It’s one of the largest marathons in the country, and this week, officials are organizing the final details for Sunday’s Honolulu Marathon that starts at 5 a.m.
Nearly 30,000 people from across the world are registered to run the race, with more expected to sign up in the next few days.
Marathon and city officials are working to ensure it’s a fun, but safe, event. That’s why, this year, they will install more security cameras along the route to keep a close eye on the event.
“Of course, the Boston Marathon bombing a couple years changed that perspective,” event president Jim Barahal said.
Security changed at last year’s Honolulu race, and those same safety measures will be in place on Sunday, when tens of thousands of runners participate in the 42nd event.
One change this year is that Honolulu police will be working alongside the city’s emergency management staff, instead of being positioned in separate places. “But we’ll also be proactively monitoring any situations for any technological disasters that can happen,” said Peter Hirai of the Honolulu Emergency Management Department. “It’s not just terrorism — we could have a tsunami.”
The city will also install 13 cameras along the route to monitor the race — the same cameras that were used last year. They will be in place in addition to the city’s usual traffic cameras.
Before the race, city crews will clear sidewalks of debris and other items that might injure runners.
“In particular, we want to make sure that any impediments or any safety issues that may be caused by illegally or improperly stored items on public property, anything that’s blocking sidewalks, are reported right away,” said Ross Sasamura of the Facility Maintenance Department.
In addition, HPD will have a field post at the Hawaii National Guard Armory, with 50 on-duty and 440 special-duty officers working the event, and canine units sweeping the start and finish lines.
The Honolulu Marathon course starts on Ala Moana Blvd. near Queen St., going Ewa-bound to Nuuanu Ave.; then onto King St., to Kapiolani Blvd., to Piikoi St., to Ala Moana Blvd., to Kalakaua Ave., to Monsarrat Ave., to Paki Ave., to Diamond Head Road, to 18th Ave., to Kilauea Ave., to Waialae Ave., to Kalanianaole Hwy., to Hawaii Kai Dr., to Keahole St., to Kalanianaole Hwy., to Kealaolu Ave., to Kahala Ave., to Diamond Head Road, to Kalakaua Ave., and ends at the finish line at the Kapiolani Park Bandstand.
Roadways that will be closed during the running of the marathon include:
H-1 Freeway, closed at Waialae Ave. off-ramp to Aina Koa Ave.
Kalanianaole Hwy., the makai half closed for runners, between Aina Koa Ave. & Kawaihae St., with the mauka half converted to contraflow
Kalanianaole Hwy., all lanes closed between Kawaihao St. to Keahole St.
Click here for a full list of traffic advisories and road closures.
For race day, traffic-related questions only, call the hotline at 792-6630.