Diamond Head) I would brisk walk and as soon as it leveled out I would start jogging again. When the sun came out the course was HOT HOT HOT. I didn't put on any sunscreen lotion and the sun sure got to me. I made sure to hydrate myself with Gatorade and water at the water station and cooled myself off with cold sponges. They did have some energy gels to pass out but for some reason the first station was given a small supply and they ran out!!! During the course you will come across some generous locals who will offer you fresh fruit, candies, pretzels, water, musubis and high-fives!!! How awesome is that??? This year when I crossed the finish line, I realized I had broken 7 hrs. I had signed-up for Sportstats Race Alerts on Facebook and when I saw my official results, I realized I chopped my time by exactly 1 hr and 12 mins from last year. My time this year was 6h 34m 46s. Immediately after the marathon, I got my free food, t-shirt, medal and headed home. Took a shower and immediately took a nap as I was exhausted. When I took off my socks I had NO blisters, compared to last year where I had multiple blisters (including blood blisters) as I wore generic cotton socks. I woke up from my 3 hour nap with sore legs but could walk around with some "burning sensation". I went for a short walk in my neighborhood and the more I moved around that burning feeling was minimized. This morning I woke up with the same burning feeling in my legs but I hiked Makapu'u Lighthouse Trail and in the afternoon I hiked Diamond Head State Monument. Legs held up well. If you set your mind to a goal and believe in yourself, it can be achieved. I am living proof.

    Lining up at the Starting Line!
    Tiffany Y.

    Yelp 365 Challenge x 2 #251/365 Pre-Marathon: Back in January, there was a good deal going on that I couldn't pass up. I figured that I had a whole year to train especially because I was supposed to have run the inaugural Nike Women's Half Marathon in DC, which didn't pan out because I ignorantly thought a person with a bunion can't run-so I pulled out from that race. After my doctor and podiatrist assured me that I can take precautionary measures, I did the Spartan Race and realized that I can run. As I started signing up for a lot of runs, I remembered I signed up for the Honolulu Marathon. I figured I could use the other races and my training to get ready for this event too. The Experience: The Honolulu Expo made it real for me after picking up my packet. I also made sure I bought all the essentials for a marathon from lightweight, dry-wick clothes to making sure I was properly fueled with carb gels/chews and electrolyte mixes. What I learned was that nothing goes according as planned (maybe for seasoned marathoners their plans work) because I changed my whole game plan that morning. See, after researching everything and anything to prepare the best that I could since 26.2 miles is a big distance for me that I have never conquered, I thought I could calculate what I run according to the shorter distance runs that I do...wrong. The night before, I had everything prepared from my clothes, shoes, Bib, safety pins, bagel, etc. However, after Dan dropped us off near McKinley High School and my dad and I walked to Ala Moana Boulevard, I looked in my bag and noticed I forgot the safety pins for my bib, my bagel (and all I had were two multi-grain rolls besides the gel chews and sports beans), and my Ibuprofen. Thank goodness for the businesses that were catering to the Japanese internationals because they had a booth with a box of safety pins! Lining up at the Start Line: Initially, I figured since I am a slow runner who walks in between and my pace improved from 21 minutes to 14 minutes...that I could do that and average a finishing time in about 5 1/2 to 6 hours. It didn't happen-I became intimidated as everyone crowded in revving to go. I looked at my dad who was a seasoned marathoner and I told him that he can run ahead because he suggested running for 30 minutes... THIRTY MINUTES. I told my dad, "Uh...I'm more of the 10-15 minutes? How about this, you run ahead and we'll see each other at the finish line plus we can text each other just to make sure we are okay." And when the fireworks went off, I ran the first mile and during this time-everything I planned I threw out the window. As I shared, I became intimidated because everyone was just running like it was a 10k. I was afraid I was going to gas out early and I wanted to make sure that I finished the marathon. So, I created a new plan of running the first mile...walk the rest and run/walk at the 20 mile marker...after all, the longest I've been running recently is 6 miles. That didn't happen either. Things I learned along the route: -The volunteers at the hydration station and first aid station were amazing -The residents, family members, friends and the community of Hawaii cheering on the sidelines were inspiring especially the lady who held up the sign "At least you're running better than Congress" -Body glide will fade and you need vaseline to lather up your feet to prevent blistering -Bring extra TP because the portapotties ran out of TP and thank goodness for Chevron Kahala -Hydrate with sipping water and/or gatorate/electrolytes instead of gulping it down -Refuel consistently...I ate 2 or 3 beans every quarter mile and drank it with water -It's okay to rest a bit but NOT for long -I learned the definition of "hitting the wall" as I reached the 20 mile marker -It's physically and mentally challenging...the struggle is real (I ran the last mile) -The epic score, "No Sacrifice, No Victory" from Transformers is the best thing to listen to as you are running towards the finish line. Yeah...I was pretty dramatic since I was almost losing my mind because I wanted to give up yet determined to finish till the end and after seeing my family cheering/waving-I started crying because hey-it's my first marathon -You are greeted with a lei not remembering that you were supposed to smile as you cross the finish line, so my picture will be ugly...*vanity* -There's malasadas at the end but I was too tired and in pain and just wanted to go home to shower and sleep -The finisher's shirt and medal is beautiful Overall, from the Expo to the Marathon-everything was organized. Congratulations to all the runners/walkers who participated as well as finished this marathon! Oh, last thing...I signed up for the 2014 Hapalua Half-Marathon...I figured if I hit the wall, I can tell myself that if I finished 26.2 miles, I can finish a half... *insane*

