KAUAI TODAY
Labor Day weekend on Kauai means one thing on the South Shore: The Kauai Marathon & Half Marathon, back for its 17th year on Sunday, September 6, 2026. A few thousand runners from all over the world line up in the dark in Poʻipū, and by mid-morning the whole town is out cheering.
The essentials
- Race day: Sunday, September 6 — the gun goes off at 6:00 AM HST
- Start: a quarter mile west of Poʻipū Shopping Village (staging at 2360 Kiahuna Plantation Dr, Kōloa)
- Be there by 4:45 AM to park, warm up, and find your corral
- Finish: right back near the start — a short walk to the Shopping Village
If you're running
Register by Wednesday, September 2 at 11:59 PM HST — online registration closes then, and there's no race-day signup.
The expo is mandatory. Every runner picks up their own bib and packet at the expo: Friday, September 4 from 10 AM–6 PM, or Saturday, September 5 from 9 AM–4 PM.
Know the cutoffs. You need to be through the tree tunnel at mile 6.7 by 7:55 AM — that's a 16-minute mile. Full marathoners have to reach mile 11 by 8:50 AM or you'll be routed onto the half marathon course to finish.
This is a hilly, humid course, and the sun comes up fast. Respect the early start, and take the aid stations seriously — the race puts out 1,600 gallons of water and 9,500 pounds of ice for a reason.
If you're spectating (or just live here)
The South Shore gets busy early. Expect traffic delays and rolling road closures around Poʻipū and Kōloa from before dawn until midday — if you're headed to the beach that morning, go early or go somewhere else.
If you want to cheer: the finish area near Poʻipū Shopping Village has the best energy, and Kōloa town gives you a good look at runners while they still feel great. Bring a sign, bring a cowbell — these folks trained for months in worse weather than ours.
Why it matters beyond race day
The marathon isn't just a visitor event. In 16 years it's brought over $52 million in economic impact to the island, put $280,000+ into Kauai non-profits, and its youth running program and Keiki races have reached 2,209 kids in 12 years.
Race details and registration are at thekauaimarathon.com — check there for the final traffic advisory closer to race weekend.