When Is the Honolulu Marathon 2026?
The 2026 race is set for Sunday, December 13, with a 5 a.m. start on Ala Moana Boulevard at Queen Street. The early start is deliberate. It’s timed around a fireworks send off and gives runners a few cooler hours before the Hawaiʻi sun comes up.
The Honolulu Marathon is one of the only major marathons in the world with no course cutoff. Organizers keep the finish line open until the last participant crosses, though everyone on course is expected to keep moving, and race officials can pull anyone from the route for safety reasons.
Expo and packet pickup happen at the Hawaiʻi Convention Center on Kalākaua Avenue: Thursday, December 10 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday, December 11 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday, December 12 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. There is no race day pickup, and each runner has to collect their own bib in person, so build the expo into your travel plans if you’re competing rather than treating it as optional.
Marathon Weekend Isn’t Just the Marathon
The marathon anchors a full weekend of racing. The Kalākaua Merrie Mile, a single mile run down Kalākaua Avenue, starts at 7 a.m. on Saturday, December 12, and draws a lively mix of serious runners, families and costumed walkers. The Start to Park 10K runs alongside the marathon on Sunday morning, starting at 5 a.m. from the same line, for anyone who wants the atmosphere of race morning without the full 26.2 miles. Both are good options if you’re traveling with runners of different abilities, or if you’d rather get your own race in before watching the marathon.
The Route: What to Expect
The 26.2 mile course loops through central Honolulu and Waikīkī in roughly this order. For full turn by turn and elevation detail, see the official course map:
- Downtown Honolulu, passing ʻIolani Palace
- Through Waikīkī
- Around Diamond Head
- Kāhala and Hawaiʻi Kai
- Back along the coast, past Diamond Head a second time
- Finish at Kapiʻolani Park
At the finish, medals, showers and fresh malasadas are waiting in Kapiʻolani Park.
Getting Around During Marathon Weekend
Because the course loops through so much of central Honolulu and Waikīkī, road closures are extensive on race morning. The Honolulu Marathon Association publishes a full traffic advisory ahead of race day, and it’s worth checking before you plan any early errands or ride bookings for that Sunday.
If you’re running, the organizers recommend walking to the start line or arranging a drop off rather than driving. Direct vehicle access to the start closes early, and parking near Ala Moana is limited on race morning. A complimentary Honolulu Marathon shuttle also runs from the Honolulu Zoo in Waikīkī between 2 and 4 a.m. for runners who’d rather not walk in the dark.
Where to Stay: Start Side or Finish Side
Where you stay in Waikīkī can shape your race weekend. Hotels closest to Ala Moana sit nearest the start line, which suits runners who want to walk over on race morning. Romer House Waikīkī sits in the heart of the neighborhood on Nāhua Street, which puts it closer to the Kapiʻolani Park finish and the post race atmosphere there, while still being an easy walk or short ride to the start if you’re running. For spectators, that finish side position is the more useful one: you can post up near Kapiʻolani Park, cheer runners home, and be back at the hotel in minutes.