    2015 Honolulu Marathon Finisher bling!
    Jessica P.

    My 100th review on Yelp!! And it goes a little something like this.... Dear Diamond Head, I'm never going to look at you the same. My thighs are killing me! Hawaii Kai, I don't even know where to start. Probably never going to see me running/walking that strip again. Haha! But hey! I discovered a Ross store in the neighborhood! What an experience!! Glad I did it! From registering online (If I recall, Military rate is the same as Kama'aina rate), to the Expo at the convention center, to being at the Start line and watching fireworks, seeing all of the volunteers and supporters up early and working hard for us runners, and getting to that friggin Finish line, the memories will never fade from my mind. It was my first marathon and I'm happy to say I experienced it here in paradise. I mean c'mon. The Christmas lights in downtown, the sunrise at Diamond Head, the beach views from Hawaii Kai, the beautiful million dollar mansions in Kahala (OMG! Wow!), and Kapiolani Park, are all the awesome scenic points from this run. Then there are the awesome supporters! The water stations, sponge stations (nice touch!), medical stations, food from the locals, entertainment (rock bands, hula girls, DJ's, and Taiko drummers and more!), and the photographers. Way to make our experience wonderful. If I were to suggest anything, it would be to add a few more water stations on the Hawaii Kai route. I heard one of the tables ran out of water and cups, so they packed up early. Oh no! I decided not to wear a water pack because I thought the stations along the way would be plenty fine. It was blazing hot out there! The bling! So awesome. I love it! I also heard this years finisher medal is so much better from last years. Glad I earned a good one. It feels like I'm wearing gold baby!! Thank you so much! The neon green t-shirt is kinda cool, too!! The marathon malasada. YES! It was delicious. But again, I didn't have water to wash it down. I wish there were a couple of water stations, like near the finish line and near the food. I could barely walk! Instead, it was way in the back. I didn't discover it until I was standing in line for a Finisher photo. The participants. The nice thing that sets the HNL marathon from others is that there is no time limit and the word "Walk" is included in the title: Honolulu Marathon & Race Day Walk. So, there were 29k participants and such a variety in age. Some dressed up in costumes. Wheelchair participants. A firefighter group. A few Marines carrying their 75lb pack. A dude carrying a 60lb barbell on his shoulders. Senior citizens. First timers. Amateurs. Elite runners. I was so amazed. These are all of the people that inspired me along the way (praying out loud helped, too!). My ride home was an Uber driver. That app came in so handy. He was awesome, too! And it was nice to have a $20 credit as being a marathon finisher since the rate was 3.2x higher than usual due to the activity around Kapiolani. Then there was Day 2 at Kapiolani Park. If you're mobile enough to go back, they have waiting for you a personalized Finisher Certificate (you could also have it laminated for $20) and magazine for free, which listed all of the finishers by time and name. Great souvenir!! Thank you, Honolulu Marathon! Wish I could say I'd do it again, but I think one is enough for this woman. As soon as the run was over, I cried like a baby, could barely move, and swore like a sailor. It took 3 days for me to fully recover, but I still have scars from chaffing. Maybe next time I'll sign up as a volunteer!! Aloha and mahalo!!!

    Ed L.

