Honolulu Marathon
Honolulu, United States · December · Independent
Why people love it
- Starts at 5 a.m. with fireworks, then runs past Waikiki and Diamond Head.
- No time limit; finishers get a medal and malasadas.
- Spectators and residents hose runners and hand out snacks.
- Sea level, so no altitude penalty.
Watch out for
- Heat and humidity: about 22 to 27 °C (72 to 80 °F) with humidity above 80 percent.
- Corrals were not enforced; walkers and 10K runners crowd the first 5 to 8 km (3 to 5 mi).
- Climbs near 11 km (7 mi) and 39 km (24 mi) around Diamond Head.
- Few start shuttles and too few toilets were reported.
Race
How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 28% of the overall score.
Toughness: Tough
- Racer satisfactionLoved3.6
RaceRaves averages 3.6 of 5 from 62 ratings and BibRave 88 percent recommend. Aloha and scenery are praised; heat and a chaotic start cost it. · High confidence
- OrganizationAdequate3.1
Reviewers split. Many call it well run; others report unenforced corrals, too few start toilets, missing mile markers and thin finish food. · High confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly3.7
No time limit and big support suit newcomers. Heat, humidity and climbs near 11 km (7 mi) and 39 km (24 mi) are tough. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialSlow2.4
Reviewers say skip the PR chase: 22 to 30 °C (72 to 86 °F), 80 to 92 percent humidity and two climbs near Diamond Head. · High confidence
Course
Scenery, road surface, closures, and room to run. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Course sceneryBeautiful4.3
Ocean, Waikiki, Diamond Head and the Hawaii Kai coast; RaceRaves scenery is 4.0 of 5. Some find the Hawaii Kai out-and-back repetitive. · High confidence
- Room to runSome pinch points2.7
Corrals released together, walkers near the front and 10K runners sharing the first 8 km (5 mi) caused crowding. · High confidence
- Road surfaceGood3.7
Paved city roads and highway. No surface complaints in the reviews found. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed4.0
Major roads are closed for the race, and reviewers cite no traffic problems. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Course flatnessRolling3.3
Rolling, with two main climbs near 11 km (7 mi) and 39 km (24 mi). Exact gain is not published. · Low confidence
- Net downhillEven3.0
Ala Moana to Kapiolani Park, both at sea level, so effectively no net drop. · Medium confidence
Support
Crowds, aid stations, the start, and pacers. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Start logisticsFiddly2.4
A 5 a.m. start with fireworks, but reviewers report few shuttles, long lines, too few toilets and unenforced corrals. · High confidence
- Pacers and timingSome pace groups3.4
Pace groups exist but pacing is hard in crowds and heat. Some missing mile markers were reported. · Low confidence
- Crowd supportStrong4.0
Spectators hose runners and hand out snacks. The pre-dawn start means few spectators early, and the Hawaii Kai stretch is quieter. · High confidence
- Aid stationsGood3.7
Plenty of water, volunteers, sponges and ice later. Repeated complaints about thin sports drink, sparse highway stations and meagre finish food. · High confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 14% of the overall score.
- WindSome wind3.3
Trade winds can help or hinder along the coast; no strong complaints. · Low confidence
- Air temperatureHarsh1.7
Starts near 21 to 23 °C (70 to 73 °F), humid, ending near 27 °C (80 °F). Heat is the top complaint. · High confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.3
Consistently warm and humid, but rain and wind vary by year; rain fell in 2025 and 2007. · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlySome viewpoints3.1
Hard for spectators with a 5 a.m. start and a long out-and-back to Hawaii Kai. The Kapiolani Park finish is easy. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level5.0
Sea level, about 0 to 10 m (0 to 33 ft). · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood4.1
Waikiki has thousands of rooms, though December is peak season and early booking is advised. · Medium confidence
- Hotel valuePricey2.4
Hawaii prices and resort fees; a 2025 blogger also found flights costly. · Medium confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable3.6
Many Waikiki hotels are near the finish, but the Ala Moana start is 4 to 5 km (2.5 to 3 mi) away with limited shuttles. · Medium confidence
- Travel easeOne connection3.0
Honolulu airport is about 14 km (9 mi) from Waikiki, but most runners face a long and costly flight. · High confidence
- LogisticsSome complexity3.0
Expo and packet pickup are generally smooth, but parking, bib checks and start transport draw complaints. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodGreat4.6
Waikiki, beaches and local food; finishers get malasadas. Hawaii is a destination in itself. · Medium confidence
Entry
How hard it is to get a place, and what you get for the fee. Counts for 8% of the overall score.
