For most runners, the best Honolulu Marathon hotels are at the Diamond Head end of Waikiki, a 6- to 8-minute walk from the Kapiolani Park finish: Park Shore Waikiki, Queen Kapiolani and The Twin Fin. The 2026 race starts at 5:00 AM on Sunday, December 13, on Ala Moana Boulevard, and those hotels are a few minutes from the free race shuttle at the Honolulu Zoo. If you would rather walk to the start and the expo, stay at the Ala Moana end: the Ala Moana Hotel is 3 minutes from the shuttle drop-off point and 4 minutes from the Hawaii Convention Center. Race details are as of November 2026.
Honolulu Marathon 2026 Hotels: The Short Answer (November 2026)
- Best overall: Park Shore Waikiki, 6 minutes on foot from the finish, 7 from the zoo shuttle and 3 from the Kalakaua Merrie Mile finish.
- Best views and food near the finish: Queen Kapiolani Hotel, on the edge of Kapiolani Park, 7 minutes from the finish.
- Best on the course itself: Kaimana Beach Hotel. Runners pass its beach in the final mile.
- Best budget pick with a kitchen: Aston at the Waikiki Banyan, where every unit is a one-bedroom suite.
- Best for the start and the expo: Ala Moana Hotel by Mantra, with the lowest resort fee in this guide ($30 + tax).
- Best ocean-view room near the start: Prince Waikiki, 7 minutes from the shuttle drop-off.
- Skip: any hotel more than 2 miles from the finish, unless you plan to ride the bus back.
Compare Waikiki Hotel Rates for Marathon Week (Dec 10-14, 2026)
Honolulu Marathon 2026: Dates, Start, Finish and Expo
The 2026 JAL Honolulu Marathon is the race’s 53rd edition. It has no qualifying standard, no limit on entries and no cut-off time: the finish line in Kapiolani Park stays open until the last person crosses. The start, the expo and the finish are in three different places, and that is what decides where you should stay.
| Event | Date (2026) | Time | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expo and packet pick-up | Thu Dec 10 / Fri Dec 11 / Sat Dec 12 | 10 AM–6 PM / 9 AM–7 PM / 9 AM–5 PM | Hawaii Convention Center, 1801 Kalakaua Ave |
| Clothing check drop-off | Sat Dec 12 | 10 AM–5 PM | Finish area, Kapiolani Park |
| Kalakaua Merrie Mile | Sat Dec 12 | 7:00 AM | Monsarrat Ave to Queens Beach |
| Marathon | Sun Dec 13 | 5:00 AM with fireworks; start line closes 5:30 AM | Start: Ala Moana Blvd at Queen St. Finish: near the Kapiolani Park Bandstand |
| Start to Park 10K | Sun Dec 13 | 5:00 AM | First 10 km of the course, finishing in Kapiolani Park |
| Finisher Monday | Mon Dec 14 | 9 AM–4 PM | Convention Center, 4th floor (certificates, age-group awards) |
Two rules shape your dates. Packets are not mailed, there is no race-day pick-up and no one can collect a bib for you, so you must reach the expo yourself, with ID and your bib-number email, before 5 PM on Saturday. And age-group awards are handed out only on Finisher Monday, never mailed. That makes Thursday or Friday to Monday (December 10 or 11 to 14) the natural marathon stay.
Finish End or Start End? Walking Times From 10 Hotels
The start line and the finish are almost 3 miles apart on foot. The race recommends walking to the start or being dropped off, and it runs free shuttles from the Honolulu Zoo between 2 AM and 4 AM. They drop runners at Atkinson Drive and Ala Moana Boulevard, the Waikiki end of the closed road; the start line is at Queen Street, about 0.7 mile farther west. We measured walking routes on OpenStreetMap from each hotel’s street address, at 3 mph:
| Hotel | Shuttle drop-off (Atkinson Dr) | Start line (Queen St) | Expo | Finish | Zoo shuttle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ala Moana Hotel | 3 min | 17 min | 4 min | 2.15 mi | 2.22 mi |
| Prince Waikiki | 7 min | 19 min | 13 min | 2.01 mi | 2.09 mi |
| Ilikai Hotel | 9 min | 22 min | 15 min | 1.81 mi | 1.89 mi |
| Hilton Hawaiian Village | 13 min | 26 min | 15 min | 1.70 mi | 1.77 mi |
| Hyatt Regency Waikiki | 1.65 mi | 2.30 mi | 28 min | 14 min | 15 min |
| Aston Waikiki Banyan | 1.95 mi | 2.63 mi | 33 min | 13 min | 12 min |
| The Twin Fin | 1.94 mi | 2.58 mi | 33 min | 8 min | 9 min |
| Park Shore Waikiki | 1.98 mi | 2.62 mi | 34 min | 6 min | 7 min |
| Queen Kapiolani Hotel | 2.07 mi | 2.81 mi | 39 min | 7 min | 7 min |
| Kaimana Beach Hotel | 2.56 mi | 3.20 mi | 46 min | 11 min | 16 min |
The decision rule: if you expect to be on your feet for five hours or more, stay at the finish end. You ride the zoo shuttle in the dark, finish next to your room and never need the clothing check. Choose the start end only if you want to sleep later, plan to visit the expo more than once, or will be done by mid-morning and don’t mind a 2-mile trip back.
