Marathon Course:

·       Point to Point (Volcano to Hilo)

·       USA Track & Field Certified Course - HI17001BK

·       Boston Qualifier (36% Qualified in 2022)

·       Highest Elevation - 4,035 feet

·       Lowest Elevation - 243 feet

·       Total Drop - 3,792 feet

·       Total Gain - 54 feet

·       Average Grade - 2.72%

·       All paved roads

Start:

At the Volcano Golf Course MAP

99-1622 Pi‘imauna Dr, Volcano, HI 96718

 Note - Headlamp or flashlight are REQUIRED for ALL RUNNERS until civil twilight (6:25 am) and it is RECOMMENDED to wear bright colored clothing to be visible.  Headlamps can be dropped off at either the first or second Waterstops along with any articles of clothing.  Remember to mark your race number and name on items for easy identification.

 Finish: 

In front of the Boy Scouts of America – Aloha Council, Kilauea Camp Finish Line Map

580 Stainback Highway, Hilo, HI 96720

Description:  This beautiful USATF Certified course is all downhill except for a few gently rolling uphill sections at the beginning and end of the course.  During the first 3 miles, the course is along Highway 11 as it passes through Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park and then enters the community of Volcano.  For the first 15 miles the course is surrounded by a mixture of original Hawaiian hapu‘u & ʻōhiʻa rainforest, residential and agricultural land.  The Start on a clear day offers a spectacular view of Hawai‘i’s highest volcanoes, Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea, and during the first few miles runners will experience the dawn chorus of many Hawaiian endemic birds that may include the Apapane, Hawai‘i Amakihi, I‘iwi (all three are Hawaiian Honeycreepers), Oma‘o (Hawaiian Thrush), and Hawai‘i Elepaio (a monarch flycatcher).  As you run, keep your eyes open for the Nene (Hawaiian Goose) and the ‘Io (Hawaiian Hawk), both endangered Hawaiian endemic species. After Volcano at Mile 4.36, the race continues downhill along Highway 11 until Mile 26.06 when runners turn left onto Stainback Hwy to finish in front of the Boy Scouts of America – Aloha Council, Kilauea Camp.

Weather:  Expect temperatures of low 40’s to 50’s at the start and 60’s to low 70’s at the finish – with rain very likely at some point during the race.

Race Swag:  Sterling Silver Medallion to all finishers, quality cotton gender neutral Long-Sleeve T-shirt & more.

Timing:

1) This will be a chip timed event.

2) Overall Top 3 Male and Female award winners will be based on first across the Finish Line. Please seed yourself accordingly at the Start.

3) Age Group award winners (Top 2 only) will be based on chip differential time.

Race Time Limit:  Runners are expected to finish the race by 12 pm.  Water Stops will be closed based on a 6 hour marathon pace and runners slower than 15 min per mile pace will be required to be self-sufficient.

Bib and Shirt Pick-Up:

Saturday, December 16, 2023 from 2:00 to 6:00 pm

Location: Outside Boy Scouts Aloha Council Facility at 580 Stainback Hwy, Hilo, HI 96720

Map to Boy Scouts

 NOTE: There will be NO race bib pickup on race morning, Sunday, December 17th.

Travel to Hilo:  Getting to Hilo is fairly easy.  There are direct flights from the USA to Hilo and to Kona along with multiple inter-island flights from Honolulu throughout the day.  If you fly directly into Kona, which may be less expensive than Hilo, the drive from Kona to Hilo is about 75 miles and takes about 1 hour 40 minutes.

Travel to Start:

1)    School Buses (For Race Participants Only) departure from Banyan Drive (area fronting Reeds Bay Beach Park) at 4:15 am Sharp and will go directly to the Start in front of the Volcano Golf Course, 99-1622 Pi‘imauna Dr, Volcano, HI SHUTTLE BUS MAP

2)    Self-Drive Car or Car-Pool to Banyan Drive (Reeds Bay Beach Park area) to arrive there between 4:00 am and 4:10 am.

3)    Drop off at Start – For those that have a driver, arrive at the Start in front of the Volcano Golf Course, between 5:00 am and 5:30 am.  There are limited parking stalls in the golf course paved parking lot, but the exit will be blocked until after the start of the marathon. If you need to simply drop a runner or leave before the Start at 6 am, please park on the side of the Piimauna Drive BEYOND the Start Line (Northwest direction - away from Hwy 11) so not to congest the roadway for the marathon course.

4)    Parking is NOT ALLOWED at the Volcano Golf Course after the Start of the race. You must either use the Shuttle or have someone drop you off. Unauthorized vehicles will be towed at the owner’s expense.

Bag Drop:  There will be a large green colored container labeled “DROP BAGS” at the Start Line for you unwanted gear and will be delivered to the Finish Line.  You will receive a bag at Packet Pickup with your Race Number and DO NOT place any valuables in the Drop Bags. Hawaii Bird Conservation Marathon will not be responsible for any missing or lost items.

Post Race Shuttle:

A Shuttle Bus will run between the Finish Line and Banyan Drive (Reeds Bay Beach Park area) to return race participants to their cars. Shuttle Bus will operate from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm. Round trip will take approximately 30 minutes. Finish Line Area Map

Waterstops/Aid Stations:  Water will be available at the Start area.  Water (all stations) and a sports drink (only #2, 4, 6, 8, & 10) will be available about every 2.5 miles to the Finish (see list of Waterstops below). No sports gels will be available so please bring what you like and need.  Waterstops may be self-serve or may have one or two volunteers present.  About 100 feet past each Waterstop, there will be a Drop Place for garbage.  There is a “No Tolerance” policy for littering and you may be disqualified if you toss garbage other than at the Waterstops.

 *All dropped clothing will be collected and brought to the Finish area.  All items not picked up at the Finish will be discarded or donated to a local charity. 

Waterstop/Aid Station Locations (Miles are from Race Start):

1)   Mile 2.78 - just west of the HVNP sign before intersect of Mamalahoa Hwy & Old Volcano Road

2)   Mile 5.20 - by dirt road/trail 0.38 miles past intersection of Mamalahoa Hwy & Nahelenani Street (mile marker 25)

3)   Mile 7.16 - across Akatsuka Orchid Gardens near intersection of Mamalahoa Hwy & Kahauale’a Road

4)   Mile 9.58 - 0.1 miles before intersection of Mamalahoa Hwy & Luna Ikena Road

5)  Mile 12.38 - just before intersection of Mamalahoa Hwy and Mauna Loa Drive

6)  Mile 14.95 - just NE or after intersection of N Kopua Road

7)  Mile 17.35 - about 0.13 miles NE of Enos Road near Hilo Coffee Mill

8)  Mile 19.45 - in driveway just before property with large watertank & 0.09 miles before Kuauli Road

9)  Mile 21.50 - on grassy side of the road just past Puko Street on opposite side of Hwy 11

10) Mile 24.00 - near intersection of Hwy 11 & Kipimana Street

Donation:  This event donates a portion of race entry fees to protect native Hawaiian birds.  Please consider making a personal donation to the Hawai‘i Forest Institute and select the campaign:  Keauhou Bird Conservation Discovery Forest

Visit their website Hawaii Forest Institute | Kindful for more information!