Runners' Almanac
All marathons

Early September · West Coast · Loop

Kauai Marathon

Poipu, HI · Sunday, September 6, 2026

Includes Kauai's famous "Tree Tunnel," a road canopied by eucalyptus trees near Koloa, on a genuinely hilly loop course.

Tropical Tunnel of Trees and volcanic views

  • Scenic
Official site

Opens the race organizer's website

Typical start

80°

Cooler than 0% of U.S. marathons

Modeled historical conditions

Elevation gain

1,200ft

Flatter than 5% of races

Estimated total climb

Field size

600

Larger than 22% of races

Estimated field

PR potential

3.3/10

Ahead of 0% of races

Almanac model

Percentiles compare this race against all 224 U.S. marathons in the Almanac.

Course profile

1,200 ft gain

Hilly course, loop.

0510152026.2
Schematic profile drawn from total gain, total loss and course category, on a shared vertical scale of 800 ft. Not a surveyed GPS trace.

Race-day weather

Modeled from location, month and coastal proximity, not verified race history.

6 AM

72°

Start

80°

Midday

91°

ExcellentGoodWarmHeat risk

Typical start sits at 80°F, real heat risk.

Typical dew point 68°F, 16% chance of precipitation, wind around 7 mph. All modeled.

The bottom line

This one is about the day, not the clock.

Kauai Marathon is a strong choice for runners who like a course with real character, and the climbing is the point here. The tradeoff is atmosphere: expect long quiet stretches and few spectators.

Why runners choose this race

A loop course around Poipu, HI, with real climbing that will cost you time if you race it hard early.

The case for it

  • Runners who care about scenery
  • Runners who want a low-key start

The tradeoffs

  • You want crowds and on-course energy
  • You are chasing a flat-course PR

Course and logistics

Course type
Loop
Surface
Road
Profile
Hilly
Total gain
1,200 ft(estimated)
Field size
~600 runners(estimated)
Crowd support
Quiet, low-key
Entry
Data coming soon
Start / finish
Start and finish in the same area

Race details

Typical timing
Early September
Next confirmed date
Sunday, September 6, 2026
Region
West Coast
Editorial tier
Featured
Data last reviewed
2026-08-26
  • Scenic
  • Loop course
  • Hilly course
  • Destination race

Similar races

Races with a comparable profile.

Early October · West Coast

Girdwood Marathon 2026

Girdwood, AK

Weather
18°Ftypical startModelled estimate
Field size
~400 runners
Course
Hilly
Elevation
1,500 ft gain · 0 ft net

Event listed as: Full Marathon

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Mid-September · West Coast

Equinox Marathon and Relay

Fairbanks, AK

Weather
19°Ftypical startModelled estimate
Field size
~800 runners
Course
Hilly
Elevation
3,300 ft gain · 0 ft net

Event listed as: Marathon Run | Verified 8/26/26: 3,300 ft gain confirmed (template was accurate). Still carries relay/name-match REVIEW flag from sort logic; confirm marathon distance (not relay leg) is the featured event before promoting.

PR5Weather7Experience7