    Having that I have done the Honolulu Marathon 5 times already, I figured I would file a review since the marathon has transformed myself from a runner sitting on the sidelines to a Marathon Maniac and a 50 State Marathon Club member, who's trying to do all 50 from Hawaii. With that said, Honolulu Marathon 2007 was my inaugural marathon into the big leagues. I did the Maui half marathon 2007 and came in at 3:01:17. Figured how hard could 26.2 miles be? Huge lesson learned. since I did not run regularly in between Maui and race morning, didn't carb load, and just didn't really do much of anything and it showed on race morning. I came in at a dismal 8:49:48, after sitting down a few times along Kahala Avenue. The marathon is such a self discovery that you would need to WANT to do it within your lifetime, just to prove to yourself that you can do it. The training can be arduious, but the self satisfaction comes during race morning when you're half asleep getting dressed to run 26.2 miles is a blessed feeling. First timers may not feel like that's the case, but being that I am one of those who seek out marathons across the continental US and hopefully the world (one of these days), I can attest to one and all, that it is worth all that pain and discomfort. For the Honolulu Marathon, its my hometown race and the fact of doing the distance with 20,000+ others at a 5am start is something to behold. I believe that the Honolulu Marathon has the earliest race start of any known marathon. Possibly due to the weather conditions, although it tends to be more chill than warm. Then again, it is Hawaii anyway. The only problem that Honolulu Marathon has is Diamond Head. My current goal is to run a sub 7 hour race in Honolulu. I can do it on the US Mainland countless times, but Honolulu remains elusive for me. My best Honolulu would be a 7:10:18, and my personal worst came at 2011, when I twisted my ankle at mile 3, but managed to slug out 23 miles to finish in 9:27:35. I signed up for 2012, just to get revenge on that course and hope to just finish better than I did in 2011. The 2011 experience made me realize that I can do anything when I put my mind to it. A+++++

    Miss Hawaii sending us off
    Emil C.

    Expo/Packet Pickup: The expo is pretty tiny and lackluster for a big marathon. From the official merchandise to the majority of the vendors, it is pretty much all geared towards foreign runners specifically from Japan. That's fine with me since I get to practice my very limited Japanese and they get to practice their English. Adidas for the past 3 years has been the official race merchandise vendor and their products aren't all that impressive. They were much better when Nike was the official race vendor. One good thing is that the expo is open starting on Wednesday. Don't forget to bring your bib number that they'll mail to you a couple of weeks before the race. Pre-race: If you're staying near the zoo/Kapiolani Park, catch one of the buses to the starting area near the Ala Moana Center. I prefer to stay at a hotel near the start and just walk on over. This is a good marathon to run before running a marathon in Japan. The majority of the participants are from Japan. Even though there are pacing signs directing runners on where to start in the corral, very few runners follow those directions. But not to worry, the streets are pretty wide and you'll spread out soon enough. Race: The race starts pretty early so that runners can avoid some of the heat and you'll be sent off with a bunch of cool fireworks. Keep in mind that you'll be running a marathon in a tropical paradise where it'll be hot and humid. If it rains, it'll be a warm comfortable rain. The sun won't be out until about 2 hrs into the race. Don't try and run a PR here unless you're well trained in warm weather. The course is pretty awesome with its scenery but would count as a pretty challenging course. Post-race: It gets pretty crowded in Kapiolani Park after the race, but there are plenty of signs to point you in the right direction. So pick up your malasada, banana, and some water. Take a picture with a hula girl around the small pond. Then head over to the middle of the grassy area to pick up your finisher medal and shirt. I wish more races would be more like Honolulu, where you only get a shirt if you complete the race. The shirts then have a little bit more meaning. Then on Monday, stop by Kapiolani Park and pick up your finisher certificate, a paper with the official results, and meet the male and female winners! You can also buy some official race merchandise at a deep discount (usually 50% off). Overall: I love this marathon and would love to run it every year as long as I can afford it. I would give it 5 stars but I've run the New York City Marathon and Honolulu is not quite at that level.

    Karri V.

    Did the 26.2 and it was a lovely course! Scenic views and easy-moderate hills. The run takes you around Diamond Head into Kahala, then Hawaii Kai and finishing at Kapiolani Park.

