Honolulu Marathon

Location: Honolulu
Country: United States
Website: https://www.honolulumarathon.org/
2025 Marathon Date: 14/12/2025
2026 Marathon Date: TBC
Winning Time 2025: 2:12:38
% Sub-3s: <1% # Sub-3s: 50-99 Total Finishers: 20-30k

The Honolulu Marathon is one of the world’s most distinctive and recognisable marathon events, held annually in Honolulu on the island of Oʻahu, Hawaii. Renowned for its oceanfront scenery, tropical atmosphere and inclusive ethos, it has been a fixture on the global running calendar since 1973 and continues to attract a large international field.

The course begins on Ala Moana Boulevard beside Ala Moana Beach Park, with an early morning start designed to avoid the worst of the daytime heat. From there, runners head through downtown Honolulu, passing landmarks such as Iolani Palace and the Aloha Tower area, before entering the high-rise corridors of Waikiki. The route then skirts Waikiki Beach and the Duke Kahanamoku statue, offering sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean.

One of the defining features of the marathon is its loop around Diamond Head, the iconic volcanic crater that dominates Honolulu’s eastern skyline. The course circles the crater before heading east through the residential neighbourhoods of Kahala and out towards Hawaii Kai. This section forms an out-and-back stretch, after which runners retrace their steps back towards Waikiki. The finish line is located near Kapiʻolani Park, at the base of Diamond Head, providing a dramatic natural backdrop for the final metres.

In profile, the Honolulu Marathon is largely flat, with most of the course featuring gentle gradients. The main elevation changes come around Diamond Head, where runners encounter two rolling climbs, including a more testing rise in the later miles. While the terrain itself is manageable, the tropical climate plays a significant role in shaping the race experience. High humidity and steadily rising temperatures as the morning progresses are often the primary challenge rather than elevation.

The marathon was founded in 1973 by a small group of organisers inspired by the idea of making long-distance running accessible to everyone. From the outset, it adopted a philosophy of inclusivity, which is reflected in its long-standing policy of having no official time limit. This approach has earned it the nickname “The People’s Race” and makes it particularly appealing to first-time marathoners, walkers, and participants running purely for the experience.

Over the decades, the Honolulu Marathon has grown into one of the largest and most internationally diverse marathons in the world. Its combination of natural beauty, cultural landmarks, and welcoming spirit makes it less about chasing fast times and more about completing a memorable journey through one of the most scenic marathon settings anywhere.