Not a lot of people have mentioned the expo. The expo this year was disappointing. Usually you have many different companies selling different products, shoe companies, nutritional bars, gels, clothing, marathons coming up in the next year, etc. With the exception of Nike, not much else. With all the Japenese booths, I felt like the expo catering much more to them. (Also keeping in mind that Japan Air Lines was also the biggest sponsor, and that was whose name was on your race number.)

The early start time was great. I did the Maui half marathon a couple of years ago and by 10 a.m. it was 85, and that course goes much closer to the ocean. I want to say that one didn't start till like 7 or 8? (Don't hold me to it though.)

The mile markers were there, but not always with a timer on them. As someone who was trying to stick on time with the pacer band I got at the expo, this was frustrating as I didn't know if I was on time, behind, ahead, etc. Also, the course has mile and kilometer markers. I don't know if this is more popular in international races to go by kilometers instead, but trying to remember that a 5K is 3.2 miles and trying to do the math while running is too much thinking. I wanted to be able to simply look at my band, see where I'm at, and not worry about multiplication at 25K to see if I'm on track.

T-shirt and medal. The t-shirt should be given out at the expo. As someone who doesn't wear their race shirts a whole lot (I like to collect them more than wear them), having to drag it around after the race when you're sweaty and gross was annoying to me. The medal was not that impressive and you had to put it on the shell necklace yourself. (It really does look like a keychain. Not much creativity seems to have gone in it. A backdrop of DiamondHead, a lei around the outside, an image of the island, something, and add some color to it!!!!)

Maybe I'm spoiled by San Diego Rock n' Roll, but as soon as you cross the finish line someone cuts off your chip so you don't have to bend down, then you get your medal immediately after that. (You actually get to keep the timing chip for this race as a souvenir.) Where you get your medal and t-shirt is not immediately after the finish line either. You need to walk a little ways to get it.

Food at the finish was so-so. Me personally, after eating Gu and PowerBars for 26 miles, I'll eat just about anything. Yes, you probably could have had some bananas or bagels or maybe vendors set up actually selling food, but it was something.

Bands along the course - 2 or 3. Bring music as appropriate.

Support along the course: Good support. The thing I seem to be noticing is that if you're not with a particular group, they don't cheer. Nothing whatsoever against JALPAK, Team in Training (Trained for San Diego twice through TNT), AIDS Marathon, Joints In Motion, Diabetes, but it seems that if you're not wearing that shirt, you don't exist as you walk by them. No high 5's, words of encouragement, nothing.

The sponges are awesome. The one thing that I've heard before is that they as they pick them up, and try to re-use them as they can. Kind of gross, but not enough to keep me from not taking one every chance there was.

Wow - this poor race is being seriously maligned in some of the comments here, so I can't help but jump in, add my two cents, and, I hope, clarify a few things. I'm a huge fan of this race - I spent a lot of time researching it before I chose it as the top U.S. race in the month of December for my book, Fodor's The Traveling Marathoner: A Complete Guide to Top U.S. Races and Sightseeing on the Run. I know the race well; I have come to know its organizers well, and I want to address some of the concerns posted on this page.

1) The Early Start
This is a great thing, not an inconvenience. It gets hot and humid in Honolulu in December, and the early start saves many runners from the worst of the heat. This marathon also welcomes runners of all speeds, and mid- to back-of-the-pack runners will be especially thankful for the early start. Another terrific benefit of a race starting before the sun is up? Fireworks to kick it off - a really spectacular and exciting way to start a marathon.

2) The Start Corrals/Bottlenecks
I wrote to the race organizers about the concerns posted on this site. They told me expected paces are clearly marked along the starting area by 15 x 3-foot bilingual signs hung from street light poles. Marathon literature clearly tells participants to line up by their estimated finishing times. In my opinion, it's not the marathon's fault if people ignore this and don't line up where they should. Could the marathon have strict starting corrals like some larger races? Sure. But a lack of them is no reason to condemn a great race. As for bottlenecks along the course, you're likely to get a couple slow spots in the early miles of just about any large race (think Chicago or New York) - it's a simple function of that many people on the same route.

