I'm just getting back from Hawaii and have spent the last 24 hrs digesting my time in Hawaii! I left last Wednesday and made a trip out of it and met some great people along the way.

Hotels: Plenty along the start/finish of the race course. If you stay towards the finish, there's a shuttle to the start. If you stay towards the finish, they direct you towards an area of taxi/uber/lyft and public transportation.

Expo: Runs Thursday-Saturday prior to the race with no race day pick up. An ok size of expo with some of your typical running stuff (honey stinger, 2XU, races, shoes, clothes, etc) and then other vendors that seem to have no connection with running (and they tended to be geared towards the Japanese runners). When you get your bib, you don't get your shirt with it, as you'll get it at the finish. Also, you have to make sure your bib is activated and that you pick it up (can't be picked up by someone else).

Bag Check: probably the only race where it's done the day before at the finish. I had an idea of what I wanted and luckily I didn't need more (and that the weather was what I had anticipated). It's at the finish (start is a separate location).

Start: 5 AM. I thought it was really early, but with how hot it gets in Honolulu, I agree with this 100%

Anyone's welcome and a run/walker friendly race (final runner finished this year in 16 hrs!)

The Course: First few miles take you through the downtown area, past the old palace, the Honolulu tower, etc. You then go up the roads of Diamond Head and the local areas. Starting at 18K, the course does an out route along Kalanianaole Hwy. Before 25 KM, you turn and do a loop around some pretty amazing Hawaiian lakes/scenery before being brought back along Kalanianaole Hwy. through 22 miles. You get taken down Kahala and back down around Diamond Head and then ultimately down Kalakaua to the Finish.

Aid Stations: 16 total on course. It's Hawaii and hot, it would have been nice to have some more after diamond head. Also, the gatorade they had wasn't sweet enough by any means!

Post Race Swag: after you cross the finish, you get a shell neckless, your medal and then exit to the post race area. After some walking, which seems like a really long time when your feet are killing you, you pick up your shirt (it took some searching to find the huge floating balloon search) and your checked bag if you had one. Food was a bit hard to find, but worth it because of the POLISH DONUTS that were fresh (read, right out of the oven). Take some time to enjoy the post race music. There's also race merchandise available

Post Race Monday: if you're still around, you can pick up your race certificate and other finisher gear and have engraving done

Things to improve on: the start was a bit congested and works on the honor system with your time. The issue is that there were walkers where there shouldn't have been. There were points that were real congested with people and where I was using more energy getting around people because they weren't in the right starting area. I think it'd be beneficial to have separate corrals with it indicated on the bib and have a wave start to separate things out. Another (minor) thing: it's Hawaii, the bibs could have been so fun!!! In the finish area, I wish there would have been easier ways to see things. It took me some walking to find the finisher shirts and the food- even if it's better bigger map distribution so you know where you're at. I'm also bummed that they don't mail the actual finisher certificates so if you don't stay until Monday, you download them instead. one final thing, checking the bags on the Saturday before the race- I ran the Merrie Mile, I wish it would have been open then so I didn't have to go back and check my marathon stuff (it was a good mile away!).

Overall though, a great race. Go run it, good views and good bling. Make it a vacation for sure!!!!