Great small marathon! The organizers work hard to make sure everyone has a fun time and has access…read moreto what they need. Important for us, there are plenty of water/gatorade stops and the food at the end was stocked with fresh bread and fruit. The course is pretty tough, with lots of hills and once the sun is out it quickly feels hot. I kind of wished we'd had one of Hilo's rainy/drizzly days just to stay a little cooler. You run a lot of the Hawaiian old road, which offers gorgeous scenery. They also start early so you can get ahead of the heat, which allows you to finish well ahead of the hottest part of the late morning. I highly recommend this race if you're looking for something small with local organizers and big heart.

This is less of a formal marathon and more of a lightly supported long run. The course is hilly…read moreand it was hot but that is not the organizers fault. The challenge is that the course had only water at a limited number of stops (no sports drink, gel, etc. anywhere on course). Note: it is possible that that was announced somewhere but it certainly was not publicized aggressively. Also, the course is always open to traffic so some of the course running on major highways felt quite dangerous. There were also no mile markers and limited signage so it would have been easy to get lost. For all the organizational challenges 50% of the course is incredibly beautiful. If you are looking for a destination marathon in Hawaii, I would look elsewhere.

Kona marathon has nowhere near the potential of the Kona Ironman Triathlon, which is on a whole…read moredifferent level, and different race. So far, I have competed in and completed the full marathon (26.2 mi) and the half marathon (13.1 mi), which I highly recommend the half marathon because it keeps you in the touristy areas instead of running on what seems forever along Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway. All races, the full marathon, half marathon, quarter marathon, and 5k coincide together, so prepare yourself to merge with other runners as you head towards the finish line. As I share this review, 2012 Kona marathon was my sixth of the nineteen marathons I have completed. And, 2014 Kona half marathon was the nineteenth half marathon of the twenty-two half marathons I have completed. Both remind me of a few of my worst experiences as a runner because of its boring out-and-back course, and my terrible half marathon experience where I nearly had to wait until the completion of a different race to receive my 3rd place overall award for the half marathon because of technical difficulties with their system. Go figure! A bit of advice, if you choose to run its full marathon preserve your energy along Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway because by the time you hit it, the heat has sat in, plus course support has dwindled, which could be a good or bad thing. With that, I recommend letting your mind wander in-between mile 9 to mile 17; keeping hydrated, plus carrying your own water source, even though they have water stops along the course. Bringing your own water source will keep you fueled at your own pace. Other than everything I have mentioned, the 3rd place overall award for the half marathon, t-shirts and finishers medal for both the full and half marathon were amazing. Thomas G

Effective 2015, the Kona marathon had entirely moved its location from Kailua-Kona northbound to…read moreWaikoloa. Hence, the update to the Kona marathon from me. There are critics including myself that they should rename the Kona marathon because the race course isn't in Kailua-Kona proper anymore, but in a totally different area. I guess they keep the Kona marathon as a purely marketing standpoint. With that said, I learned about the Kona marathon course revamping in mid 2014 and decided to sign up for the marathon the following year. I was curious as to how much of an upgrade it was. Or wasn't. I came to find out on race morning that it wasn't what I expected it to be. While the course showcased majority of the Waikoloa hotel complex, it wasn't really a course designed for runners. At least that's what I think. I ended up falling short of my goal of finishing 26.2 miles and just logged 18 before calling it quits. The overall experience was average, although it could have been heaps better if the weather had cooperated. The course was poorly designed, especially when all you had to work with was Highway 19 and the roads inside the Waikoloa complex. I guess it was easier and cheaper to close traffic for a marathon. The course time limit was shortened to 8 hours, instead of the usual 9 hours and the course itself had a lot more timing apparatus split points along the way, not like before. The weather was wicked hot, especially on the highway 19, where a total of 12 miles were needed and being on that highway with nothing to look at and the traffic zooming past you was really boring and taxing, especially when you have to put out a race of 26.2 miles. Most of my friends who downgraded from the full distance to the half distance were happy. I should have listened and have gotten a half marathon finisher medal and an official time. Instead, I logged 18 miles and nothing to show for it. Oh well. It is what it is. Congrats to all finishers. As aforementioned before, the Kona marathon moved everything up north to the Waikoloa beach hotel resort complex. I thought that this change of venue was pretty good, until I was on that course on race morning in June. I stayed at the host hotel this time around with a friend of mine, the Hilton Waikoloa Village. The expo itself was open air, along with packet pick up - which was held in an air conditioned conference room on hotel property. I was in and out of there within an hour and met up with friends. The race bibs were standard and colored, depending on what race distance you were doing. I believe this year 2015 red was the marathon and green was the half. The race fees were kind of steep, pricing at least $85 for the early birds and climbing as much as $150 for race day registration. For the price of a destination race, it was worth the price, if you were coming from outside of Hawaii. Then again, cheaper the better is what is best. The course was basically 2 loops around the Waikoloa village hotel complex of about 6 miles a piece, then a 15 mile out and back sections of Queen K Highway before entering back into the hotel complex to finish up the last 10km. The start and finish was near the Queen's shops. Plenty of parking for those who need it. The course itself had plenty of timing splits, so you can't really cheat. The weather was obscenely hot, to the point where I just called it quits. It's frustrating and annoying at the same time. I'm glad that all of my friends who tied the line at the start finished their respected distances. The aid stations were adequate enough and the course support were kind of lacking. Still, it's for those who want to run a marathon in Kona / Waikoloa. If I come back to this one, it'll have to be the half. 13.1 miles! 3.0 solid, but made worse by the heat. Support local! C