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    Honolulu Marathon Reviews in Other Languages

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    Hibiscus Half Marathon

    Hibiscus Half Marathon

    3.5(16 reviews)
    1.6 miWaikiki

    Pros: 1. Course had mile markers and six passes at aid…read morestations 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

    This run course is nice bc it's Hawaii. The event is very unprofessional. Their site states that…read morefamily/friends can track the runners but there was no such tracking device on the runners and nobody knew until I asked around. Event lady stopped the music to find out if aid station workers showed up. As finishers arrived, nobody knew if they were 5mi, 15k or half marathon finishers. We were all confused. Maybe they should have different bib colors? Or even some commentating? The lady had no music, barely said anything to acknowledge the finishers and after finishers, the park was underwhelming. People got Gatorade or water and then went home. It was so silent, no music or much going on.. Also, that event lady said very little for like 40 min and then emphasized that only racers eat the snacks and throw your trash in the trash cans. That was it. I think she's raking in the money at over 100 dollars per racer at about 1,000 running it, it's a racket. Unorganized and yellow shirts about being mean and now I know why. She does three of these events. You'd think by now she would have it dialed in.

    Photos
    Hibiscus Half Marathon
    Hibiscus Half Marathon
    Hibiscus Half Marathon - Goodie bag with race t-shirt and other goodies!

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    Goodie bag with race t-shirt and other goodies!

    The Hapalua - Hawaii's Half Marathon

    The Hapalua - Hawaii's Half Marathon

    4.4(28 reviews)
    1.6 miWaikiki

    Race organizers do not communicate well and do not respond or call back to your inquiries. This…read morecomment is not on the race itself or the experience. The course has always been fun.

    The Hapalua - Hawaii's Half Marathon…read more I recommend this half marathon for beginners, intermediates, and even running pros because it's fun. This marathon is well organized and a big thank you to all the volunteers. The race starts at the Duke Kahanamoku Statue, heads past the Convention Center, and ends at Kapiolani Park (near the zoo). The course if fairly flat until you get to mile 10, which is uphill towards Diamond Head. I did this race with my wife and her family, which made the race even more special. Because the race was out and back, we're also able to see each other throughout the race. I had a "good for me" pace going until the one of the runners in front of me stopped and I literally ran her over. She was okay and was not injured, but still I felt bad. She wanted to wait for her husband, and I waited with her. I'm not going to lie; this was my excuse to take a breather. After exactly 8 minutes (felt like 20 minutes), we were both back to running. Everything was smooth until miles 10 to 12 when the course is mostly uphill. This was a beast and a lot of people, including me, walked it. I found myself walking majority of miles 11 to 13 and remember that runner I accidentally knocked over? Well, she ran past me on mile 11. Medals are earned and given immediately after the finish line. After the finish line is a cold shower, which I have never seen at a race before. Post race fuel includes malasada, moon pies, bananas, wafers, gels, and water. Huge plus! Overall, great race. I'd do it again.

    Photos
    The Hapalua - Hawaii's Half Marathon - Start Line! Let's GO!!!

    Start Line! Let's GO!!!

    The Hapalua - Hawaii's Half Marathon - The Hapalua - Hawaii's Half Marathon

    The Hapalua - Hawaii's Half Marathon

    The Hapalua - Hawaii's Half Marathon

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    The Honolulu Marathon Clinic - Honolulu Marathon Clinic merchandise for sale!

    The Honolulu Marathon Clinic

    4.7(16 reviews)
    1.6 mi

    Crazy awesome people go to this clinic and become even better people for it! Everyone of the…read morevolunteers are so friendly and I met some of my favorite people running with them! They are always pushing there members to try there best and I love that, Helps me stay motivated. The scenery of the runs is unbeatable and are filled with tons of volunteers also willing to help you. It cost 5$ to enter the race which isn't too bad and if you are trained for it its a blast! Try to meet as many people as you can because for some strange reason people that run are always pretty successful in life!

