HONOLULU — The Honolulu Marathon will not be held this year for the first time since the inaugural race in 1973.
The Honolulu Marathon Association made the decision to cancel the 48th Honolulu Marathon, which was scheduled for Dec. 13, 2020. With much consultation and discussion with the City & County of Honolulu and state, it was concluded that the race will not happen this December.
“We are, of course, very disappointed to have to cancel the race due to the ongoing COVID situation,” said Jim Barahal, president and CEO the Honolulu Marathon.
“The team has worked hard to find ways to conduct a safe and socially-distanced event, but all stakeholders agree that the appropriate and safest course of action is not to conduct the 2020 Honolulu Marathon, Start to Park 10k and Kalakaua Merrie Mile in December,” he said.
Focus for December 2020 now shifts to the Honolulu Marathon Virtual Beachfest, allowing runners and walkers from around the world to complete the race wherever they live.
The virtual experience for the Honolulu Marathon also includes an online festival area featuring training videos, cooking demos and music from Hawaii. Runners will still get to experience Hawaiian culture, but from their own homes. They will also earn the official race and finishers’ shirts by Mizuno, as well as the finisher medals.
There is the possibility of an alternate date in the first half of 2021 for the marathon, he said.
The virtual experience is open to everyone, and runners can select one or any combination of the race distances (Kalakaua Merrie Mile, Start to Park 10k, and Honolulu Marathon).
