You don’t have to run the Honolulu Marathon to see these cool island sights
Maybe you don’t feel like running in the Dec. 13 Honolulu Marathon. We don’t blame you, but you will miss out on some spectacular sights along the course.
Or will you?
The 26.2-mile course begins near the resorts of Waikiki, then winds through downtown Honolulu before making its way past Diamond Head and along the beach-studded coast to the community of Hawaii Kai.
Then it’s back along the same route to the finish line in Queen Kapiolani Regional Park, Hawaii’s oldest and biggest park.
More than 30,000 people have registered for the 2015 marathon, America’s fourth largest, but calling it a race isn’t quite accurate. There’s no cutoff time, and the finish line remains open until the last runner reaches it. It also welcomes walkers.
You can join the event if you have the time and endurance. Or you can go back later and replicate all or part of the route and see what the runners saw — just more slowly and with less sweat of the brow.
In no particular order, here are some stops along the marathon route:
1. Maunalua Bay Beach Park
Known for excellent scuba diving, the park also offers views of Koko Head, a dormant volcano seen far less often than its cousin, Diamond Head.
The beach, by the way, was created by industrialist Henry J. Kaiser, famous for shipyards, a giant healthcare organization and founder of the Kaiser Motors automobile company.
2. Aina Haina/Niu Valley
With Diamond Head in the distance, the coast road, Kalanianaole Highway, links Honolulu with the south shore community of Hawaii Kai. Runners in the Dec. 13 Honolulu Marathon will head in this direction, but they’re not the only ones who can see the sights.
Enjoy house hunting, even if it’s just a fantasy, by checking out the beachfront homes along Kalanianaole Highway and the inland abodes in Niu Valley. Imelda Marcos once had a house here, and “Dancing with the Stars” judge Carrie Ann Inaba grew up in the neighborhood.
3. Diamond Head Lighthouse
Diamond Head Lighthouse provides plenty of photo opportunities at the base of the dormant volcano.
Scenic photos of this still-operating lighthouse can be taken from various paths along the coast. The actual grounds are off-limits because they include the residence of the district Coast Guard commander.
The runners don’t climb Diamond Head, but the crater’s rim is worth a detour for its views. The hike is less than a mile from trailhead to summit, but it is strenuous, gaining 560 feet along the way.
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