    I was headed to Hawaii for thanksgiving this year and what better way to start my eating marathon…read moreduring my stay then to run the turkey trot! The turkey trots are usually short races, and i'm glad to find that this one is 10 miles long, in the beautiful and scenic kapiolani park/ diamond head road. Participants are encouraged to arrive at the Kapiolani Park bandstand by 6:30 am to sign a waiver & to register. No you can't register on line. You simply just show up on race day! Sooooo hawaii, right? And even better, it only costs $3 to participate. The winner isn't necessarily the person who finishes the race first, it's the person that comes closest to their predicted time. You get a popsicle stick at the start of the race, where you write you "predicted time" of finishing the race, down to the second. When you cross the finish line, they'll time you, and write down your actual time. The whole purpose of the race is to train for a full marathon. Apparently the first 10 miles of a full marathon really helps set up the pace for the last 6 miles, so it's important to pace yourself so you don't burn out in the final miles. The downside of the race is you're not suppose to wear headphones (prevents cheating, ie the nike + that gives you your average pace, distance, etc & for safety reasons), and of course the hot weather. I mean you start the race at around 7:15ish after everyone is registered, but even so early in the am, the weather in hawaii is a lot warmer than in california, so make sure you stay hydrated and adapt to the weather if you aren't used to running in hotter climates. In addition, the race route is announced on race day, so that it gives everyone a fair chance. Overall, i thought the race was challenging enough. This years race at two steadily rising inclines, on diamond head road. The lack of sleep + hot climate made for a tough 10 miles. Not to mention there were only 3 water stops. So I would recommend to bring your own water unless you don't plan to drink much. The scenic view & lookout points that we ran across during the race was absolutely gorgeous. It was an amazing experience and I'd totally do it again. Congrats to the Marathon clinic for an awesome experience. Mahalo!

    Photos
    The Honolulu Marathon Clinic
    The Honolulu Marathon Clinic - The Silver Group (10:30-11:00 min/mile). Missing quite a few peeps.

    The Silver Group (10:30-11:00 min/mile). Missing quite a few peeps.

    The Honolulu Marathon Clinic - The 2016 Honolulu Marathon Clinic finishers! See you all next season.

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    The 2016 Honolulu Marathon Clinic finishers! See you all next season.

    Honolulu Rainbow Ekiden - Scenic course in Kapiolani Park!

    Honolulu Rainbow Ekiden

    5.0(1 review)
    1.8 miWaikiki

    Great team relay race! Very competitive! I ran the very first Honolulu Rainbow Ekiden, which was…read morevery big! The first one was an out-and-back course that started at Waikiki beach; heading towards Kapiolani Park, and back! Now the race consists of a course that starts at Kapiolani Park, and takes runners up the dreaded hill next to Diamond Head, and back to Kapiolani Park. Simple out-and-back fun relay run, but brutal as well, if you aren't a "hill" fan. I enjoyed this race overall, and very glad that I got to experience the very first Honolulu Rainbow Ekiden Relay. I'm not a fan of the new course, but do understand the reasons why they moved the start of it to Kapiolani Park vs Waikiki beach. As for this race, i definitely recommend it, if you love team competition running mixed with fun! No worries if you miss this one, which is in March, because there is also a more scenic one in May named "Honolulu Ekiden Music Relay". Enjoy!

    From the owner: 60% of our runners are repeaters. Accomplishment, teamwork, fulfillment and bonding are our main…read morekeywords. Unlike other relay events/races, every runner will make a loop back to the starting line which makes it great for everyone to see how your and other teams are doing as well as socialize with other runners while you are there. We also have many activities other than the team event such as fitness check, keiki (kids) run and a food vendor event called WaikiKitchen. It's a great event for all generation to get together and have fun!

    Photos
    Honolulu Rainbow Ekiden - Minions to Minions!

    Minions to Minions!

    Honolulu Rainbow Ekiden - Race of 2016!(3/13/2016)

    Race of 2016!(3/13/2016)