3) Percentage of Japanese Runners
Really, to me this is a non-issue. Japanese runners happen to love this marathon, and make up the majority of runners, but to say the Americans are therefore second-class citizens is ridiculous. All major marathon signage is bilingual, the expo is accessible and enjoyable for both Japanese and Americans (and any other nationality attending, for that matter), and both kilometers and miles are clearly posted along the course.

4) Late Finishers
I'm stunned that someone commented on this like it's a bad thing. Marathoning is no longer a sport strictly for elite athletes. One of the greatest attributes of the Honolulu Marathon is that it welcomes runners and walkers of all speeds. Whether you finish in two and a half or 15 hours, there will be someone to meet you as you cross the finish line, and you'll get your well-deserved medal. Which brings me to....

5) The Medals
I don't know why people think finishers get a "keychain," but it's not at all the case. Finishers receive a medal, meant to be put on a puka shell lanyard (also given to finishers), which is very fun and very Hawaii. True, you have to go to a tent to get your medal and finisher T-shirt, but there are lots of large signs (in both Japanese and English) pointing the way to that tent, plus plenty of volunteers on hand to guide you if you get lost.

6) Post-Race Food
Criticism about this is valid: two oatmeal cookies and an apple does not post-race satisfaction make. That said, finishers can go back for as many cookies and apples as they want. There's also food available for purchase from vendors. This is a weakness of the Honolulu Marathon - you get much more from other races this size - but it's far from a dealbreaker.

On the whole, the Honolulu Marathon is a "Don't Miss" race for anyone looking to combine a great marathon with a great vacation. It's December in Hawaii - the time and place are ideal. Beyond that, it's a very well-managed race, whose organizers put incredible thought and consideration into its every aspect (down to the sponges at the aid stations - they spend extra to get sponges that hold more water than average, to better refresh the marathoners). The course is beautiful, the pre-race concert/luau is truly exceptional (with headliners like Brian Wilson and Gavin DeGraw), and the volunteers are wonderfully enthusiastic. I'll be running the race this year, and if anyone else out there is at all considering doing the same, I say go for it - you won't be disappointed.

I ran Twin Cities Marathon last month. TCM provided and "Etiquette Book." I thought the HONOLULU MARATHON should give that out to their runners, since Honolulu Marathon gets more ROOKIES (from Japan) than any other marathons I ran.

So be aware!!! Rookies will stop running right in front of you, spit without looking for other runners, throw water cups anywhere....

Because of that, it is not my favorite race.

Course is good. Spectators and volunteers are all wonderful.

I am commenting on the 2001 marathon, which I ran when I was 17 years-old. My experience differs completely from the many commentators here!

The early start was extremely invigorating (even with the rain) as I stood beside 20,000 participants. The cheering crowd was probably one of the only things that kept me running! I loved the Japanese bystanders who smiled and waved at all the runners.

I trained for 6 months for that marathon and against all odds finished in 9 hours and 15 minutes. As embarrassing as those numbers sound, to me it meant victory, since I was diagnosed with the chronic illness of Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis.

And for those who finished at 12 hours - good for you for putting your best foot forward.

At the time, I couldn't have been happier to cross the finish line. It was my first marathon, so I really didn't know what to expect or how to compare it to other races...The heat and the pre-dawn start didn't bother me. In fact, I kind of liked it. It made it *special*. My biggest complaint was all the Japanese runners. This isn't a bash, but I think the language barrier and the fact that no one moved right when they slowed down, almost made me lose it. No one understood when you would call out 'on your left' etc, so I probably ended up running an extra half mile at least to try and run around people. Also, I trained in DC which is pretty flat, and there was no heads up on the hills. This is definitely partly my fault, because I got so carried away with the idea of being in Hawaii (and trusting what my program called 'a mostly flat course') Lesson learned. I will echo the thoughts about the post-race food/water situation. So awful. I thought I would turn to jelly before I got my water and 'medal'.
Im glad I did it, but I don't think I'll be going back (unless its in Maui...)

