IRONMAN 70.3 Hawai`i (Honu)

Kohala Coast (Mauna Lani / Hapuna), United States · June · IRONMAN 70.3

IRONMAN 70.3 Hawai`i (Honu): cyclists on the queen k highway past lava fields at the mauna lani aid stationtroy mckaskle, CC BY-SA 2.0
Cyclists on the Queen K Highway past lava fields at the Mauna Lani aid station. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.

Why people love it

  • Bike the northern half of the IRONMAN World Championship course to Hawi
  • Warm, clear ocean swim with fish and turtles
  • Finish beside the ocean at the Fairmont Orchid
  • Plentiful aid and strong volunteers

Watch out for

  • Notorious wind: gusts around 72 km (44.7 mi)/h (45 mph) reported on the Hawi climb
  • Fast crosswind descents reaching 89 km (55.3 mi)/h (55 mph)
  • Run can top 35 °C (95 °F) with humidity, no shade and soft grass
  • Resort-priced lodging that can sell out
  • Older reports predate the current swim venue; bike elevation gain is not published

Race

3.5Good

How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 27% of the overall score.

  • Racer satisfactionLoved3.9

    Racers call it fun and special despite hard conditions, but few reports cover the current course and the best-known review is of a related race. · Low confidence

  • OrganizationWell run4.0

    Volunteers were outstanding in 2017, the pre-race briefing was clear and aid stations were plentiful. · Medium confidence

  • First timer friendlyDemanding2.3

    Gusts of 72 km (44.7 mi)/h (45 mph) in 2013, nervy descents and humid heat make this a tough first half. · Medium confidence

Course traits, not part of the score

  • PR potentialSlow2.4

    Pro winners took 4:06:59 in 2024 and 3:50:58 in 2012, slow for a 70.3, though 2022 was a fast near-perfect day. · Low confidence

  • Course easeVery tough2.0

    Wind, heat and the climb to Hawi make this one of the harder 70.3 courses. · Medium confidence

Swim

3.3Good

Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 15% of the overall score.

  • Wetsuit legalSeldom1.8

    Water averages about 24 °C (75 °F), right at the limit, and swims here are normally without wetsuits. No ruling was found. · Low confidence

  • Water temperatureAcceptable3.4

    Warm ocean at about 24 °C (75 °F), comfortable without a wetsuit but at the upper edge of pleasant. · Medium confidence

  • Calm waterSome chop3.4

    A rip near the last buoy was reported in 2013 and the water was rougher in 2017; otherwise calm. · Low confidence

  • Swim easeEasy3.7

    Clear water and no strong current reported, though starts here have been crowded. · Low confidence

  • Swim experienceGreat4.3

    Warm, clear water with fish and turtles. Some praise comes from earlier Hapuna Beach starts, not the current bay. · Medium confidence

Bike

2.3Below par

Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 19% of the overall score.

  • Road surfaceMixed3.2

    Lava highway with glass reported on a related Kona race. No systematic surface reports for this course. · Low confidence

  • Road closuresPartly closed3.3

    The bike uses the Queen K Highway, but how fully it is closed is not documented. · Low confidence

  • Bike sceneryBeautiful4.2

    Lava fields, Pacific views and the Kohala mountains along the highway. · Medium confidence

  • WindNotoriously windy1.4

    Gusts reached 72 km (44.7 mi)/h (45 mph) in 2013, and the 2024 winner called gusts the main challenge. · High confidence

Course traits, not part of the score

  • Bike speedAverage2.9

    Wind and the climb to Hawi slow the way out; a descent of 89 km (55.3 mi)/h (55 mph) and a quicker return recover time. · Medium confidence

  • Bike flatnessRolling2.7

    Rolling Queen K Highway and a steady climb to Hawi. Total gain over 90 km (56 mi) is not published. · Low confidence

  • Bike simplicitySome technical parts2.7

    Fast crosswind descents; one 2017 racer slowed to the base bar to feel safe. · Medium confidence

Run

2.6Good

Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.

  • Crowd supportDecent2.6

    The course runs on a remote highway and a resort golf course, and no spectator reports were found. · Low confidence

  • Aid stationsGood4.1

    Water stops about every 8 km (5 mi) on the bike and roughly every 1.6 km (1 mi) on the run, with ice. · Medium confidence

  • Run sceneryBeautiful3.9

    Golf greens, lava fields and fishponds, finishing beside the ocean. · Medium confidence

  • Run conditionsHard1.8

    Over 35 °C (95 °F) in 2014, heavy humidity, no shade and soft grass that drags. · Medium confidence

Course traits, not part of the score

  • Run flatnessRolling3.1

    Golf course loops with a long gradual climb; one 2014 report called the run hot and hilly. · Low confidence

Conditions

3.1Good

Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 15% of the overall score.