Best Hotels Near the Finish Line at Kapiolani Park
Best overall for marathoners
Park Shore Waikiki
- Across Kalakaua Ave from Kuhio Beach
- Steps from the Honolulu Zoo & Kapiolani Park
- 3rd-floor ocean-view pool deck (8 AM to sunset)
- Daily Beach Candy rental credits included in the amenity fee
Park Shore stands on the corner of Kalakaua and Kapahulu avenues, across from Kuhio Beach. No hotel in this guide is closer to the finish (0.30 mile), and the zoo shuttle is 7 minutes away. The Merrie Mile finish is 3 minutes away, handy if family members run on Saturday. The $52 amenity fee ($61.73 with tax) includes daily Beach Candy rental credits for a lazy post-race afternoon on Kuhio Beach. Parking is valet-only at $55 plus tax, but you won’t need a car. Check-out is at 11 AM.
Prices vary according to travel dates and availability.
Best views and food near the finish
Queen Kapiolani Hotel
- Unobstructed postcard views of Diamond Head from pool deck
- 150 yards from Kuhio Beach
- Acclaimed DECK. restaurant & Knots Coffee Roasters
- Mid-century Hawaiian art collection
Queen Kapiolani is on Kapahulu Avenue at the edge of Kapiolani Park, 7 minutes from both the finish and the zoo shuttle. Its third-floor pool deck faces Diamond Head, the hill you run around twice on race day. DECK. restaurant and Knots Coffee Roasters are on site for carb-loading and the post-race coffee. The fee is $50 ($59.36 with tax), valet is $60 plus tax and check-out is at 11 AM. Our Queen Kapiolani Hotel review shows which rooms face the crater.
Prices vary according to travel dates and availability.
Best hotel on the course
Kaimana Beach Hotel
- True beachfront on quiet Gold Coast sand
- Home to legendary Hau Tree restaurant on the beach
- Steps from Kapiolani Park & Waikiki Aquarium
- Bohemian boutique design
The official course passes Sans Souci Beach and the Waikiki Aquarium in the last mile, and Kaimana is the hotel on Sans Souci Beach. Your family can cheer you in front of the hotel, then walk 11 minutes to meet you at the finish. The catch is race morning: in the 2025 traffic plan, the mountain side of Kalakaua Avenue from Monsarrat Avenue to Poni Moi Road was closed from 4:30 AM to all but residents, so walk 16 minutes to the zoo shuttle instead of calling a taxi. The fee is $45 ($53.42 with tax), valet is $55 plus tax, and there is no pool. See our Kaimana Beach Hotel review.
Prices vary according to travel dates and availability.
Best budget pick with a kitchen
Aston at the Waikiki Banyan
- 100% true 1-bedroom suites with separate living room
- Full kitchen in every unit
- 6th-floor rec deck with pool, 2 hot tubs, playground & gas BBQs
- One block from Kuhio Beach & Honolulu Zoo
Every unit is a one-bedroom suite with a full kitchen, so you can eat your usual pre-race breakfast at 2:30 AM. The sixth-floor deck has a heated pool, two jet spas and a sauna. The finish is 13 minutes away and the zoo shuttle 12. Its $32 fee ($37.99 with tax) is the lowest at the finish end. Check-in is at 4 PM, which matters if you land on Thursday morning. Sister tower Aston Waikiki Sunset is a similar walk from the finish, has coin laundry on floors 6 to 37 and charges $35 ($41.55 with tax).