    Honolulu Rainbow Ekiden

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    Sharon's Ride/Run/Walk

    Sharon's Ride/Run/Walk

    4.5(2 reviews)
    0.9 miKaimuki

    You can't beat a good 10km / 5km foot race that's close to home. After all, it's one of those…read moregrassroots running distances that is the gateway to - if you so desire - the half marathon and the marathon. It makes me smile. I discovered Sharon's Bike / Run about 7 years ago, while researching running events on runningintheusa.com website. I searched all distances for Hawaii and came across this event. It starts and ends at the Kapiolani Community College parking lot, so it was close to home for me. No driving necessary. I actually walked it to the start line on the years I signed up, which was a good mile or so. Most Sundays, I would do a long run elsewhere, but to have a short distance race to motivate me to get out the door is a bonus. Not to mention that it's a local race that promotes physical fitness and running as a social thing that makes running and racing fun. For the most part though, the races themselves are small but fun and intimate. Since i am used to the marathon distance, I usually choose the 10km distance, but you're free to choose whichever distance you desire! The run course itself runs from Kapiolani Community College parking lot and runs into diamond head crater. From there, u turn back out to diamond head road and east on Kahala Avenue towards Kahala mall. You stop at one point and return back towards kapiolani community college. That's the 10km route. I imagine that the 5km route u-turns around triangle park. Sharon's Run/Walk/Bike features a cycling event too. While the run itself is fun and addicting, they have 50 mile or 100km cycling events too for the cyclist. I have seen numerous cyclists on race morning and it was pretty cool. For the most part though, the intimate affair of these kinds of events showcase the needs of awareness. Proceeds from the Sharon's Ride/Walk/Ride for epilepsy goes to the local chapters for epilepsy research. It's pretty much a fundraiser but keeps people active with fun athletic events that keeps people active. Sharon's Ride/Walk/Cycle for Epilepsy is named for Sharon Rosenfield, a nurse and a teacher who was tragically killed in 1993 during a cross country bike ride. She was passionate about epilepsy and was an advocate of helmet safety. Honolulu's event is a part of a series of events throughout the year at different locations on the US mainland. Each year, Sharon's Ride/Walk/Run in Honolulu is on the last Sunday in January. As mentioned before, the start and finish line is at Kapiolani Community College. Race morning starts around 4am when cars start coming to fill parking stalls. Race usually starts around 6am or 7am. Prices are usually around $35-$50, depending on when you sign up for this event. I don't know how much the cycling event is, but I am just referring to the 5K or 10K events. Registration for these events are pretty much online, so they accept major credit cards. If you are starting to build and endurance fitness program and interested in running or walking, this event can surely help you see word this running thing can take you. 5 km can be the gateway to longer events and maybe you can do your first half marathon or marathon in a year from then. Who knows! Sky is the limit, as they say. The course is Walmart and the choirs volunteers were very much friendly and well supported anybody that was out there each year that they held the event. I myself love these intimate event just because it help me plan what I am going to do for a workout, instead of just doing my own thing and not being able to associate myself with racing here at Sharon's Walk run bike. If you are in the Honolulu area near the end of July, feel free to come over to this running events or cycling, if you prefer. I myself enjoyed doing the 10 km race every time I sign up for it. The course is self is mostly asphalt roads and they close the roads to traffic on a Sunday morning. Since this is Hawaii, you probably will need to wear sunscreen to protect yourself from the sun. Best bet is to train accordingly and have a good time on race day. It was fun and I plan on doing it again. Recommended if you love to run and do in your age group. Even then, do this race just because you love to run anyway and compete anyway. It's all good! 5.0 stars for the overall experience and ambiance. 5.0 stars for the friendly volunteers and the race location. Run more! Support local! A

    As published in the May 2014 print issue of Hawaii Sport Magazine:…read morehttp://issuu.com/hawaiisportmag/docs/hawaii_sport_may_2014_online "Sharon's Ride/Run" was started in 1996 by Dr. William Rosenfeld and Dr. Susan Lippman in St. Louis, Missouri. The event is a memorial to Sharon Rosenfeld, who was killed during a cross country bicycle ride in 1993. Sharon was a nurse and teacher, who cared deeply about epilepsy and epilepsy patients. Today, Sharon's Run/Ride is held across the nation in efforts to raise awareness for Epilepsy and to raise funds for the Epilepsy Foundation. You may choose to walk 1 mile, run 5K/10K, ride 35km/75km/100km. Various distances makes this event fun and friendly to participants of all levels. There was even a Keiki (kids) bike safety course. I chose to run the 10K. The 10K course started at the walking path to the entrance to Diamond Head Crater across from Kapiolani Community College. The race route started along the walking path and went up to where the parking of Diamond Head Crater started, then came back down, followed along Kahala Avenue towards Waialae Country Club, left on Kealaolu Street for about a mile, then back down Kealaolu Street, back down Kahala Avenue, a right at Diamond Head Road and then to Kapiolani Community College where the finish line awaited. With the exception of the hill up towards Diamond Head Crater parking, the rest of the route was very flat. The event was held on an extremely nice and sunny day in late January. This was a casual, fun run (or ride, for some) with many generous volunteers setting up and at aid stations. I hope to participate in this event again in the future.

