I am from New York - ran Honolulu 3 times - '89, '90 & '92. It's a long trip, but a great experience. The 'ALOHA' is definitely there. Loads of Japanese runners (many young ones) inexperienced, but really friendly and eager to try their best. Once the sun is up, you'll be 'cookin', but hang tough, it's worth it!!! You earn that 'FINISHER'S SHIRT' & keep it forever in your collection of special shirts. Great run for the average 4 1/2 hr. marathon runner, so try it!!! YOU WILL LOVE IT !!!...MAHALOHA.....

The one major memory I still carry from Honolulu Marathon was the sound of runners. About mile 2, there is a turn through the main street in Honolulu. Runners are not distracted by crowds or hoopla, tall (6 stories??) buildings create a canyon where it echos the footsteps of silent runners. There are faint noises of breathing, and Christmas carols but it was the sound of foot falls that carried me!

I've run this one twice. I could not have afforded this if I was not stationed there while in the military. Another plus was that the marathon only charged local military personnel 2 dollars entry fee (What a deal). Early start is necessary to escape the Hawaii sun which quickly raises the temperature after about 3 hours. The route is perfectly suited for sightseers and slower runners as it is composed of sights such as Waikiki, Diamond Head, and the beachfront. Course is generally flat to slight rolling. Two hills will slow the runners down. The first is ascending Diamond Head which comes at about 5 miles. This hill has a pretty good grade and it last less than half a mile, but it seems much longer. The next hill of any note is coming back the other side of Diamond Head heading towards the finish line. Although the slope is really not that bad it seem worse because it begins at about 23 miles, a time when the last thing you need is a hill to go up. The saving grace is that is is all downhill from that point to the finish line. Crowd support is spotty in places but large in others. The vast number of runners will help carry most runners to the finish. Don't expect a PR on this marathon. Other marathons offer better courses (PR's) and organization. But if you can afford the cost of transportation and lodging, go. Run this marathon for fun and for the atmosphere and scenery that only Hawaii could provide.

What a glorious day that was for all of us. The crowds of Hawaiins were smiling and waving and offering refreshments the whole way. Their spirit cheered me and many others to finish our first marathon. The whole city joined in and made us feel like champions. I will never forget how I felt when I crested Diamondhead just two miles from the finish. It was one of the most exhilirating moments in my life. I had tears streaming down my face as I passed down the mountain to the roaring crowds of spectators who made my pain go away those last few miles.

The 1999 Honolulu Marathon was my very first marathon, though I had watched both the Chicago and NYC marathons previously. The marathon is alot of fun and an excellent beginner marathon because everyone is very laid back about the entire race. The marathon starts at 5:30 AM to avoid as much of the heat as possible, and it is great to get to watch the sun rise while you're running. Half of the partifcipants are asain, so the distance markers are in Kilometers instead of Miles. The course has some killer hills, and generally times were slow (it also rained for the first 4 hours). The crowds were a little sparse as the course doubles back on itself only once. The best part about the whole marathon, however, is the fact that afterwards, you get to relax on a beach!