POIPU — The Kauai Marathon race organizers are gearing up for the 8th annual Kauai Marathon on Sept. 4. The marathon and half-marathon events begin on Poipu Road in front of the Poipu Shopping Village. The first 11 miles are
POIPU — The Kauai Marathon race organizers are gearing up for the 8th annual Kauai Marathon on Sept. 4.
The marathon and half-marathon events begin on Poipu Road in front of the Poipu Shopping Village. The first 11 miles are run together before the half marathoners veer off into Kukuiula Resort to their oceanfront finish while the marathoners head up Koloa Road to the neighborhoods of Lawai and Kalaheo before heading back down to Poipu.
The race begins at 6 a.m. and while traffic will flow in and around the Koloa, Poipu, Lawai and Kalaheo areas, there will be some lane and road closures between 5 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
About 2,000 runners — 1,600 or in the 13.1-mile half marathon and another 400 in the 26.2-mile full marathon, are expected to be at the starting line.
The Kauai Police Department and Garden Island Security will monitor traffic flow throughout the courses.
Road closures
w Access into Koloa and Poipu will be limited to Koloa Road and Omao Road until 6:30 a.m. From 6:30 a.m. until 8 a.m., there will be no inbound traffic other than emergency vehicles into Koloa and Poipu.
w Poipu Road will be closed from Kapili Road to the Koloa Bypass, (Ala Kinoiki) from 5:30 to 6:15 a.m.
w Hoonani Road will be closed from 5 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. from Lawai Road to Kapili Road. Traffic will continue to flow in and out of the Sheraton Kauai Resort via Kapili Road.
w Koloa Road inbound and outbound lanes from Highway 50 will be closed from 6:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m.
w Lauoho, Waha and Puu roads will be closed to thru traffic from 7:15 a.m until 12:30 p.m. All residents living in this area are advised to use extreme caution.
w Omao Road from Highway 50 to Koloa Road will be closed to thru traffic from 6:30 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. Residents living in this area are advised to use extreme caution.
w The Koloa Bypass (Ala Kinoiki) will be closed from 6 to 7:45 a.m.
w Maluhia Road, both inbound and outbound, to and from the Koloa Bypass, through to Highway 50, will be closed to traffic from 6 a.m. until 8:15 a.m. All traffic on Maluhia and the Koloa Bypass (Ala Kinoiki) will return to normal shortly before 8:45 a.m.
Partial closures
w Highway 50 from Maluhia west to Omao Road will be restricted to alternating one-way traffic in the mauka lane from 6:30 to 8:30 a.m. Traffic flow will be monitored by KPD at both Maluhia and Omao roads.
w Papalina Road from Waha to Puu roads will be restricted to alternating one-way traffic in the mauka lane from 7:15 a.m. to noon. Traffic flow will be monitored by KPD at both ends.
w As runners retrace their steps via Papalina, Waha, Lauoho and Koloa roads, the roads will re-open as indicated above once all of the runners have passed.
w Kukuiula Bypass (Ala Kalanikaumaka) will be closed from 6:15 a.m. until 2 pm. Outbound traffic from the Poipu Roundabout to Koloa Road will remain open.
w The Poipu Roundabout will be heavily impacted and traffic will be slowed considerably from 6:45 a.m. until 2 p.m. as runners enter the roundabout from Kukuiula Bypass.
w Westbound Lawai Road and Spouting Horn traffic will be re-routed through The Shops at Kukuiula.
In summary, traffic will flow in and out of all South Shore regions, but it is recommended that travel in these areas on race day be limited from 5 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Visitors and residents needing to reach Lihue airport from the South Shore or Westside are urged to plan at least 1 1/2 to 2 hours travel time.
Info: thekauaimarathon.com.