"Fairmont Orchid, Hawai`i is honored to welcome athletes participating in the 2025 IRONMAN 70.3…read moreHawai`i. Reservations are now open for athletes travel." The IRONMAN 70.3 Hawai'i is now located in the Waikoloa area of the Fairmont Orchid. A beautiful resort with a five star rating, perfect for the triathlon event offering stunning views of the underwater fauna and flora, as well was a challenging bike ride off property up to the town of Hawi and back. The run course is a brutal 13.1 mile half-marathon through the scenic golf course and into the vaunted "Hell's Kitchen." The only IRONMAN 70.3 in the state of Hawai'i to enjoy and challenge yourself.

The Mauna Lani Resort is a terrific race venue for families. While waiting for your triathlete to…read morefinish take your kids over to the beach behind the hotel. The beach hugs a protected lagoon or cove. This means there are no rough waves. The water is very calm and perfect for sandcastle building and other child's play. Turtles are also frequently spotted here (Honu is turtle in Hawaiian after all). In fact, one climbed out of the water and took a seat on the sand right next to my daughter. This event also offers an after race banquet for racers and as many family members as they purchase tickets to feed. I should warn you that if you aren't staying at the Mauna Lani or you don't arrive early, you will park quite a distance from this venue. While directions to the parking area were well marked and shuttles back and forth ran frequently, this can still be a challenging situation especially if you're hauling a stroller with you. Still, there is enough to keep you and your kids at this race venue all day. Find out more about this race at: http://www.honuhalfironman.com

