Honolulu Triathlon
Honolulu (Ala Moana Beach Park, Magic Island), United States · May · Independent
Why people love it
- Ocean swim off Ala Moana Beach Park with lifeguards, rescue skis and a free swim clinic the day before
- Flat bike on closed Ala Moana Blvd and Nimitz Hwy; run closed to traffic inside the park
- Sprint starts 6:10 am and Olympic 5:45 am; Diamond Head and waterfront views on the run
- Waikiki hotels about 3 km (2 mi) away; Honolulu airport 14 km (9 mi)
- USA Triathlon sanctioned and held every May since 2004 except 2020 and 2021
Watch out for
- Early start: transition opens 4 am and the park closes to cars at 5:30 am; parking passes are limited
- Packet pickup only on Saturday 9 am to 3 pm, with no Friday pickup
- Bike headwind and 180 degree U-turns on the two-loop Olympic
- Salty ocean water and a hard-to-sight swim line (2017); locals call it corporate and Japan-focused
- Hawaii prices; no recent athlete race reports found
Race
How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 30% of the overall score.
Toughness: Moderate
- Racer satisfactionLoved3.6
Locals call it an honest, corporate Olympic that is less fun than the Tinman race; a first-time Japanese racer in 2017 was positive. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.7
A 2007 report saw no major traffic problems; organiser material is detailed. Few athletes have commented on running of the race. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly4.4
750 m (0.47 mi) out-and-back in a lifeguarded area, one bike loop; sprint starts after the Olympic waves · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialFast4.0
Flat; U-turn and wind · Low confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 16% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalUsually4.0
Organiser lets age-groupers wear wetsuits at any temperature and stay award-eligible; water about 25 to 27 °C (77 to 81 °F) so none is needed · Low confidence
- Water temperatureAcceptable3.0
Estimated 25 to 27 °C (77 to 81 °F) in May; not published · Low confidence
- Calm waterMostly calm4.0
Shoreline swim with gentle waves (2017); sheltered by the park lagoon area · Medium confidence
- Swim easeEasy4.2
Simple out and back · Low confidence
- Swim experienceGreat4.1
Clear water per 2017 account, skyline views; salty · Low confidence
- Swim supportGood4.3
Organiser lists lifeguards, water jets, rescue skis and a free swim clinic the day before. No athlete has confirmed this. · Low confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 18% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceMixed3.4
Urban Honolulu arterial roads; not described · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed4.2
Ala Moana Blvd and Nimitz Hwy are closed from 4 am until about 10 am, per official notices. · Medium confidence
- Bike sceneryPleasant3.2
Diamond Head views but industrial Nimitz Hwy, Pearl Harbor side and airport · Low confidence
- WindSome wind2.6
Headwind called the hardest part of the bike (2017) · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedFast3.5
One loop, one U-turn · Low confidence
- Bike flatnessPancake flat4.6
Flat 20 km (12.4 mi) · Medium confidence
- Bike simplicitySome technical parts2.8
Two 180 degree U-turns under the viaduct; Olympic does two loops · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportDecent3.0
Locals describe a corporate feel with modest crowds; the finish at Magic Island has spectators. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsGood4.0
Six aid stations on the 10 km (6.2 mi) Olympic run, five on the 5 km (3.1 mi) sprint; self-serve water point on course · Medium confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful4.3
Waterfront path with Diamond Head and Waikiki views · Medium confidence
- Run conditionsEasy3.7
Short, five aid stations · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessFlat4.8
5 km (3.1 mi) flat · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Air temperaturePleasant3.6
Estimated 22 to 29 °C (72 to 84 °F) on a May morning with trade winds · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityReliable4.2
Good weather in 2007 and 2022 reports; occasional rain 2017 · Medium confidence
- Venue beautyLovely4.4
Beach park, skyline, Diamond Head · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy4.0
Compact park start and finish; Waikiki is only 3 km (2 mi) away. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level5.0
Sea level · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood4.2
Waikiki hotels about 3 km (2 mi) away, official race rates · Medium confidence
- Hotel valuePricey2.4
Hawaii hotel prices; organiser negotiates a race rate with no resort fee · Medium confidence
- WalkabilitySome driving3.2
Waikiki and Ala Moana hotels 1 to 3 km (0.6 to 2 mi) away, but the park closes to cars at 5:30 am · Low confidence
- Travel easeOne connection3.0
HNL airport 14 km (9 mi) away but a long flight for mainland athletes · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSome complexity3.4
One transition and venue; Saturday-only pickup, limited parking, 4 am transition · Medium confidence
- Town and foodGreat4.6
Honolulu has a deep range of food and things to do, though not tied to the race. · Medium confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Honolulu (Ala Moana Beach Park, Magic Island), Hawaii, United States
- Typical month
- May
- Latest or next date
- 16 May 2027
- Organiser
- Independent
- Field size
- About 1,000 athletes
- First held
- 2004
- Distances
- 0.8 km (0.5 mi) swim, 20 km (12.4 mi) bike, 5 km (3.1 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Ala Moana Beach Park, off Magic Island (ocean)
- Water temperature
- 25–27 °C (77–81 °F)
- Wetsuit
- Optional
- Swim start
- wave
- Swim laps
- 1
- Bike laps
- 1
- Run laps
- 1
- Run shade
- Palms and grass in the park; open on waterfront paths
- Air temperature
- 22–29 °C (72–84 °F)
- Humidity
- Moderate to high; 2017 participant found it low
- Altitude
- 2 m (7 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Daniel K. Inouye International (HNL), 14 km (9 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Ala Moana, Waikiki, Kakaako
- Booking
- Waikiki is about 3 km (2 mi) away; official race hotel rates for 13 to 17 May 2027. Packet pickup Saturday 9 am to 3 pm at Magic Island only (no Friday pickup). Limited first-come parking passes; paid parking on Holomoana St or Ala Wai Harbor. Park closes to vehicles at 5:30 am on race day; transition opens 4 am.
What racers and reviewers say
- HOUYHNHNM (TEAM CPFU feature)Raced 2017 · article · Positive
Japanese team member's account of first-time racing both Olympic and sprint: clear ocean with gentle waves but salty water that is hard on the body and easy to lose direction in. The flat bike was the hardest part because of a headwind and occasional rain; run is two loops of the park. Strong sun, low humidity.
- Honolulu Star-BulletinRaced 2007 · article · Positive
Race-day report: about 1,200 triathletes after a sprint was added, good weather, no major traffic snarls though some airport-area residents complained about bike-route tie-ups. Course record 1:42:27 for men and 1:52:33 for women in the Olympic; sprint winners 1:10:04 and 1:19:58.
- Trizone AustraliaRaced 2010 · article · Positive
Promotional preview by an age-grouper pitching the race as a holiday: bike past Pearl Harbor and Lagoon Drive with Diamond Head views, run through three waterfront parks. Over 1,000 triathletes from eight countries were expected. No critical view.
Raced Honolulu Triathlon? Your notes on the course, conditions and logistics help the next athlete decide.
Sources
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