Kauai Marathon
Poipu, United States · September · Independent
Why people love it
- Tree Tunnel early in the course, with mountain and ocean views.
- Closed or partly closed roads with room to spread out among about 2,000 runners.
- Locals hand out fruit and use hoses and sprinklers along the route.
- Oceanfront finish in Poipu with food and music.
- Hotel shuttles run to and from the start.
Watch out for
- Hills: about 650 m (2,130 ft) of gain, with long climbs.
- Heat and humidity of 24 to 30 °C (75 to 86 °F) and 80%; heat illness reported.
- Aid about every 3.2 km (2 mi) and toilets run short; carry electrolytes.
- The half marathon has an early cutoff: 10.8 km (6.7 mi) by 1:55. Marathon cutoff unconfirmed.
- Travel is long with limited flights; hotels ran about $350 a night.
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: Very tough
- Racer satisfactionLoved4.3
RaceRaves rates it 4.9 from 18 ratings, 9 of them marathon. Runners love the scenery; heat and hills are the recurring tough points. · Medium confidence
- OrganizationWell run4.0
Closed roads, accurate mile markers, helpful volunteers and efficient shuttles. Pace-based corral signs were missing, and aid and toilets fell short in the heat. · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyDemanding1.9
650 m (2,130 ft) of climbing and humid heat of 24 to 30 °C (75 to 86 °F) make it a poor first marathon. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialVery slow1.2
Among the slowest courses: about 650 m (2,130 ft) of gain, long climbs and 80% humidity. · Medium confidence
Course
Scenery, road surface, closures, and room to run. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Course scenerySpectacular4.8
Tree Tunnel, mountain and ocean views and tropical landscape, with hula and drumming along the course. · High confidence
- Room to runRoomy3.9
About 2,000 runners across both distances on closed roads. Corrals were poorly organized, with walkers near the front and passing in the first mile. · Medium confidence
- Road surfaceGood3.7
Paved roads. Reviewers made no surface complaints. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed4.3
Reviewers describe all-closed or partially closed roads with plenty of space to spread out. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Course flatnessBig climbs1.2
About 650 m (2,130 ft) of gain, above the 600 m (2,000 ft) mark. Sources range from 635 to 915 m (2,083 to 3,000 ft). · Medium confidence
- Net downhillEven3.0
A loop that climbs for about the first 11 km (7 mi), then runs mostly downhill to the coast. · Medium confidence
Support
Crowds, aid stations, the start, and pacers. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Start logisticsSmooth3.8
Hotel shuttles were efficient with clear signs, and the start has toilets and fruit. Corral signs by pace were missing. · Medium confidence
- Pacers and timingSome pace groups3.0
One reviewer noted no pacers; most praised the mile markers. Thin evidence. · Low confidence
- Crowd supportStrong3.8
Locals offer hoses, oranges, watermelon and beer, with hula and Taiko groups. Spectators are sparse in the countryside because the field is small. · Medium confidence
- Aid stationsStandard3.0
Aid roughly every 3.2 km (2 mi), judged too little for the heat. Ice and cold towels helped, but toilets were reported dirty. · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 14% of the overall score.
- WindSome wind3.0
Runners reported both windless humidity and brisk trade winds. Little data. · Low confidence
- Air temperatureHarsh1.5
24 to 30 °C (75 to 86 °F) with about 80% humidity at a 6 a.m. start. · High confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.0
Hurricane-season date. Some years are humid and windless, others cloudy with showers, and one year was cool with a clear sunrise. · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlySome viewpoints3.0
The course goes inland on remote roads. Spectators gather at Koloa town, the start and the oceanfront finish. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.7
Start and finish are at the coast. The highest point is not published but is probably under 250 m (820 ft). · Low confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityBook early2.8
Few hotels on Kauai; the Grand Hyatt is the host hotel and some runners rent cars and stay in Poipu. · Medium confidence
- Hotel valuePricey2.2
One runner paid about $350 a night with a race discount. That is cheap for a resort but expensive for a race. · Medium confidence
- WalkabilitySome driving3.2
The start is about 2.4 km (1.5 mi) from the host hotel, with shuttles. Waits for the finish shuttle were about 15 minutes. · Medium confidence
- Travel easeAwkward1.8
Flights to the island are limited; one runner's trip from Boston took 13 hours and a delay stretched it to 33. · High confidence
- LogisticsSimple3.6
Small expo at the host hotel, a simple guide and shuttles in both directions. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodGood3.8
Poipu beaches, Koloa town and island scenery. Reviewers enjoyed exploring, but rideshare is sparse. · Low 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, not described as selling out. Field of about 2,000 across both distances. · Low confidence
- Value for moneyFair3.3
The medal is praised; the shirt was a boxy neon green and swag limited. Travel costs are high and the fee is unverified. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Poipu, Kauai County, United States
- Typical month
- September
- Latest or next date
- 5 September 2027
- Organiser
- Independent
- Field size
- About 2,000 athletes
- First held
- 2009
- Distances
- 42.2 km (26.2 mi)
- Course type
- loop
- Climbing
- 650 m (2,130 ft)
- Start time
- 06:00
- Surface
- Paved road, mostly closed or partly closed to traffic
- How to get in
- open
- Sells out
- Rarely
- Air temperature
- 23–30 °C (73–86 °F)
- Humidity
- High, about 80%
- Altitude
- 5 m (16 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Lihue (LIH), 30 km (19 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Poipu, Grand Hyatt Kauai
- Booking
- Host hotel is Grand Hyatt Kauai, about 2.4 km (1.5 mi) from the start with race shuttles; one runner paid about 350 USD per night with a race discount.
What racers and reviewers say
- RaceRavesRaced 2025 · aggregator · Positive
18 ratings, 4.9. Runners agree: top scenery, constant hills, heat and humidity, warm local crowds, strong production, thin aid and toilets, easy shuttles. Several say travel is long and delays happen.
“This is not a flat, fast marathon.”
- HawaiiNewsNowRaced 2017 · article · Mixed
Describes a route up through the tunnel of trees, Koloa, Kalaheo and back; about 200 marathon finishers and over 1,400 in the half; winner Michael Wardian in 2:45; calls it one of the toughest marathons in the US.
“one of the most difficult marathons in the country”
- The Garden Island (2017 recap)Raced 2017 · article · Positive
Record 2,073 registrations; cool morning and sunrise; new finish at Koloa Landing a hit; volunteers and spectators praised; hills of Lawai and Kalaheo fought through.
“the aloha spirit of volunteers and spectators was described as the best”
- The Garden Island (2010 recap)Raced 2010 · article · Positive
Early race report: first 11 miles (18 km) follow coast and inland via the Tree Tunnel, Omao, Lawai and Kalaheo; oceanfront resort finish with food and music; dawn start.
- RunningUSARaced 2023 · article · Positive
14th edition set a finisher record of 1,832; Wilcox Health expo, keiki run, hula performances at start and finish, donations to local non-profits.
Raced Kauai 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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