Honolulu Marathon: Elevation Profile, Course Map & Pace Calculator
A 5 a.m. start through Waikiki and around Diamond Head, with an out-and-back through Kahala to Hawaii Kai before returning to finish at Kapiolani Park. The Diamond Head climb at mile 9 is the only meaningful hill. December warmth and humidity — even pre-dawn — crush late-race pace. No qualifying time and no field cap make it one of the most accessible big-city marathons in the world.
The Honolulu Marathon is moderately rolling — rated 3/5 on our difficulty scale. Over the official 42.195 km (26.2 mi) the course gains about 440 ft (140 m) and loses 450 ft (140 m), with roughly level start to finish. Grade-adjusted pace says the toughest stretch arrives at kilometre 12 (near mile 7.5), demanding about 15% more effort than the same distance on flat ground. The steepest pitch on course reaches 6.9%.
Course stats
| Distance | 26.2 mi (42.195 km) |
|---|---|
| Location | Honolulu, HI, USA |
| Total ascent | 440 ft (140 m) |
| Total descent | 450 ft (140 m) |
| Net elevation | +0 ft (+0 m) |
| Steepest grade | 6.9% |
| Difficulty | 3/5 |
| Field size | ≈25,000 runners |
| Race day | Second Sunday of December |
Mile-by-mile splits (grade-adjusted)
Grade-adjusted (GAP) splits for a 4:00:00 finish, computed from the course's elevation profile with the Minetti gradient-cost model: uphill miles get more time, downhills less, at even effort. Splits scale proportionally for any other goal time — the interactive pace calculator on this page computes them exactly.
| Mile | GAP pace /mi | GAP pace /km | Elev Δ | Elapsed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9:08 | 5:40 | 0 ft (0 m) | 9:08 |
| 2 | 9:12 | 5:43 | +6 ft (+2 m) | 18:20 |
| 3 | 9:04 | 5:38 | -6 ft (-2 m) | 27:24 |
| 4 | 9:08 | 5:40 | 0 ft (0 m) | 36:32 |
| 5 | 9:08 | 5:40 | 0 ft (0 m) | 45:40 |
| 6 | 9:08 | 5:40 | 0 ft (0 m) | 54:48 |
| 7 | 9:09 | 5:41 | +1 ft (0 m) | 1:03:57 |
| 8 | 10:10 | 6:19 | +101 ft (+31 m) | 1:14:07 |
| 9 | 9:02 | 5:37 | -15 ft (-5 m) | 1:23:09 |
| 10 | 8:46 | 5:27 | -56 ft (-17 m) | 1:31:55 |
| 11 | 9:10 | 5:42 | +3 ft (+1 m) | 1:41:06 |
| 12 | 8:53 | 5:31 | -28 ft (-9 m) | 1:49:59 |
| 13 | 9:04 | 5:38 | -6 ft (-2 m) | 1:59:03 |
| 14 | 9:08 | 5:41 | 0 ft (0 m) | 2:08:12 |
| 15 | 9:08 | 5:40 | 0 ft (0 m) | 2:17:20 |
| 16 | 9:12 | 5:43 | +7 ft (+2 m) | 2:26:31 |
| 17 | 9:04 | 5:38 | -7 ft (-2 m) | 2:35:36 |
| 18 | 9:08 | 5:40 | 0 ft (0 m) | 2:44:43 |
| 19 | 9:08 | 5:40 | 0 ft (0 m) | 2:53:51 |
| 20 | 9:08 | 5:40 | 0 ft (0 m) | 3:02:59 |
| 21 | 9:11 | 5:42 | +5 ft (+1 m) | 3:12:10 |
| 22 | 9:22 | 5:49 | +23 ft (+7 m) | 3:21:32 |
| 23 | 8:53 | 5:31 | -28 ft (-9 m) | 3:30:25 |
| 24 | 9:31 | 5:55 | +38 ft (+12 m) | 3:39:55 |
| 25 | 9:46 | 6:04 | +63 ft (+19 m) | 3:49:42 |
| 26 | 8:17 | 5:09 | -101 ft (-31 m) | 3:57:59 |
| 26.2 | 9:13 | 5:43 | +2 ft (+1 m) | 4:00:00 |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Honolulu Marathon flat or hilly?
The Honolulu Marathon is moderately rolling (3/5 difficulty). Total ascent is about 440 ft (140 m) over 26.2 miles.
How much elevation gain does the Honolulu Marathon have?
About 440 ft (140 m) of total ascent and 450 ft (140 m) of descent, for a net change of +0 ft (0 m). Figures come from a digital elevation model, so very flat courses can read 20–30 ft high.
What is the hardest part of the Honolulu Marathon course?
Kilometre 12 (near mile 7.5) is the toughest split on the course by grade-adjusted effort. Grade-adjusted pace puts it at roughly 15% more effort than flat running. The steepest grade on course is 6.9%.
When is the Honolulu Marathon?
The Honolulu Marathon is typically held on the second Sunday of December. The next edition is expected around December 13, 2026. Confirm the exact date on the official race website.
How many runners take part in the Honolulu Marathon?
The field is roughly 25,000 runners.
What pace do I need to run the Honolulu Marathon in my goal time?
At an even pace: 3:00:00 needs 6:52/mi (4:16/km); 3:30:00 needs 8:01/mi (4:59/km); 4:00:00 needs 9:09/mi (5:41/km); 4:30:00 needs 10:18/mi (6:24/km); 5:00:00 needs 11:27/mi (7:07/km); 5:30:00 needs 12:35/mi (7:49/km). On this course, grade-adjusted pacing shifts a few seconds per mile between uphill and downhill splits — the pace calculator on this page computes those splits for any goal time.
Plan your Honolulu race
Marathons with a similar profile
- Toronto Marathon — 380 ft (120 m) ascent
- Grandma's Marathon — 530 ft (160 m) ascent
- Bayshore Marathon — 350 ft (110 m) ascent
- California Marathon — 590 ft (180 m) ascent
Official race site: https://www.honolulumarathon.org