2027 Kauai Marathon - Sep 5

2027 Kauai Marathon - Sep 5 Countdown

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Race Information

Race2027 Kauai Marathon - Sep 5
CityKoloa
Date2027-09-05 at 06:00
Field Size~320 runners
Time Limit7 hours
Cutoff pace9:57/km
TimezonePacific/Honolulu
Official SiteThe Kauai Marathon

Race Day Weather

Average Temperature26.3°C / 79°F
Humidity75%
Peak Wind25.6 km/h
Rain Chance38%
Typical ConditionsWarm, humid tropical morning with frequent light trade-wind showers

What to Prepare: The 6:00 AM start near Poipu is already warm (mid-70s °F / about 24°C at the gun, climbing past 80°F / 27°C by late morning) and humid (~73%); the south shore is Kauai's driest, but brief showers are common. The early gun goes off around sunrise, so carry electrolytes and treat the climbs by effort, not pace.

Based on historical averages for race week. Use our Weather Score Calculator and What to Wear Guide for personalized advice.

Wind Impact on Race Day

Winds peaking around 25.6 km/h — the typical daily maximum for this date — can affect your pace by 5-15 seconds per kilometer in exposed stretches. Headwinds slow you down exponentially: a 20 km/h wind costs more than twice a 10 km/h wind.

Calculate your wind-adjusted pace →

Race-Week Climate

Based on 20 years of race-week weather (2005-2024), MERRA-2 reanalysis

Cooler Typical Warmer
Temperature 25.4°C 26.4°C 27.2°C
Dew point 20.4°C 21.5°C 22.9°C
Wet-day chance: 38% Runnability: 50/100

Data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis), NASA Langley Research Center

Course Profile

Course TypeLoop
Elevation Gain620m
TerrainRoad (rolling coastal highway and rural roads)
ProfileOne of the hardest road marathons in the U.S. The full course is a hilly loop starting and finishing in Poipu, sharing the first 11 miles with the half before climbing out to Lawai and up to Kalaheo, then descending back to the oceanfront finish. About +620 m of total climbing on a scenic coastal route. Not a Boston qualifier (only ~0.9% of 2024 finishers ran a BQ time; 2.5% in 2023, 6.7% in 2022).

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Frequently Asked Questions

When is the 2027 Kauai Marathon?

The organizer lists the 2027 Kauai Marathon and Half Marathon for Sunday, September 5, 2027, starting and finishing in Poipu on Kauai's south shore. The official FAQ confirms a 6:00 AM HST gun for this 18th edition and asks runners to be at Poipu Shopping Village by 4:45 AM. The full race-weekend activities page still shows 2026 timings, so re-check it closer to race week.

How do you register for the 2027 Kauai Marathon, and what does it cost?

Entry is first-come with tiered pricing — there is no lottery. 2027 registration is open now on RunReg (it opened September 6, 2026 and was confirmed live on September 11). The discounted tier ends Thursday, October 1, 2026 at 10:00 AM HST, and online registration closes Wednesday, September 1, 2027 at 11:59 PM HST unless the field sells out first. The published full-marathon ladder is $220 through Sep 30, 2026, $260 through Dec 31, 2026, $285 from Jan 1 – Mar 31, 2027, $305 from Apr 1 – Jun 30, 2027, and $315 from Jul 1 – Sep 2, 2027. The half marathon climbs from $115 to $185 on the same dates, and Kama'aina or active-military runners pay less at every step ($180 for the full in the opening tier). The 2026 edition sold out and closed online entry on August 11, so entering early buys both the lowest price and a place. One more thing to budget for: the 2026 race was cancelled on September 5, 2026, the day before the start, as Hurricane Lowell approached and race-day road closures across Koloa, Poipu, Omao, Lawai and Kalaheo clashed with storm preparation. The organizer’s notice said only “We will be back in 2027”; its standing policy is no refunds once registered, and deferring a 2027 entry is offered only from July 1 to July 15, 2027 for a $50 fee — so treat a September race in Hawaii’s hurricane season as a non-refundable bet.

How hard is the Kauai Marathon course?

It is one of the toughest road marathons in the country. The full course is a hilly loop with about +620 m (2,036 ft) of climbing, including a long grind from Lawai up to Kalaheo, before a gradual descent to the oceanfront finish in Poipu. Average finishing times run roughly 5 hours, so plan to run by effort on the climbs rather than chasing a flat-course pace.

Is the Kauai Marathon a Boston qualifier?

No. The Kauai Marathon is not listed as a Boston qualifier — the hilly, humid course produces very few BQ times (around 0.9% of 2024 finishers). If a Boston qualifying time is your goal, Hawaii alternatives such as Honolulu or the Maui Oceanfront Marathon are flatter; come to Kauai for the scenery, not the PR.

What is the time limit for the Kauai Marathon?

The marathon has a 7-hour time limit, which is generous for such a hilly course. Paired with the official 6:00 AM start, that gives walkers and slower runners a realistic cutoff, but the midday heat and humidity make the back half harder, so pace the early climbs conservatively.

What is the weather like on race day?

Expect a warm, humid tropical morning in the mid-70s °F (about 24°C) at the gun, rising past 80°F (27°C) by late morning, with humidity around 73%. Poipu sits on Kauai's sunny, dry south shore, so heavy rain is unlikely, but brief trade-wind showers are common. Dress light, use sunscreen, and carry electrolytes for the climbs.

How do you get to the Kauai Marathon?

Fly into Lihue Airport (LIH), about a 30-minute drive from Poipu. Most U.S. mainland visitors connect through Honolulu (HNL) on a short inter-island hop, though some direct flights from the West Coast exist. A rental car is strongly recommended — Kauai has limited public transit. Both start and finish sit in Poipu near Koloa, so lodging in that area keeps you closest to the line.

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