Honolulu Marathon Race Prep

JAL Honolulu Marathon: a rolling out-and-back course in Honolulu. Pacing by section, fueling, and race-day tips.

Use TrainPace to plan a simple, repeatable strategy for Honolulu Marathon: pacing targets, fueling basics, and course/elevation awareness.

Pace calculator: training zones + race pace
Fuel planner: carbs/hour + gel timing
Elevation analysis: hills, grades, and difficulty

How to prepare for Honolulu Marathon

Plan pacing, fueling, and course strategy for Honolulu Marathon using free calculators and GPX elevation analysis.

Pick a realistic goal time: Use a recent race result or time trial to set a starting point.
Set training paces: Calculate easy, tempo, threshold, and interval paces for your training block.
Build a fueling plan: Estimate carbs/hour and gel timing that you can practice in long runs.
Review course elevation: Upload a GPX to spot key climbs and decide where to adjust effort.

JAL Honolulu Marathon course guide

The JAL Honolulu Marathon is held on the second Sunday of December. It starts at Ala Moana Beach Park, runs through downtown and Waikiki, then goes around Diamond Head and out to Hawaii Kai and back. It finishes at Kapiolani Park. There is no time limit.

JAL Honolulu Marathon at a glance
Fact	Value
Location	Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
Distance	42.195 km (marathon)
Usually held	December
Course	rolling, out-and-back
Typical weather	18–27 °C
Official site	https://www.honolulumarathon.org/

Course highlights

Start on Ala Moana Boulevard by Ala Moana Beach Park
Aloha Tower, Chinatown and Iolani Palace, miles 2–3
Waikiki and Kalakaua Avenue, mile 5
Diamond Head, miles 6–9 and again near mile 24
Finish at Kapiolani Park

JAL Honolulu Marathon pacing strategy

The race starts early and warms up quickly. The official course page mentions short climbs near Diamond Head and steep side roads near Niu Valley, so expect some rises. Start slowly and drink often in the warm, humid air.

Pacing by course section
Section	Terrain	Advice
mile 1–5	Harbor, downtown and Waikiki	Start easy; it is crowded and warm.
mile 6–9	Around the Honolulu Zoo and Kapiolani Park, then up and around Diamond Head	Run the climbs by effort.
mile 10–19	Kalanianaole Highway, Niu Valley, then the Hawaii Kai loop	Settle into a steady pace and drink at every station.
mile 20–26.2	Return along Kalanianaole Highway, Kahala, Diamond Head again, then Waikiki to the finish	Expect heat and the Diamond Head rise near mile 24; save some energy.

Fueling notes

The official page does not list aid stations. In warm, humid conditions, drink at every aid station and take gels with water. Plan a gel before the first Diamond Head climb around mile 6.

Race-day tips

The race starts early in the morning, so plan transport and a warm-up
Temperatures rise from about 18 °C to 27 °C, so dress light
Diamond Head is passed twice (miles 6–9 and near mile 24)
There is no time limit, so you can finish at your own pace

Frequently asked questions

Is the Honolulu Marathon hilly?

It is relatively hilly for a marathon. The official page mentions short uphill grades near Diamond Head and steep side roads in the Niu Valley area.

Where does the Honolulu Marathon start and finish?

It starts next to Ala Moana Beach Park and finishes near the Kapiolani Park Bandstand.

When is the Honolulu Marathon held?

It is held on the second Sunday of December.

Facts checked 2026-10 against the sources below. Race details change from year to year — confirm with the official site before race day.

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