The Kauai Marathon and Half Marathon will be held on Sunday, September 4th.
The race starts at 6am in Poipu. According to the marathon website, the course follows the contours of the scenic coastline and offers spectacular views of island beaches, volcanic peaks and rainforests.
“At dawn, runners experience lush scenery and approach the shade of a century-old tunnel of trees. As you enter the resort, the last few miles offer spectacular ocean views,” explains the website. “Full marathons head to Rawai before climbing to the top of Kalaheo for stunning ocean views.”
The rest of the mile is a gentle descent back to the finish line at Poipu.
There will be traffic jams around Koloa, Poipu, Rawai and Kalaheo on race day. However, some lanes and roads will be closed from 5am to 2:30pm.
The Kauai Police Department and Garden Island Security monitor traffic flow throughout the course. Road closures include:
- Access to Koloa and Poipu is restricted to Koloa Avenue until 6:30 AM. From 6:30 AM to 8:00 AM, there is no traffic except emergency vehicles to Koloa and Poipu.
- Poipu The road will be closed from Poipu Roundabout to Koloa Bypass (Ara Kinoiki), 5:15 AM – 6:30 AM
- HoOnani Road will be closed from 5:15 AM to 2:30 PM from Rawai Road to Kapili Road. Travel to and from the Sheraton Kauai Resort will continue via Kapili Road.
- Inbound and outbound lanes on Koloa Road from Highway 50 will be closed from 6:30 AM to 1:30 PM.
- Lauho Road, Waha Road and Pu’u Road will be closed to traffic from 7 AM to 12:30 PM. All residents of this area are advised to exercise extreme caution.
- Omao Road from Highway 50 to Koloa Road will be closed to traffic from 6 AM to 9:30 AM. All residents of this area are advised to exercise extreme caution.
- The Koloa Bypass (Ara Kinoiki) is closed from 5:45 AM to 7:45 AM.
- Malhia Road from the Koloa Bypass to Highway 50 will be closed to traffic from 6 AM to 8 AM. All traffic on the Maruhia and Koloa Bypass (Ala Kinoiki) will return to normal before 8:30 AM.
Partial closures include:
- Highway 50 from Maluhia west to Omao Road will be restricted to one-way traffic from 6am to 9am, alternating between Mauka lanes. Traffic flow will be monitored by KPD on both Maluhia Road and Omao Road.
- Papalina Street from Waha to Phu‘u roads will be restricted to one-way traffic on Mauka Lane from 7am to 12:30pm. Traffic flow is monitored by KPD at both ends.
- KukuiThe ‘ula bypass (Ala Kalanikaumaka) will be closed from 6am to 2pm. Poipu The roundabout to Koloa Road remains available.
- of Poipu The roundabout will be heavily impacted, with a significant reduction in traffic from 6:45am to 2:00pm as runners enter the roundabout from the Kukuiura Bypass.
- Westbound Rawai Road and Spouting Horn traffic passes through The Shoppes in Kukui.Ura.
Runners return via Paparina, Waha, Rauojo and Koloa Roads and the roads are reopened as described above once all runners have passed. There is traffic in and out of all South Shore areas, but race officials recommend traveling between these areas between 5am and 2:30pm.
Visitors and residents who need to arrive at Lihue Airport from the South or West are advised to plan a travel time of at least 1.5 to 2 hours.
Click here for more information.