  • Air temperatureWarm or cool2.6

    Highs of 26-30 °C (79-86 °F), lows of 18-24 °C (64-75 °F), humid, and the run felt hotter than forecast. · Medium confidence

  • Weather reliabilityReliable3.6

    Hot and windy in most years, so conditions are predictable, though 2022 was nearly perfect. · Medium confidence

  • Venue beautyLovely4.4

    Resort coast with lava, ocean and mountains in view. · Medium confidence

  • Spectator friendlySome viewpoints2.5

    The bike is a remote out-and-back and the run is on a resort golf course. · Low confidence

Course traits, not part of the score

  • Low altitudeSea level5.0

    The Kohala Coast sits at sea level, 0 m (0 ft). · High confidence

Stay and travel

1.7Below par

Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 11% of the overall score.

  • Hotel availabilityBook early2.6

    The race sold out in 2013 and the resort coast has limited rooms. · Low confidence

  • Hotel valuePricey1.9

    Kohala Coast resorts are luxury priced. No race-week price data was found. · Low confidence

  • WalkabilitySome driving3.0

    Resort-based start and finish, but the venues are spread out. · Low confidence

  • Travel easeOne connection2.8

    Kona (KOA) is close, but Hawai`i means a long flight and shipping or flying with a bike. · Low confidence

  • LogisticsSome complexity3.0

    Bike racks and T2 bags with separate start and finish areas; current venue details are thin. · Low confidence

  • Town and foodFine2.7

    A resort coast with little independent town life. · Low confidence

Key facts

Location
Kohala Coast (Mauna Lani / Hapuna), Hawai`i, United States
Typical month
June
Latest or next date
5 June 2027
Organiser
IRONMAN 70.3
Field size
About 1,600 athletes
Distances
1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim, 90 km (56 mi) bike, 21.1 km (13.1 mi) run
Swim venue
Pauoa Bay, Fairmont Orchid (earlier editions: Hapuna Beach) (ocean)
Water temperature
24–25 °C (75–77 °F)
Swim start
beach
Swim laps
1
Bike laps
1
Key climbs
Climb to Hawi (steepest early near Kohala Ranch entrance); Deceptive uphill leaving Kawaihae
Run laps
2
Run shade
None; golf course and lava fields
Air temperature
18–30 °C (64–86 °F)
Humidity
High; one racer said humidity hurt more than heat
Altitude
0 m (0 ft)
Nearest airport
Kona (KOA)
Where to stay
Mauna Lani, Waikoloa, Kohala Coast
Booking
Race sold out in 2013; resort coast.

Official race website (ironman.com)

What racers and reviewers say

  • RaceRaves (AGeraldi, related Keauhou Kona race)Raced 2023 · aggregator · Positive

    Reviewer describes the Keauhou Kona Half on the World Championship course, so only partly applicable: warm calm water with turtles, headwind out and tailwind back, about 15 flats from glass, plentiful aid and a long gradual run climb. Rated difficulty 4, production 5, scenery 4.

  • Slowtwitch forum (Honu half bike)Raced 2007 · forum · Mixed

    Riders describe rollers on the Queen K, a grinding climb to Hawi, morning crosswind that turns into a headwind near Hawi, a fast descent over 89 km (55.3 mi)/h (55 mph) and a deceptive uphill leaving Kawaihae. Return leg 20-25 minutes faster.

  • Freeplay Magazine (Another racecation)Raced 2017 · blog · Mixed

    Second Honu: new beach start and slightly rougher swim, headwind and crosswind on the Queen K, scary descents, then a hot humid golf-course run where she nearly quit. Praised volunteers and the finish and plans to return.

  • Tri-Alliance (David Nealon)Raced 2013 · blog · Mixed

    Very clear swim; strong headwind to Hawi with gusts about 72 km (44.7 mi)/h (45 mph), a flat, no shade and dizzying heat; run hot and humid. The race sold out and used three wave starts. A lot of fun despite the difficulty.

  • Triathlon Magazine Canada (Melanie McQuaid)Raced 2014 · article · Mixed

    Hot and windy day, run temperatures above 35 C (95 F), half the run on soft golf-course grass and half on tarmac past lava; winner called the course very challenging.

Show 3 more
  • Big Island Now (2012 report)Raced 2012 · article · Mixed

    Strong winds made the bike treacherous for 1,600-plus competitors, worst on the climb to Hawi; Lance Armstrong won in 3:50:58.

  • Hawaii Tribune-Herald (2022)Raced 2022 · article · Positive

    Local paper called 2022 a nearly picture-perfect day with an abundance of fast times, showing the course can be quick without the usual wind.

  • West Hawaii Today / Tribune-Herald (2024)Raced 2024 · article · Mixed

    Winner Ciro Damiani (4:06:59) said large wind gusts challenged him all day and called it a difficult race; Meghan Grant won the women's race in 4:48:46.

Sources

Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.

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