Race Cost: $245 (w/ t-shirt)- if registered in Oct 2025
(I live 2 miles from the start so the travel information below is from trips I take to Long Beach, CA)
Flights: LGB-HNL Hawaiian (bought tickets in May 2024)
Departure 6 Dec 24 (Fri) LGB-HNL 0800-1200
Return 9 Dec 24 (Mon) HNL-LGB 1320-2045
Cost $685 (if bought in Nov 2025)
Transportation to/from airport: Taxi ~$45
(This is the closest hotel to the start – I have stayed here a few times in the past)
Hotel: Ala Moana Hotel (3 night – $952 total)
Classic hotel – pretty lobby with restaurant and bar; fitness center across street
Room – basic; carpet; balcony with sliding door; central a/c unit; good walls – no outside noise
Lobby and public spaces are modern – parking $39/ valet $49 a day
Distance from bus pick up/finish of marathon: 800m/1.8 miles
Distance from Expo: 200 meters
Hotel does not provides a shuttle to the airport
Other Hotel Options: Multiple hotels in Waikiki
Expo Thoughts –
Location: Honolulu Convention Center; Size: Large – packet pick up with around dozens of vendors
Time to see it all: 45 minutes
Race start (0500) – Start at Ala Moana Beach Park north of Waikiki. About a 800m walk from the hotel. The start has over 100+ restrooms but because this is one of the largest marathons in the United States there will be lines that take about 30 minutes if you arrive with less than 45 minutes before race time. The crowd is a mix of individuals who have run marathons before but a lot of first time marathoners. Unfortunately the race director decides to have a firework show at the start which causes significant delays and bottlenecks as ~10% of racers stop in the chute to take videos and pictures of the fireworks
Race Finish was located in Kapiolani Park. Finish has a large segregated finisher area with food, medals, water, and first aid. No beer was provided. Plentiful seating in shaded areas in the park. Gear check available. Finish was in the 70-80s.
Post-race party – average; in public park, snacks; some vendors; no free beer; plenty of restrooms; parking is a challenge.
The Race (2024):
Start (0500) Ala Moana Beach Park – No inside area; however there is a large public park that provides plenty of area to stretch, relax, and use the restrooms; Difficult to get to corral
Overall the race is a very large race (over 18,000 people for the full marathon). Full marathon and 10k started in the same location and at the same time. You start at Ala Moana Park and proceed to run through downtown where you make a u-turn and then proceed back by Ala Moana Park, through Waikiki, and then to Kapiolani Park. After Kapiolani Park you hit the primary hill section where you ascend Diamondhead, then descend Diamondhead and then travel around the circumference of the volcano to ascend the side of Diamondhead again. After that you proceed to run through suburbia for a number of miles till you arrive in Hawaii Kai. You run a multiple mile loop around Hawaii Kai and then proceed back to ascend Diamondhead one final time around mile 24 before finishing Kapiolani Park.
If you are extremely lucky then race day will be cloudy. If there are no clouds expect the sun to come up around the time you are at Mile 16 by Hawaii Kai. This race has little shade so expect to bake from the sun during the marathon. Additionally the humidity can be high which makes proper hydration essential. Weather-wise this is probably one of the hardest marathons I have run.
Grocery Store in area:
Grocery store – Foodland Farms – 700m from hotel- Water; Energy Drink; Bananas; Oranges; Bread; Chocolate
Food
Night Before the Race (Italian options): Assaggios, Old Spaghetti Factory, Bernini, Cino, Olive Garden, Ruscello (has pasta)
Other Restaurants: Multiple in Ala Moana Mall, Downtown, and Waikiki
Weather – Start: 70s degrees
Finish temp high 70-80s; blue sky no clouds; Over the 3 day trip: lows in 70s; highs 80s.
| Breweries/Drinking establishments | |
| Off The Wall | Hana Koa Brewing Co |
| Aloha Brewing Company | Howzit Brewing |
| Waikiki Brewing Company | Lokahi Brewing Company |
| Beer Lab | Maui Brewing |