Revel Kulia Marathon and half marathon is in its 2nd year, having started on the Big Island in…read more2019. After hearing rave reviews about the course, I decided to sign up for the half marathon in 2020 and see what its all about. The Revel race series is known for its downhill courses throughout the mainland United States. Downhill race courses helps runners run faster and produce faster race performance finish times on the half marathon and marathon, which makes it attractive for goal seekers and individuals who want to qualify for the Boston and or New York City marathons. With that said, downhill routes are tough on the legs and doing it running down the side of Mauna Kea was a challenging prospect as well. With that said, Revel Kulia marathon and half marathon seemed like the race to do. However, prices for entry is a bit steep, running about at least $125 for both distances. I suspect this will be the price point going forward if they continue on in Waikoloa. Registration is done online months before race weekend, so you can use your major credit card to sign up. You probably could sign up at the expo but the price for entry will be steep. Race weekend basically consists of packet pick up at the host hotel the day before and getting to the race shuttles before they depart for the start. There are two separate race shuttles departing at separate time slots to two different locations. For me, it was 4:30am - 5:30am for the half. It was 4:00am - 5:00am for the marathon. The overall experience here at the 2020 Revel Kulia marathon and half marathon was quite interesting. Since the start for both half marathon and marathon started on Mauna Kea, it was high enough to have temperatures in the lower 50's F. It was fine for me, however, the wind was fierce that morning on the mountain, so I was basically hyperventilating until my body got a handle on things. It was bad. I can only imagine what it was like higher up with the marathoners. Both distances started at 6:30am, where it was dark enough to trip over something you can't see. The staging area was basically 10 port-o-johns and an industrial light in a paved lot. We had to walk maybe 50 yards onto Waikoloa Road to the start, where there was a race banner and a timing station to record the start of the race that morning. The race field was small and intimate, fielding less than 1,000 runners in both distances. It was nice to see friends speed down Waikoloa road doing the marathon distance while I ran my own race, trying to get to the finish and shower before hotel check out. The finish line was staged next to the Queen's Shops, which was ideal for everyone. You can get food and drinks there within reach of the finish. I did enjoy the fact that there was a big REVEL sign at the finish area, as well as a big 26.2 and 13.1 sign to take photos of. I certainly did my part in taking photos with that, celebrating my 52nd half marathon finish that morning. Revel knows how to throw a run party. The downhill course and the scenic views of Mauna Kea and Waikoloa Village was nice to see while running down Waikoloa Road on a Saturday morning in January. There was no fanfare at the start of the half marathon, although there was plenty of entertainment and excitement at the finish line. After taking photos and gathering my sanity, my legs started to feel better from all that downhill running and moving down a mountain road. It was the first time that they moved the finish line area next to the Queen's shops. During their inaugural race, they had it somewhere along Waikoloa road and finisher's had to be bussed back to a safer location. I personally liked the finish location. It was the same location used by the Kona marathon, which is held annually in late June. For the most part though, it was another excuse to travel for me to run. It was nice to check out a new race that I previously haven't done and the Revel race series is popular. If downhill running, possible BQ's, and PR's are your goals, consider the Revel Kulia marathon or half marathon. If you are a 50 stater (marathon or half) wanting to add Hawaii to your list, check this race out. The finisher medal is pretty solid. 4.0 stars for the overall experience. 2.5 stars for race morning. I knew it was going to be cold but the wind made it worse till I got a handle on things. 4.0 stars for the expo. 4.0 stars for the course and finish line area. Thanks to the volunteers! Run more! Support local! B

This is THE premiere hula event in the world. For Hula aficionados, sitting on old hard benches for…read more5-6 hours, navigating the crowds, migrating their way to sleepy Hilo town is a labor of love. My mother is one of those who sits through every second of the four day event. The population of Hilo swells with all of the halau's and visitors alike. They come from all over the world, especially many from Japan, to be immersed in the chants and dancing for a few days. In addition to the actual competition they have parades and a ton of craft shows that showcase many of Hawaii's premiere artisans. This is our favorite part. We've bought everything from necklaces to clothing, food, and toys. The only real drawback of watching it in person is that you have to really know your stuff. On television they explain things and there isn't a bad seat in the house. They also use a biker "club" for security and they're not really known for their customer service as well. One great suggestion, bring your own pillow to sit on. Located in Edith Kanaka'ole Tennis Stadium (http://www.yelp.com/biz/edith-kanakaole-tennis-stadium-hilo ) it's really a great festival. If you're interested in attending, I'd check the website for information. There are strict guidelines for ordering tickets and they sell out almost instantaneously.