The Honolulu Marathon is one of those races that goes like this: '"I'll be in Honolulu vacationing - might as well do a marathon while I'm at it." Dont expect a PR or even a good finishing time; the odds are against you in every way. The weather: hot,humid already by 5 a.m. The fellow tourist runners are not really marathoners for the most part; they too decided to visit Hawaii and participate in a race, but they don't have any idea of what a marathon requires of a person - which is why if you see the finisher's program you'll see runners finishing 12 and 15 hours later.

The expo is the biggest joke I've ever seen. They had about 30 vendors along the poolside of a hotel. You were done in about 15 minutes. The race itself is run about two hours in the dark with so many people packed in together that you can smell their stink all over while you rub elbows with the runner next to you. No joke, this is how crowded it is.

I'm glad I did this race only for the reason that now I know and won't do it again. At least for the finisher's picture you got a chance to take a pic with a cute girl or guy dressed in a hula skirt. This was probably the best organized area.

I have to agree with the negative comments that have all been posted. I ran this race in 2005. Granted it was my first marathon, but after having volunteered for several Chicago Marathons, and after running several different races in Chicago, I was very disappointed with the start and the finish of the race.

About 20 minutes into the race I was still hurdling over tourist runners taking pictures while running at a 5:00 pace, despite the fact that they lined up in the front with us at the 4:00 sign.

When I finally made it to the end of the race, I couldnt even find water. Every sign was in Japanese, and the "recovery" area was very unwelcoming. I too suffered through two horribly dry cookies, and a flavorless apple. The cookies were made dryer by the fact that I still could not find water, or the shuttle buses back to the hotel so that I could pour my own.

I finally paid for a cab ride back with my sweaty emergency cash, and never did get a drink. After my first 26.2 the least I was expecting was a warm bottle.

I have run 5Ks put on by small organizations that had better resources and organization.

I don't know what the guy below me is talking about; there was a marker every mile and ever kilometer.

The marathon was totally fun but brace yourself for a pretty warm and humid run. The Japanese spectators were really enthusiastic and I don't think I would have made it without them. Don't expect a PR, but expect a good time. Get yourself a mai tai at the finish line.

A couple of years ago I decided to wait until I ran another marathon before posting on this site. Emotional comments, both pro and con, tend to be stronger right after a race. Thus, I'm making this submission three months (and one marathon) after the '05 Honolulu Marathon.

The race organization cannot be rated higher than 1 star. There were about 27,000 people lined up at 5:00 a.m. and no starting corrals. As you can imagine, there were hundreds of walkers and charity runners lined up between the 3:00 and 3:30 pacers. That is not excellent organization. It is non-organization.

The course was another disappointment. Imagine 27,000 people running through all 4 lanes of a boulevard along Waikiki Beach, and then narrowing to ONE SINGLE LANE. You don't need Chopper Dan in the traffic helicopter to predict a heel clipping jam. This was really bad and dangerous because the sun hadn't yet risen.

I was surprised there were actually people out cheering at that hour of the morning. As with the runners, the great majority of spectators came from Japan to support their friends and family. It was pretty cool being cheered along in Japanese. They were great.

The post-race amenities were the absolute worst of any race I have ever run.... Anywhere!! That includes 14 state marathons, over 50 half marathons and countless 10K and 5K races. When I finished I went to the food area and was given a bruised apple and two dry cookies. Seriously! It was beyond belief. In fact, it was so unbelievable that I asked where the food/reception area was for the runners. The security person looked at me like I was from another planet. I was positive that I simply didn't find the hospitality area and headed back to the hotel.
When back to the US I wrote an email to the race director. I asked if I missed something or if the apple and cookies were all that was offered. The response was, "Yes, that is all that was offered." I also asked if the Japan Airlines keychain was the actual medal. The response was also, "Yes."

