Honolulu Marathon 2026 • Trish's 70th
🌺 Welcome
Hello my wonderful family.
Aloha and mahalo for being part of my 70th birthday celebration that will take place in Honolulu, Hawaii in 2026.
My wish is not a party or gifts. What I want is an unforgettable shared experience. A challenge we complete together. A sunrise we earn together. A memory that will last longer than anything we could buy.
Please read this site carefully from beginning to end. This trip requires planning, commitment, and timely responses.
- Please click and read every tab in the menu at the top.
- Everyone must complete both forms by December 5, 2025.
- Details about what I will pay for, what you will pay for, and race information are all on this site.
Trip snapshot
- Recommended stay: December 9 to December 16, Wednesday to Wednesday.
- You are free to extend or shorten that timeframe.
- Please be sure you are in Honolulu no later than Friday December 11.
- Please do not depart earlier than Monday December 14 for recovery time.
- This celebration is centered on completing the full 26.2 mile Honolulu Marathon together.
Welcome checklist
- Mark the key dates on your calendar.
- Talk with your partner about whether you are all in for the full marathon.
- Plan time to review every tab on this site.
🌴 What I Will Be Covering For You
(Only for those participating in the full 26.2 mile Honolulu Marathon)
I understand that travel to Hawaii is expensive. In order to make this dream possible, I will be covering the following costs at no charge to you.
Provided at no cost:
- Race registration for each full marathon participant
- Airfare for marathon participants only
- Hotel room deposit. This includes one night plus tax at Aqua Palms Waikiki
- I will reserve a block of five rooms; one city view room per couple for up to seven nights based on your submitted dates
- Two rental cars for group transportation only. Parking, gas, and rental fees covered
There is no reimbursement needed for race registration, airfare, the hotel deposit, or the shared rental cars.
If the only thing preventing you from attending is the overall hotel cost, a private donor is prepared to cover your stay in full. Reimbursement is accepted but not required. The estimated hotel cost for seven nights is about 1,745 dollars. Again, reimbursement is only needed if you choose to provide it.
Please note that if you bring additional people beyond just you and your spouse or partner who is participating, you will be responsible for all expenses relating to that additional person.
Quick summary
- Race registration for each full marathon participant.
- Airfare for marathon participants only.
- The hotel deposit at Aqua Palms Waikiki.
- Optional full hotel coverage if cost is the only barrier.
- Two shared rental cars, gas, and parking for group activities.
🚫 What I Will Not Be Covering
Please personally budget for the following items.
- All food and drinks for your party
- Souvenirs of any kind
- Purchases made at the Honolulu Marathon Expo
- Costs for anyone who is not running the full marathon
- Additional rental cars, if you choose to rent your own
I will be booking the most economical flight options available, which may not always be the shortest or most direct routes. I will not be covering checked baggage fees. If you wish to upgrade seats, add baggage, or choose alternative flights, you are welcome to do so, and you would simply cover the price difference.
This trip is built around participating in the full marathon, and the support I am offering is specifically for those who choose to take on that challenge. You are absolutely welcome to join us in Hawaii even if you choose not to run (walk, skip, jump, hop), however in that case you would simply cover your own travel and lodging.
Key reminders
- If you are not doing the full marathon, your expenses are your own.
- Upgraded flights, extra bags, and private rental cars are your choice and your cost.
- The financial support is focused on full marathon participation.
💳 What Should I Budget?
These estimates are to help you prepare realistically.
- At least 100 dollars per person per day for food
- 100 to 200 dollars if you plan to shop at the marathon expo. There will be a lot of tempting race gear and fun merchandise
- If you want your own car, expect a minimum of 150 dollars per day, plus 45 dollars per night for parking, and gas at roughly 4.90 dollars per gallon
Simple budget checklist
- Decide how many days you will stay in Honolulu.
- Plan at least 100 dollars per person per day for food.
- Add 100 to 200 dollars per person if you want to shop at the expo.
- Add rental car and parking only if you want your own vehicle.
📋 Two Required Forms
Both forms must be completed no later than December 5, 2025 at midnight Eastern time.
Participation Form
States your commitment to completing the full 26.2 marathon.
Travel and Lodging Form
Includes travel details, airports, dates, hotel preferences, and how many total days you plan to stay.
Indicates whether you are staying at Aqua Palms Waikiki or will secure your own hotel.
Form checklist
- Click the Participation Form and submit your full marathon decision.
- Click the Travel and Lodging Form and submit your travel details.
- Submit both forms for your household by December 5, 2025.
🛫 Travel Dates and Stay
Our recommended stay is December 9 to December 16, Wednesday to Wednesday. You are free to extend or shorten that timeframe, but please be sure you are in Honolulu no later than Friday December 11. We also encourage everyone not to depart before Monday December 14 for recovery time.
Flights and baggage
I will be booking the most economical flight options available, which may not always be the shortest or most direct routes. I will not be covering checked baggage fees. If you wish to upgrade seats, add baggage, or choose alternative flights, you are welcome to do so, and you would simply cover the price difference.
Minimum participation window
- Arrive in Honolulu on or before Friday December 11.
- Stay through at least Monday December 14.
- Plan around the welcome dinner, expo, race day, and recovery time.
🏃♀️ Honolulu Marathon FAQ
- Temperatures at the start are usually in the mid 60s.
- By around 10 am they may climb into the mid 80s.
- Humidity can be moderate to high so hydration will matter.
- Official start time is 5:00 am.
- We must arrive at the starting area no later than 4:30 am so we have time to stretch, warm up, take pictures, and get into our corrals.
- Expect 16 aid stations throughout the course.
- Water is available at every station.
- Four aid stations also provide Gatorade and Honey Stinger energy gels.
- Locations with gels and Gatorade are around miles 9, 12, 16, and 20.
- There will be cheering spectators lining much of the course with signs, noise, music, and incredible energy.
- The course is mostly flat.
- There is one significant climb up Diamond Head at mile 9. Diamond Head is an extinct volcanic crater and has beautiful views.
- You will also run back down that same hill near mile 24, which makes the last miles feel energizing.
- The Honolulu Marathon is the only world class marathon that allows ALL PARTICIPANTS to finish.
- There is no cutoff time.
- You can walk the entire race at your own pace.
- We will begin together as a family until the start line.
- Once we begin running, everyone will go at their own comfortable pace.
- If you want to stay with me, I would love your company.
- If you are faster or slower, that is absolutely fine. We will meet again at the finish.
- You will enter the finisher festival, which includes snacks like malasadas, fruit, coconut water and more.
- The finish area is next to a beautiful beach, so you can relax, enjoy the moment, and recover at your own pace.
- After everyone finishes, we will return to the hotel.
- An optional group dinner that evening for anyone who is up for it.
- Details for this will be shared next year.
- Yes. There are two required family activities.
- Friday evening family welcome dinner.
- Saturday marathon expo and packet pick up around 10:00 am.
- More optional activities and excursions will follow as plans are finalized.
- If you commit to participating and later decide not to run, you will need to reimburse the cost of your race registration, your airfare, and the hotel room deposit, plus tax.
🌈 Final Words
I love you all. I can already see us at the start together.
I can already picture us crossing that finish line one by one.
We will earn something beautiful together and have memories that last forever.
With love, excitement, mahalo, and aloha,
Mom
🔊 Disclaimers
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What to do here
- Click play and listen to the dramatic disclaimer.
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