Absolutely one of the best Hawaiian events all year and undoubtedly the best hula event in the…read moreworld!! The passion and talent expressed by hula dancers and their kumu dancing and chanting their hearts out, the sweetness of pikake and plumeria from leis and headpieces wafting through the air cut only by the smells of laulau and chicken long rice, Hawaiian melodies drifting through the stadium by some of the best and well-known musicians in Hawaii, and the best display of Hawaiian culture as the Merrie Monarch himself, King David Kalakaua, would have wanted it. First off: tickets - HARD TO GET as there are only 4,200 seats for the event. You don't buy these "day-of" (unless you're willing to press your luck as one of those many people holding a sign at the stadium entrance asking for tickets), you buy these about 3 months prior. The only way is to send money (i.e. money order - no checks) with a completed ticket request form w/ SASE on/after 12/26 and NO SOONER, then pray and wait! Like a lottery - only some win and tickets show up one day in your mailbox! While you may not get the seats you request, you may get a lesser category of seats (if you indicate you're willing to accept this option) but at least you get inside! Unfortunately, the vast majority (and those who postmarked their requests BEFORE 12/26) will get their requests & money sent back. Tickets for 2013 were sold out by February since it was the 50th year. Seats - well, closer to the elevated stage are rows and rows of folding chairs on the main floor. There are rows of benches up three sides of the stadium (the stage-rear benches are for the halau). The event organizers do their best by providing padded folding chairs, but the 1st night sitting on them really tested our tailbones and blood circulation! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND bringing a discrete pad to help comfort your tush for nearly 6 hours of hard sitting! (Many people did!) In addition to the 3 nights of competition - which runs from 5:45 p.m. till about midnight - there is the ho'ike: a non-competitive celebration of hula and the festival itself. Keep in mind the entire Merrie Monarch Festival is not just the Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights of hula competition but a week-long event starting with the ho'olaule'a on Sunday. Arts & crafts fairs, hula events, art exhibits, even a Kalakaua beard look-alike contest occur throughout the week turning the sleepy town of Hilo into an active visitor scene. But it's the 3 nights of competition that receives all the attention and live television coverage. We were lucky enough to receive tickets to the 50th Merrie Monarch Festival and what a wonderful experience it was... 24 Miss Aloha Hula performances and 58 halau performances over 3 nights by the best hula dancers and kumu in the world! The beauty of the performances often left us with misty eyes and fond memories we will not soon forget... Hana hou!!

Finally made it here for my very first merrie monarch hula festival in April. There is lot of…read moreparking all over the place so even with a packed stadium we were able to find a stall. It's open air so it's nice and breezy and sometimes even a bit cold. There are a lot of bathrooms there so the wait isn't so bad. I hope to return to this stadium next year and be on that stage!

Seeing the location of the Merry Monarch programs every year was an experience. The stadium looks…read moresmaller to me in person than on television. It's good use of space.

Held in Kailua-Kona Hawaii annually since 1978 , the Ironman World Championships has been a very…read moreimportant event for me to film as a sports photographer. In 2018 I traveled with a fellow YELPER who was yelping all over the island.I didn't question why she was taking pictures and talking to the servers about her food choices .This was a few months before I decided to start yelping.The week of Ironman ( which is a 17 hour race consisting of a 2.4 mile swim 112 mile bike and 26.2 mile run )is filled with media events , meeting professional athletes , expos , taking in the beautiful Hawaiian spirit and equally wonderful food choices.One of my favorite places to eat & people watch in Kona is Lava Java for their amazing Go island style pancakes with island grown macadamia nuts and Hawaiian papaya that you cannot get on the mainland.Equally exceptional is Hugo's on the Rocks with casual dining and sand floors on the bottom floor overlooking the ocean.They also have fine dining upstairs with gluten free and vegan options such as pupu pizzas with hamakua mushrooms, carmelized Maui onions and macadamia nut pesto.Although I can't eat fish , my dining partner said the seared sesame crusted Ahi was one of the best and freshest fish that they have ever had.We had 3 people wait on us even though the restaurant was full and the service was fast. We did not feel rushed and enjoyed our dinner with the sound of the crashing waves as the sun set early around 5pm.If you do make a trip to the island , a favorite locals breakfast stop is the Fish Hopper well known for their coconut and macadamia nut french toast with Punalu'u sweet bread and berries sauce.My stomach is growling now just thinking about it.In 2019 I returned again to indulge in a week of amazing island eating out and visiting the local open food markets on Al'i drive where you can get fresh coconut water straight from a local opened with a machete and fresh island specialties like sweet strawberry papaya,hawaiian Haas avocadoes , and rapoza mangoes.All are equally delectable and not found on the mainland.If you need a relaxing tranquil and beautiful place to visit and enjoy some quiet time, I would not recommend coming during the 2nd week in October during Ironman World Triathlon Championships week.However, if you are craving a crazy energy filled week filled with 1000s of triathletes from all over the world and an equally high energy in the air for a week this is the place to be.Enjoy what life comes to you, the people who you chose to spend your time with and happy YELPING .

Terrible customer service…read more Have been trying to transfer the already paid funds for a race that was scheduled in the US pre-pandemic to Canada. This is so I do not need to travel out of the country and need to quarantine when arriving back in Canada. Have been sending numerous messages via email and the contact website to no avail. Appears to be no telephone number for contact.