For years, I have told my friends and coworkers about how amazing the Hapalua is, so when one of my…read morecolleagues asked if I wanted to participate with her, I knew I would regret it if I didn't go! Since we were just planning to walk, I set up an 8-week training regiment to prepare for the day and jumped on a plane with her a couple days before the race! Packet pickup was pretty easy, although it was moved from the Convention Center to the Blaisdell, which meant paid parking was needed. Some of the vendors were incredibly pushy this year, but everything else went smoothly. The Hapalua's partnership with the Outrigger Hotels made it easy to be close to the starting line. The morning of the race, we walked to our section in the back and waited with anticipation for the signal to begin. Although intense storms were expected, we lucked out and barely even faced a drizzle during mile 9. There were plenty of hydration and medical stops along the way, and many people came out to cheer on the racers from Waikiki to Kaka'ako. Everyone was so kind, supportive, and joyful--just like I remembered from my previous Hapalua races. Of course, everyone looks forward to the snacks at the end, especially those fresh malasadas. (It's amazing how motivating those beautiful sugar crystals are when your legs are screaming at you!) We happily enjoyed our treats as we walked back to the hotel with our medals. I don't know the next time I'll be able to participate in the Hapalua, but I'll gladly give up my precious vacation days the next time I'm invited to go!

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.

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!

The Boca Hawaii Tamanaha 15K is the first race of the 808 Race Hawaii Bioastin Marathon readiness…read moreseries, designed to help runners in preparation for the Honolulu Marathon in December. First of all, I am surprised that no other Yelper has reviewed this race yet so yes I am excited in this review. I recently ran the 15K on 08/12/2018 and it was a great run. The race encompasses the last half of the Honolulu Marathon, 15K=9 miles. If you have ran the Great Aloha Run, it is just 1 mile more. The race is held at Kapiolani Park and starts there and ends there. It is not as big as other big races in Hawaii but it is still an awesome race that is sponsored and supported and volunteered by great staff and people. The race goes from Diamond Head going through Kahala and wrapping around Diamond Head again to Kapiolani Park. They have some great refreshments at the end and a good race to start off the Marathon readiness and training overall. Although there is no race medal, there is still an awesome race shirt you get out of it. Highly recommended for any runner and especially for those who train for big races like the Marathon.

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!

Paddled with the 'Fossils' (60+) for the first time ever. Very welcoming. Loaned me a paddle and…read morefed me full of great tips. They even let me carry the (heavy) end of the boat. It is an amazing workout. Not too hard but definitely not for the faint of heart. Immediately bought my own paddle and I will be a regular member of Team Fossil every MWF morning. I will remember to bring my coconut water next time. Very Aloha...

By far one of the more fun mud runs I've done! We ran the 2019, 10am heat and it was a blast ever…read morein the drizzle! The obstacles were the right level of challenging for the casual OCR'er though I wish the high walls had footholds for those of us height and upper body challenged lol! The river walk was refreshing after the mud crawls but definitely watch your knees because the net crawl included lots of rocks! Outside of the obstacles, the event was SUPER organized even with the ranch tour groups passing us by. Seriously will run this one again BUT will have to take a 4-wheel drive truck to get OUT of the parking lot. Huge thanks to the guy behind us that helped us get the car out of the mud!

Yelp 365 Challenge x 2 #277/365…read more Yelp 100 Challenge #21/100 You always read about supporting local and buying local. But, you mainly associate it with food (produce or meats), clothing, household items, etc. However, here is something local in regards to sporting events! And not just any sporting event but an OBSTACLE COURSE RACE / MUD RUN EVENT! I'm so surprised that there is no review of this event unless it is under a different name? The Makahiki Challenge has been around for the past three years I believe because I remember one of my friends sharing about her experience last year or the year prior but I paid it no mind until the Warrior Dash. One of my co-workers was so hyped about completing the Warrior Dash and the fact that it was stress-free for her because there were no penalties if you decided not to complete an obstacle, that she was anxious for the Warrior Dash to roll around again. I shared with her about the Makahiki Challenge. She signed up. I decided to sign up and surprise, surprise...my family signed up too. What is the Makahiki Challenge? From their website info: Makahiki Challenge is meant to be an annual challenge for the people of Hawaii and it's visitors. It is a chance to compete, challenge ourselves, celebrate, enjoy, and respect this beautiful island that has continued to provide for us. Here's a few more things about the Makahiki Challenge: -It's held at Kualoa Ranch (same location as the Spartan Race) -It's 3+ miles -10 to 12 obstacles, which includes an AMAZING huge slide! -Cool swag -Beautiful finisher's medal -Paina after-party (I didn't get to stay but it looked fun and crazy!) with well-known local bands -Beautiful scenery -It's filled with aloha and full of fun -The price of the event was really reasonable for an obstacle course/mud run event -No penalties if you do not or cannot complete an obstacle -Local sporting event with local sponsors (Note: If you're a company looking to sponsor or volunteer check them out if you want to help out this event. It's worth it!) The 2014 Makahiki Challenge was my first year to do this event and I have to say that it was one of the most fun events especially because my family joined in (we created our own team name and wore team shirts). The registration and packet pick-up was smooth. The obstacles were challenging, fun yet sturdy (I still can't get over the slide). It didn't matter if it rained in the 2nd half of the race because it was getting too hot anyways. From the parking to the vendors, everyone was super friendly and helpful. In my opinion, if you're looking for an event that is not really intimidating, family-friend/group oriented or individual and local with the taste of the islands, be on the lookout for the next Makahiki Challenge (2015!!!) because you don't want to miss out on this obstacle course/mud run event. Check out their website or Facebook page!