- Getting inEasy4.2
Open entry with no cap listed, and the race has not sold out in recent years. · High confidence
- Value for moneyFair3.3
Mixed views: medal, shirt and malasadas are praised, while some call value poor. Fee not confirmed. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Honolulu, Oahu, United States
- Typical month
- December
- Latest or next date
- 13 December 2026
- Organiser
- Independent
- Field size
- About 20,000 athletes
- First held
- 1973
- Distances
- 42.2 km (26.2 mi)
- Course type
- point-to-point
- Start time
- 05:00
- Boston qualifier
- Yes
- Surface
- road
- How to get in
- open
- Sells out
- Rarely
- Air temperature
- 21–27 °C (70–81 °F)
- Humidity
- 80 to 92% reported
- Altitude
- 5 m (16 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Daniel K. Inouye International (HNL), 14 km (9 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Waikiki near Kapiolani Park, Ala Moana
- Booking
- Waikiki rooms plentiful but expensive in December; book early.
What racers and reviewers say
- RaceRaves Honolulu MarathonRaced 2015-2025 · aggregator · Mixed
Rated 3.6 of 5 from 62 ratings. Runners praise the aloha crowds, Diamond Head scenery, medal and malasadas. They agree the start is chaotic, heat and humidity are the main problem, and aid is uneven.
“So much aloha”
- Marathon Maniacs member reviewsRaced 2016-2025 · aggregator · Mixed
Across 38 reviews, runners enjoy the views and relaxed no-time-limit atmosphere. Heat, walkers in the front corrals, thin Gatorade and finish food, and toilet shortages are repeated complaints. Several would return despite the heat.
“Heat and humidity are the most common complaint”
- BibRave Honolulu reviewsRaced 2023-2025 · aggregator · Positive
About 35 reviews with an 88% recommend rate. Reviewers call the course mostly flat with two long climbs, praise volunteers and sprayers, and warn it is not a PR course in the heat.
“every water station was manned by happy cheering people”
- Team RunRun: Honolulu Marathon Race ReportRaced 2025 · blog · Positive
Raced December 2025 in 3:51:29, rating it 8 of 10. Heavy rain before the start pushed humidity to 92% and he was soaked by 5 km (mile 3). Corrals released together, causing 5 to 8 km (3 to 5 mi) of crowding. Hills near 11 km (7 mi) and 39 km (24 mi).
“Running 26.2 miles in paradise is an unbeatable experience.”
- Run to the Finish Honolulu reviewRaced n/a · blog · Positive
Per search summary (page blocked): praises course photographers, plentiful water stops and volunteers, and ROTC cadets holding a rope on the biggest hill. Finish line is about two minutes from the beach.
Show 5 more
- Run Dream Achieve: Honolulu Marathon course guideRaced n/a · article · neutral
Describes rolling terrain with gradual rises; the main climb is the Diamond Head approach, and the Hawaii Kai out-and-back return is harder. Warm air, high humidity and sun on exposed roads, especially late.
- Wikipedia: Honolulu MarathonRaced n/a · article · neutral
First held 16 December 1973, about 20,000 finishers a year (18,805 in 2019), no time limit, finishing at Kapiolani Park. Calls the course relatively hilly compared with other marathons.
“no time limit to finish the course”
- Hawaii News Now: 51 years, over 27,000 runnersRaced 2023 · article · neutral
Reports a 5 a.m. start for over 27,000 runners and a course from downtown to Hawaii Kai and back to Waikiki.
- Spectrum News: 2023 winnersRaced 2023 · article · neutral
Describes a still, sticky morning with 82% humidity on race day.
- Honolulu Marathon official siteRaced 2026 · article · neutral
Lists the 2026 race for 13 December at 5:00 a.m. with no time limit. Organiser source, used for facts only.
“no time limit, only Aloha spirit”
Raced Honolulu Marathon? Your notes on the course, conditions and logistics help the next athlete decide.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
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