Swim Course – 2.4 miles/3.86 km
The swim course is an elongated rectangle, more than 1 mile long and 100 yards wide. It starts on the east side of the Kailua Pier, goes south 1.2 miles and returns to the pier.
Athletes swim in a clockwise direction, keep all marker buoys on their right and swim around the turnaround buoy.
The start line will be in the water approximately 60 yards from shore. The swim finish line will be accentuated by one or more colorful “targets.â€
The water temperature is expected to be 79 degrees Fahrenheit. There is usually no surf, but athletes may encounter small swells parallel to the course. Wind chop does not usually occur early in the morning. Currents vary, but are usually weak when moving across the course.
Course Records
Men’s Record 46:41 — Lars Jorgensen (USA) 1998
Women’s Record 48:43 — Jodi Jackson (USA) 1999
Bike Course – 112 miles/180.2 km
The bike course begins as athletes exit the transition area, located at Kailua Pier.
Athletes will travel up Palani Road to Kuakini Highway, then left on to Kuakini Highway (toward the Old Airport Park). Athletes will next make a right turn on to Makala Boulevard traveling toward the Queen Kaahumanu Highway. Athletes turn right on the Queen Kaahumanu Highway to Palani Road and make a right turn on to Palani Road.
Athletes make a left turn on to Kuakini Highway to Kahakai Estates Subdivision and return back along Kuakini to Palani Road. Athletes turn right up Palani and then left on to the Queen Kaahumanu Highway and travel north to Hawi.
Along the route, the terrain is rolling with several quarter- to one-mile hills that reach a maximum grade of about 6 percent (six foot rise for each 100 feet of distance).
The bike turnaround is located in Hawi and is one of the official checkpoints on the course. After the turn- around, athletes will be headed back toward town along the Queen Kaahumanu Highway, all the way to Makala Boulevard. Athletes turn right on Makala Boulevard to Kuakini Highway and turn left on Kuakini Highway to Palani Road.
Finally, athletes turn right on Palani Road and continue to the transition area. The first aid station is located 15.2 miles out and additional aid stations will be located approximately every seven miles after that along the bike course.
Course Records
Men’s Record 4:18:23 — Normann Stadler (GER) 2006
Women’s Record 4:48:30 — Paula Newby-Fraser (ZIM) 1993
Run Course – 26.2 miles/42.2 km
To begin the marathon, athletes will exit transition and travel up Palani Road then right on to Kuakini Highway to Hualalai Road. Athletes turn right on Hualalai Road then left on to Alii Drive, continuing south on Alii Drive to St. Peters Church near Kahaluu Beach. This is the run turnaround and one of the checkpoints on the run course.
After completing the turnaround, athletes head north on Alii Drive to Hualalai Road. Athletes turn right on Hualalai Road to Kuakini Highway and then turn left.
Proceeding north on Kuakini Highway to Palani Road, athletes turn right on Palani Road to Queen Kaahumanu Highway. Athletes travel left on to the Queen Kaahumanu Highway to Natural Energy Road at the Natural Energy Lab of Hawaii Authority (NELHA); travel in and out of Natural Energy Road and back onto the Queen Kaahumanu Highway toward town.
Athletes turn right on Palani Road, left on Kuakini Highway, right on Hualalai and right on Alii Drive to the finish line! Aid stations will be located approximately one mile apart along the course.
Course Records
Men’s Record 2:40:04 — Mark Allen (USA) 1999
Women’s Record 2:56:51 — Mirinda Carfrae (AUS) 2009
Overall Course Records
Men’s Record 8:04:08 — Luc van Lierde (BEL) 1996
Women’s Record 8:45:02 — Chrissie Wellington (GBR) 2009
