Course Info

All races start and finish at the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel.  The course opens at 6am and closes at 1pm. Runners can still get a finisher's medal if we are still there but the timer stops at 1pm.

The entire course takes place near the coastline.  Beautiful scenery from beginning to end. Waterfalls, jungle forest, and waves breaking on the shoreline make this an experience that you’ll never forget.

The Start is in the underground parking lot at the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel.  The Finish, for all races, is on the lawn behind the hotel.  The hotel is located on Banyan Drive.  If you are not staying at one of the hotels then you can park on the street around the hotels.  Do not park in the Nani Loa Hotel lots unless you are staying there.  You can park in the lots at Bayfront park and walk to the hotel, which is about 1 mile. You must be at the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel before 6:00am to start the Marathon race which starts at 6:00am sharp in the underground garage.

MARATHON

 

Exit the underground garage and turn right to go around Liliuokalani Garden on the ocean side and continue around the park to make a full loop. Then go straight on Lihiwai to Kamehameha Ave and turn right. Stay to the right and run through Bay Front Park to Hawaii Belt Rd and stay on the shoulder. Run to the Lighthouse and turn around and come back the same way. Stay on Lihiwai around the ocean side of the park to Banyan Drive. Turn left and stay on Banyan Drive to the intersection of Banyan Drive and Kalanianaole Ave. Go straight across with police and stay on Kanoelehua Ave (some of it has no shoulder so run in the grass) to Kekuanaoa St (Airport Road) and turn left.  Stay on Kekuanaoa St until you're almost to the airport terminal and turn right. Cross over to the other side of Kekuanaoa and turn right back to Kanoelehua Ave, and turn left. Go to Leilani St and turn left. Stay to the left and turn right on Railroad Ave. Stay on your left side of the street to the end. Turn around and come back staying on your left side of the street back to Leilani St. Turn right onto Kalanianaole Ave (where there is no shoulder run in the grass) to Operations St and turn right. Stay on Operations St all the way to the roundabout at Kamehameha Ave. Stay right of the roundabout on to Kamehameha Ave. Kamehameha Ave turns into Silva St. Turn right on Kalanianaole Ave to Lokoaka St and turn right. Lokoaka St turns into Nene St. Take Nene St to Uwau St and turn left. Turn right back onto Kalanianaole Ave. Go to King's Landing and turn around to the ocean side of the street. Stay on the ocean side of the street to Kamokuna St and turn right. Turn right again on Laehala St. Go past the yacht club to the turnaround at the end of the street. Turn around and go back out the same way to Kalanianaole Ave and turn right. Go to Onekahakaha St and turn right to the turnaround and back to Kalanianaole Ave and turn right. Stay on the ocean side of Kalanianaole Ave to Banyan Drive and turn right. Go to Lihiwai St and turn right. Go to Keliipio and turn right again and go to the Finish Line. [ MAP ]

HALF MARATHON (13.1 MILES)

 

Exit the underground garage and turn right then right again to go around Liliuokalani Gardens on the ocean side and continue around the park to make a full loop. Then straight on Lihiwai to Kamehameha Ave and turn right. Stay to the right and run through Bayfront Park to Hawaii Belt Rd and stay on the shoulder. Run to the Lighthouse and turn around and come back the same way until you get back to the park.  Run on the ocean side of the park (no loop) to Banyan Drive and turn Left. Stay on Banyan Drive to Banyan Way and turn left on to Kalanianaole Ave and turn left. Stay on Kalanianaole Ave to Onekahakaha Rd. Turn left to turn around and come back out and turn left to continue down past Richardson's Beach to the turnaround at King's Landing. Turn around to the other side of the street to Uwau St and turn left to Nene St. Stay on Nene St and turn right to end on Lokoaka St. Then turn left back onto Kalanianaole Ave. Stay on this side of the street until you reach Silva St. Turn left on Silva. Stay on Silva and it turns into Kamehameha Ave. Stay on Kamehameha Ave to the roundabout. Stay to the right of the roundabout and get back on Kalanianaole Ave to the light. Turn right and cross with police and proceed down Banyan Drive to Liliuokalani Gardens. Then turn right on Lihiwai St. Go to Keliipio and turn right again and go to the Finish Line. [ MAP ]


10K (6.2 MILES)

The 10K starts at 7:00am at same place as all the other races start, in the underground garage at the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel.  The course will head out and go around the ocean side of Liliokalani Garden Park and then over the Suisan Bridge to the start of Bayfront Park.  The first turnaround is at the poles in the road at the start of the park.  Turn around and go back the same way you came.  After Liliokalani Park turn left and go down Baynan Drive to the Ice Ponds.  Turn left and go to Kalanianaole Ave.  Turn left and go to Onekakaha Beach Park and turn left into the park entrance.  At the aid station there is the turn around.  Go back the way you got there.  Follow the course back to the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel and follow the signs and finish behind the Hotel.

5K (3.1 MILES)

The 5K starts at 6:30am in the same place as all the other races start, in the underground garage at the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel.  The course will head out and go around the ocean side of Liliokalani Garden Park and then over the Suisan Bridge to the start of Bayfront Park.  The first turnaround is at the poles in the road at the start of the park.  Turn around and go back the same way you came.  After Liliokalani Park turn left and go down Baynan Drive to the Ice ponds.  Turn left and go to Kalanianaole Ave.  Go to the Half Marathon/5K turnaround sign and turn around and go back the same way as you got there. Follow the signs and go behind the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel to the finish line.

MARATHON RELAY RACE

The relay race starts at 7:05am in the same place as all the other races start in the underground garage at the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel.  When the race starts you leave the garage and turn left to go down Baynan Drive.  You will run around Ice Ponds and head out to the Richardson Beach Park, down Kalanianaole Ave with a few a few scenic detours that bring you closer to the the ocean waves breaking along the coast.  After the turn-around just past Richardson’s, you return back down Kalanianaole Ave, however without the detours—go straight back, do not do the detours you made on the way out.  Go straight back to the Ice Ponds and come back the same way you started.  Follow the signs to the finish line behind the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel.  The first 2 runners will not go through the finish line—they will tag the next runner next to the finish line who will follow the same course.  The last runner will go through the finish line, because they hold the timing chip.  You may all go through the finish line together if you like.

FUN WALK (2 MILES)

The 2 Mile Fun Walk is not a timed event.  It's a fun walk, from the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel down Banyan Drive past Reeds Bay Park. Then around the Ice Pond and down to the Half Marathon/ 5K/ 2 Mile turn-around sign in front of Orchid Manor, then back the same way.  Participants will get a goodie bag with a shirt and bib.

SWITCHING

Switching runners' numbers, wearing a number that doesn’t belong to you, and changing from one race to another are violations of Road Runners Club of America's rules, unless it is done at the expo the day before the race.  Sanctions will be brought against violators.  Also, NO BANDITS are permitted.  You must be registered and wearing a running number with a chip on the front of your clothing to be considered a legal participant in this race.

VIDEO TAPING

Throughout the course there may be photographers who take photos or videos that can or will be used by the Marathon for advertising purposes.  Sometimes these photos may be made available to the runners.

PORTABLE TOILETS

Some portable toilets will be available on the course.  Most of the parks you pass on the course have bathrooms as well, especially on the Kalanianaole Ave part of the course.

AID STATIONS

Aid stations will be provided approximately every 2 miles with water and Gatorade.  Runners are encouraged to drink at every aid station and stay well hydrated.  Please also bring your own power gels, electrolytes, or other easy-to-carry items, to help aid your performance.  Please leave your trash at or near the aid stations and not on the course.  Water, Gatorade, Coke and gels will be at some of the last aid stations.