Kauai looks friendly from Poipu, then the full marathon climbs inland through Lawai and Kalaheo for roughly 620 estimated meters of gain. We share the first 11 miles with the half before the hard course splits away and eventually returns to the ocean. September typically runs 23 to 29 degrees with humidity. The 2027 full-marathon fee starts at $220 through September 30, then rises in tiers to $315.
Better info coming — we're still verifying 3 fields on this race.
Why we'd pick it
- The 620 m climbing estimate is useful for planning, not a verified pacing number.
- Open · Direct entry — no lottery to lose.
- A non-racing partner gets a real weekend here — 4/5.
- Race day usually sits 23.6–28.5°C, about 47% chance of rain.
The course
The marathon and half share roughly 11 miles before the full turns inland through Lawai and Kalaheo, stacking long tropical rollers before returning to an oceanfront finish in Poipu. The full is widely treated as one of the harder US road marathons. Heat, humidity, and around 620 meters of estimated gain punish anyone who races the scenic opening too aggressively.
Difficulty and PR scores
Difficulty is the course and the conditions. The PR score is a separate read on a fast clock. Missing inputs are dropped and the other weights are rescaled. The method, with the weights.
- Difficulty
- 49 / 100
- PR / BQ friendliness
- Not scored
Weight used: 60%. Need 40% before we print a number.
Weight used: 30%. Need 45% before we print a number.
Weather median for 2011–2025, race date ±7 days, 225 days, at Start / Poipu. Grid elevation 25 m.
No cited BQ rate for this race.
| Input | 0–100 | What went in |
|---|---|---|
| G Gain | — | No trusted gain per km. Uncertain stored gain is not used. |
| A Altitude | 0 | 25 m. 0 below 300 m, 100 at 2000 m. Source: open-meteo-grid. |
| H Heat | 95 | High 28.5°C, dew point 20.5°C. The hotter of the two bands is used. |
| W Wind | 40 | 4.18 m/s median. Bands: under 3 → 15, under 5 → 40, under 8 → 70, else 100. |
| S Surface | 15 | road. Road 15, mixed 45, gravel 70, trail 90. |
| T Cool temps | 5 | 100 minus heat (95). |
| B BQ evidence | — | No cited BQ rate. |
Stays around the race
These are area searches near the published start, finish, and course pins. TripRace may earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you. We are not naming a hotel.
- Start and finish — Poipu start / finish
- Along the course · Koloa — Koloa
