The Honolulu Marathon is one of the most popular and largest marathons. Every year in the second Sunday in December it is organized in Honolulu. The marathon was started in 1973. During the next five years of initial race, it was doubled in size every year. Personal growth and enhancing the quality of life is the central philosophy of this race.
Famous cardiologist Jack Scaff started the marathon. It was immediately promoted through an article published in Sports Illustrated in 1977 and then by a very popular book entitled “The Honolulu Marathon”, written by journalist Mark Hazard Osmun.
Gradually the marathon changed and flourished and attracted corporate sponsors who arranged significant amount of prize money for the winners. In 1995, the race became the largest marathon of the world with 34434 participants and 27002 among them finished it.
The course of the race starts near Ala Moana Beach Park and progresses toward downtown Honolulu, then circles around the downtown, takes turn to the east through Waikiki, around Diamond Head, then the course progresses through Haiwaii Kai and finishes at Waikiki’s Kapiolani Park. The course is moderately difficult as the temperature can be as high as 27