    Photos
    Sharon's Ride/Run/Walk

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    Jamba Juice Banana Man Chase 5K

    Jamba Juice Banana Man Chase 5K

    5.0(12 reviews)
    2.8 mi

    Thank you to Yelp Hawaii for the family pack of tickets for this race. I mean, who wouldn't want…read moreto chase down all the KHON guys in banana suits running around Magic Island? PRO: There were two options at different starting times. The 5K race started at 7:00am, and the keiki race started around an hour later. There was a Speed and Quickness camp area for the kids to stay in while the adults ran the 5K, which was awesome because I know my kids would have been very unhappy if I made them run 5K with me. One water station about halfway through the 5K. Free jamba juice, bananas, and water at the end of the race. If you won top 3 in your age group, you could win up to a year supply of Jamba Juice. Just for the record, people with tutu skirts and crazy outfits were passing me by so I'm pretty sure I was nowhere near the top 3 in any age group but since this is my first real 5K, it's also my best. CON: I told my daughter that when she finished she would get a medal! They ran out of medals and she was sad :( I told her I would give her mine, but she didn't want mine.

    Pretty awesome run! Thank you Yelp for give us tickets to this wonderful event. Nothing feels…read morebetter than a good sweaty morning run! There are many Keikis in this run. Some of them stops every few steps, others zip passed me like there is no big deal :) pretty impressed. Kudos to parents pushing double baby-carts, and running pass everyone! The run is well organized, glad to receive free Jamba Juice, water, bananas, hula dancing show, and break dancing shoes just after the run. Best of all, I did my best 5k since I started running 2 years ago. Wooohooo!!!! The only recommendation I have is for the packet pick up at Jamba Juice, please have someone in charge that is nicer & more pleasant...at least, willing to smile :) When we picked up our packet on May 5th, Thursday, at 5:45pm, as we walked inside Jamba Juice after signing up to pick up our T-shirts, we encountered this middle age woman, who was unpleasant. She asked us "Military?" We said "no, we are from Yelp," and she grumped, & was unhappy that the first station didn't write down that we are from Yelp on our envelops. She did not greet us, say Hello, just seemed unhappy and agitated. Before we even came into Jamba Juice, we could see her sitting on the tall chair and fidgeting from the Windows. The rest of the staff in the same room looked like high school kids, and they stayed away from her. Body language told us that they were all rather be far away from this unhappy person. And so are we, so we grabbed our pins and t-shirts, and ran out...thinking...hopefully, the run will be a better experience.., and it was :) Love this event! Would recommend to everyone, and do it again!

    Photos
    Jamba Juice Banana Man Chase 5K
    Jamba Juice Banana Man Chase 5K
    Jamba Juice Banana Man Chase 5K

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    Hawaii International Film Festival - HIFF 45. "Boss". Members of a gang that runs a neighborhood in one of Seoul's many districts vie to be the new boss. Who will it be?

    Hawaii International Film Festival

    4.4(84 reviews)
    0.1 mi

    I always try to go every year with my dad as a tradition to watch the spotlight on Asia movies at…read moreHIFF. Really love how it is at Kahala Theater now because Dole is kind of sketchy not gonna lie.... With the newly renovated theater I'm glad that they choose to hold HIFF here. My only issue is that if you are not quick to get your tickets everything is literally sold out... Make sure to make your decision on what movies to watch because those seats get sold fast.

    HIFF hosts so many amazing films each year and I've been very lucky to see several films the last…read morefew years at theaters. Each year, HIFF also hosts a special summer film series at Prince Waikiki. I went last year and there were a couple Hawaiian based films that were interesting. Yesterday, I was able to experience the official showing of Songs of Love from Hawai'i by Jinyoung Lee Won at Prince Waikiki. It was an incredible moving documentary about the history of Korean American immigrants in Hawaii. Beautiful music. It's a must see. 53 minutes long. There was a Q&A at the end which was interesting to learn how she came up with idea of the film. There will be a few showings of the film upcoming fall if you are interested in September & October. Can't wait to see what other amazing films come to fruition next year!

    Photos
    Hawaii International Film Festival - Charles Yu, Ronny Chieng, Chloe Bennet, and Jimmy O. Yang at HIFF Awards Gala

    Charles Yu, Ronny Chieng, Chloe Bennet, and Jimmy O. Yang at HIFF Awards Gala

    Hawaii International Film Festival - Charles Yu, Ronny Chieng, Chloe Bennet, and Jimmy O. Yang at HIFF Awards Gala

    Charles Yu, Ronny Chieng, Chloe Bennet, and Jimmy O. Yang at HIFF Awards Gala

    Hawaii International Film Festival - Asian Pacific Filmmakers Experience at HIFF44

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    Asian Pacific Filmmakers Experience at HIFF44

    Honolulu Marathon - races - Updated May 2026

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