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About RaceIndexOur methodologyData coverageCyclingTriathlon
  • Marathon
  • 42.2 km
  • Koloa
  • Event weekend starts
  • Past event

The Kauai Marathon & Half Marathon

This race edition

Race date
Date not confirmed for this distance
Race timezone
Timezone not confirmed
Edition status
Status not confirmed

Entry options

2026 edition

Entry options are not yet confirmed for this edition. Check the organiser before making plans.

Modelled energy-cost change 1.9% versus flat · net elevation -5 m

View verified GPS mapOfficial event website ↗
Plan my trainingPlan my paceData current as of

Decision summary

The Kauai Marathon & Half Marathon at a glance

Route ascent
607 m

Lower than 31% of comparable mapped races

Cut-off average pace
9:57/km

7:00:00 total limit divided by distance. Check gun/chip timing and intermediate limits; allow time for stops.

Typical conditions
32/100

Historical race-date favourability, not a forecast

Evidence depth
42 verified facts

Stored GPS route

Quick answers

What runners ask first

The Kauai Marathon & Half Marathon route map

raceindex.org has a GPS course file for The Kauai Marathon & Half Marathon, so runners can inspect the route line on the map. Elevation charts and ascent figures appear only when that file includes usable elevation data.

How hilly is the The Kauai Marathon & Half Marathon?

The The Kauai Marathon & Half Marathon route has 607 m of ascent, 612 m of descent and an estimated 1.9% grade-adjusted pace penalty versus a flat route.

Where does the The Kauai Marathon & Half Marathon route go?

The The Kauai Marathon & Half Marathon route starts at Poipu Road approximately 1/4 mile west of the Poipu Shopping Village (2360 Kiahuna Plantation Drive, Koloa, HI 96756) and finishes at Oceanfront finish line back in Poipu after heading out through Lawai and climbing to ocean views at the top of Kalaheo before a gradual descent to Poipu Beach. Underfoot, expect a road course. It passes Poipu, Tunnel of Trees, Omao, Kukui'ula Resort and Lawai. the course follows the contour of the scenic coastline with views of beaches, rugged volcanic peaks and tropical rain forests.

What should runners know on race day for the The Kauai Marathon & Half Marathon?

Over 75 musicians, dancers and chanters line the course; runners pass hula dancers and Taiko drum troupes sharing Kauai's heritage.

Race character

Scenery

  • Coastal
  • Parkland
  • Canyon
  • Island
  • Mountain
  • Forest
  • Waterfront
  • Countryside

Atmosphere

  • Destination
  • Scenic Tour
  • Festival

Terrain

  • Road
  • Beach
Elevation character
Hilly
Technicality
Non Technical

Entry, logistics and records

Entry requirements

Entry status
Past event: The listed edition date has passed.
Cut-off
Strict 7-hour course limit; mile 6.7 checkpoint by 7:55am (16 min/mile) and mile 11 checkpoint by 8:50am (15:27 min/mile); slower runners are swept and re-routed
Sold out
Yes
Qualification status
Not a Boston Qualifying course; no qualifying standard required for entry

Race day logistics

Expo / packet pickup
Wilcox Health Sports and Fitness Expo held at the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa; open Fri Sept 4 (10am-6pm) and Sat Sept 5 (9am-4pm), 2026, for packet pickup
Medal
All finishers receive a commemorative medallion
Finisher tee
Each participant receives a high quality Dri-Tech tee shirt
On-course music
Over 75 musicians, dancers and chanters line the course; runners pass hula dancers and Taiko drum troupes sharing Kauai's heritage

Access and course status

Start
Poipu Road approximately 1/4 mile west of the Poipu Shopping Village (2360 Kiahuna Plantation Drive, Koloa, HI 96756)
Finish
Oceanfront finish line back in Poipu after heading out through Lawai and climbing to ocean views at the top of Kalaheo before a gradual descent to Poipu Beach

Course facts

Course type
Point To Point
Landmarks
Poipu, Tunnel of Trees, Omao, Kukui'ula Resort, Lawai, Kalaheo, Poipu Beach
Notable features
  • Both events start at 6:00am HST
  • the marathon and half share the first 11 miles before diverging
  • runners arrive by 4:45am and reach the start corral by 5:30am
  • Runners experience lush green vistas approaching the shade of the century-old Tunnel of Trees, then wind through misty Omao
  • the course follows the contour of the scenic coastline with views of beaches, rugged volcanic peaks and tropical rain forests
  • Full marathon has 22 aid stations
  • half marathon has 9 (including start/finish)
  • Powerade and water provided throughout

How hilly is the The Kauai Marathon & Half Marathon?

21%48%20%
  • Steep descent 6%
  • Descent 21%
  • Flat 48%
  • Climb 20%
  • Steep climb 6%
Total ascent
607 m
Net elevation
−5 m
GAP factor
1.9%
Longest climb
2,320 m at 5.1%
Gradient mix and ascent are derived from the course geometry under our published normalisation, not taken from organiser marketing.

What are typical race-day conditions?

  • 26°CTypical temperature
  • 20 kphTypical wind
  • 2 mmTypical rainfall
  • 32Favourability /100
Typical conditions for the race date and locality, warmer than the endurance-optimal window. These are climatological norms, not a forecast, and are shared across every distance at this event.

More race details

Is the The Kauai Marathon & Half Marathon flat?

Its normalised GAP factor is 1.9% slower than a flat course, with about 607 m of total ascent.

How we calculated this

Published facts and derived model outputs on this page are tied to stored sources or a published, version-locked methodology. We show the provenance so runners, coaches and organisers can check it. Data on this page is current as of .

Derived numbers use scoring-methodology-v1.0.

Sources used on this page (2)

Read the full methodology →