At 27,000 runners paying roughly $100, you can do the math and come up with a staggering number. Then figure in mega-sponsors like Japan Airlines and Nike. I read that the marathon contributed about $100,000,000.00 to a Honolulu economy that already is one of the most affluent in the US. The appreciation was expressed with a bruised apple, two cookies and a key chain.

Fast forward two months to February 5th. Despite being at the center of the largest natural disaster in US history, The Mardi Gras Marathon was scheduled to be the first "big" event after Hurricane Katrina. Even with a crippled city and a devastated economy, the post-race amenities included all the red beans and rice, Subway sandwiches, and cold beer anybody wanted. Also included were a cool medal and a long-sleeve tee shirt. And live music.

They didn't have the luxury of the beautiful Kapiolani Park as in Honolulu. It was outside the storm-damaged Superdome!

I agree that American runners should not support the Honolulu Marathon unless it is for charity.

I would strongly discourage American runners from doing the Honolulu Marathon.

I suppose a few years ago the organizers discovered that Japanese clubs pay more to participate in the Marathon, and the Japanese sponsors are more generous. As a result they literally abandoned the American runners. More than two-thirds of the participants come now from Japan and the rest of us are simply ignored. It shows as soon as you come to the expo. The announcements are in Japanese, the seminars and presentations are in Japanese, the company booths from Japan don't even bother to write an English word or two about the products and services they advertise. I was lucky, my girlfriend is Japanese and I also know the Japanese language a bit, so I was OK.

At the starting area in the middle of the night it was already hot and humid. And not a single table with water! No bottles, no cups, no nothing. Those with the organized Japanese clubs had bottles that probably were given to them on their buses. I was so thirsty! A very kind Japanese volunteer gave me her own bottle. God bless her!

The course passes through dark downtown Honolulu where the only spectators are those who at 5 a.m. still feel attached to the bars where they spent the night. Then to Waikiki. Here we had the most spectators on the course, probably hundreds or even thousands of them, but almost all of them were from the same clubs as the runners and cheered their club members with chants "Ganbatte" ("Try harder!") and waving the Japanese flags and banners. For the next few miles we were passing some nondescript villages with no spectators. And no mile markers. I guess, the main sponsor - Japan Air Lines - looked at it practically, and most of the runners are familiar with kilometers, not miles, so why to waste the money on the mile markers? I have to admit that every 5 KILOMETERS there was not just a marker but even a clock.

I saw my first mile marker (without a clock, of course) at 11 miles. Actually I saw it only because I turned my head and looked back - the marker was facing & the opposite direction. By that time the sun started rising, and we entered the highway. We were lucky, it was Sunday morning, it was still before 7 a.m., and there were very few cars on the road. When I dreamed about the Honolulu Marathon, I couldn't imagine that the organizers and their foreign sponsors wouldn't find in the whole island of Oahu a better course than unremarkable villages and an ordinary highway that we would share with cars and trucks! As for entertainment, there were two small rock bands, and two boom boxes on the course, one of them tuned to the local station playing the music and the news.

Three miles before the finish, we finally ran for a few minutes through a pretty and rather affluent community, with not a single spectator. But having not enough water, especially running the last 5-6 miles in the scorching heat, I wouldn't care anymore about the beauty of the course or cheering spectators even if they were there.

Once I crossed the finish line, I was given an apple and two small oatmeal cookies, and then with my girlfriend acting as an interpreter, located the tent where I received the finisher t-shirt and the medal. Actually, not a medal but the Japan Air Lines key ring. The Japanese club members proceeded to the huge tents where they were taken care of.

Next to us an American runner started vomiting. My girlfriend grabbed my number and pretending that she was one of the members of the club tried to get a cup of water for him. She was caught and thrown away from one tent but in the second tent she was successful - she grabbed water while an attendant looked the other way.

Overall, I felt like I paid $105 to sneak into some private event. If you thought of running in Honolulu, you'd better spend a couple more hours on the plane, fly to Japan and run their extremely well organized and very friendly Nagano Marathon or the unique Tokyo Yumemai Marathon.