Wow! Killer tough advanced hike to the top of the Koolau Summit Trail. Plan on 5-6 hours…read moreroundtrip to complete this tough hike. It's a difficult trail to find and follow since it's not widely used. Once you pass the houses at the very end of the street, just follow that path (easy to follow here). About one mile in you'll come to an open area where the dirt is open. The path into the forest veers left here; go right and STRAIGHT uphill. This uphill is described as the same distance and steepness as Koko Head stairs -- and that's about correct! Go up, up, up until you reach the plateau, then veer left and follow the decent trail all the way up to the KST. You'll need good hiking boots, gloves, and micro spikes for sure. The views of Hawaii Kai and south while heading up are fantastic. The views from any KST ridge hike are spectacular. Good luck and hike this one with a partner.

Want a change from Kuliouou, Hawaii Loa Ridge, and Wiliwilinui? Well, look no further. Kulepeamoa…read moreRidge is it! Approximately a 5.5-mi trail. The trail begins at the dead end of Anolani Street. Street parking is abundant. Walk up the paved road after the turnaround. You'll see a water tank (white cylindrical tank) enclosed in a fence on your left hand side. Directly to the right of the fence, you'll see a small narrow opening between the fence and a short moss rock wall with several poles sticking up. This is the trail head. (Unlike it's sister hikes, this hike starts from the bottom and requires you to climb to the ridge line. Hawaii Loa/Kuliouou/Wiliwilinui begin at the ridge.) The trail is pretty well defined with pink/orange trail markers along the way. Terrain changes A LOT. You cross a stream bed but it was dry when we went. Initially, it's a steep incline. Be prepared to sweat. Take breaks if needed. At times you're under trees, but most of the time you're out in the open. Recommendation: once you complete the section of the ascent to the ridge, reapply sunscreen. I didn't and my sweat took off all the sunscreen and now I have this horrible tank top and sports bra tan. Whaaa! Didn't really encounter mosquitoes but there were bees along the trail. There is one section that requires you to use a rope to climb an eroded and steep section of the ridge. Always be sure to tug at it before relying on any ropes. There's multiple ropes to choose from. Once I reached the top of the roped area, I noticed that they were hooked on a metal stake. I can positively say there's a flat, black strap that is tied down to that stake. The rope is optional for the beginning portion of that steep section. I didn't use it but instead held it loosely in my hand in case I slipped. Some sections of the trail are narrow with drop-offs on either side. There's vegetation on both sides typically but proceed with caution. You can hug one side or the other for the most part to avoid falling. If it's windy, go slowly as you can easily lose your balance. Pictures make it look harder than it really is. This hike isn't commonly frequented by hikers. No one else was hiking this trail. There's portions (actually most of it) where the trail is slowly being overgrown with vegetation. You can still clearly see the trail but you need to push through the shrubbery and bushes. Wear long pants or long socks that cover your ankles and shins at minimum. I have bruises on both ankles due to the vegetation. (It's thick and not easy to break.) Also, there's a lot of spider webs you go through if you're the lead hiker. Since I was the first one, I ran through so many webs (I eventually used a stick to clear them before continuing). I would highly recommend starting at the base of Kulepeamoa Ridge trail and hiking along the Ko'olau Summit Trail until it meets up with the Hawaii Loa Ridge trail to the west. Stage one car at Kulepeamoa Ridge and one car at the end of Hawaii Loa Ridge. After hiking up Kulepeamoa, you probably don't want to go back down that steep slope. Apparently there's a side trail on Hawaii Loa Ridge that brings you back to Kulepeamoa but we didn't see it. Views are amazing. As you climb Kulepeamoa, you can see Koko Head and Diamond Head. As you climb between the Kulepeamoa and Hawaii Loa Ridge, you can see Waimanalo, Kailua, and Kaneohe. You basically have a clear view the entire hike unless it's covered by clouds. Probably not for the novice hiker. You will have a good cardio workout with those climbs. I would rate it an intermediate hike for the climb and length. Would consider it harder than Kuliouou and Hawaii Loa Ridge without a doubt. Tips: 1) Bring water. You'll need it. 2) Wear long pants (or high socks) for trudging through shrubbery 3) Park one car at Kulepeamoa and one car at Hawaii Loa Ridge (unless you find the side trail) 4) If you have, bring gloves. Not necessary though. 5) Pack a camera for the gorgeous views!

This is a triathlon / cycling event held as a fundraiser for the Hawaii Law Enforcement Memorial…read moreFund. One of the biggest draws for this event is being able to bike on the H3 through the Harano from town side to Kailua! There are several event options you can participate in: Olympic Distance Triathlon (1500 meter swim, 27 mile bike, 10k run) Short Distance Triathlon Bike ride/race (750 meter swim, 27 Mike bike, 5k run) For the triathlon, the swim is at Ala Moana Beach Park, then you ride from Ala Moana Beach Park to H3 to Aikahi Park in Kailua, then the run to the Marine Corps Base Hawaii and back to Aikahi Park. For the bike only option, you start before or at the same time as the triathlon swim start. They close off the bike course from vehicle traffic. You have all Kailua bound lanes on H3 all to yourself! Just a heads up, it's 95% uphill and can get pretty windy as you get close to the tunnel! This is a point to point event, so you'll need to find your way back to the park or vice versa. The swim starts