Prices vary according to travel dates and availability.
For more hotels a short walk from Kapiolani Park, including The Twin Fin and the Waikiki Beach Marriott, see our guide to hotels near the Honolulu Zoo and Waikiki Aquarium.
Best Hotels Near the Start and the Convention Center Expo
Best for the start and the expo
Ala Moana Hotel by Mantra
- Level 2 skybridge straight into Ala Moana Center
- 1,176 refurbished rooms in the Waikiki and Kona towers
- About a 5-minute walk to the Hawaii Convention Center
- Pint + Jigger bar, Signature Prime Steak & Seafood and a lobby Starbucks
The Ala Moana Hotel is on Atkinson Drive, 3 minutes from the shuttle drop-off corner and 4 minutes from the convention center, so a second expo visit is no effort. Its 1,176 rooms were refurbished in 2025, and a Level 2 skybridge leads into Ala Moana Center for last-minute gels and socks. The fee is the lowest in this guide: $30 ($35.61 with tax). The catch: the finish is 2.15 miles away, so plan on the bus or a taxi back, and there is no beach at the hotel. See more hotels near Ala Moana Center.
Prices vary according to travel dates and availability.
Best ocean-view room near the start
Prince Waikiki
- 100% of rooms have floor-to-ceiling ocean views
- 5th-floor adults-only infinity pool over the Yacht Harbor
- 100 Sails Restaurant & Bar and Katsumidori Sushi Tokyo
- 8–15 minute walk to Ala Moana Center
Every room has floor-to-ceiling ocean views, and the shuttle drop-off is 7 minutes away, the start line just under a mile. For recovery, the fifth-floor deck has a saltwater pool and a hot tub (pools open 7 AM to 10 PM). The fee is $45 ($53.42 with tax); self-parking is $45 and valet $50, plus tax. The finish is 2 miles away, so this suits runners who finish before the heat: the race says start temperatures are usually in the mid-60s °F and reach the low 80s by 10 AM. Read our Prince Waikiki review.
Prices vary according to travel dates and availability.
Best kitchen and noon check-out near the start
Ilikai Hotel & Luxury Suites
- Full kitchens with 4-burner stove, full-size fridge, microwave & toaster
- 500 sq ft junior suites to 1,240 sq ft two-bedroom corners, all with private lanais
- Beside Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon & Friday fireworks
- About a 10-minute walk to Ala Moana Center; Pink Line trolley stop
Ilikai suites start at about 500 square feet, with full kitchens (four-burner stove, full-size fridge) for your own breakfast, recovery drinks and ice. The shuttle drop-off is 9 minutes away and the expo 15. Check-out is at noon, an hour later than at most hotels here. The fee is $45 ($53.42 with tax) and parking is valet-only at $45 plus tax. The finish is 1.81 miles away.
Prices vary according to travel dates and availability.
Best resort near the start
Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort
- True beachfront on widest sand
- 5 pools + waterslides + lagoon
- 5 distinct hotel towers
- Friday night fireworks show
From the middle of the Village, the shuttle drop-off is about 13 minutes on foot and the expo 15. It suits families who want pools and the beach while one person runs, and the Friday fireworks at 7:45 PM fall on December 11, two nights before the race. Two warnings: the Aliʻi Tower is closed for renovation until spring 2027, and the fee ($55, or $65.29 with tax) plus $69 self-parking is the highest combination in this guide.
Prices vary according to travel dates and availability.
Marathon-Week Prices: Rate, Resort Fee and 18.712% Tax Compared
This table prices 4 nights, Thursday, December 10, to Monday, December 14, at the same example rate of $300 a night everywhere. It is not a quote; marathon-week rates change daily. It shows what the fixed extras add to whatever rate you find.
| 4 nights at a $300 example rate | Room + 18.712% tax | Resort fee per night | Fees for 4 nights | Total | Walk to finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ala Moana Hotel | $1,424.54 | $30 → $35.61 | $142.45 | $1,567.00 | 43 min |
| Aston Waikiki Banyan | $1,424.54 | $32 → $37.99 | $151.95 | $1,576.50 | 13 min |
| Kaimana Beach Hotel | $1,424.54 | $45 → $53.42 | $213.68 | $1,638.23 | 11 min |
| Prince Waikiki / Ilikai | $1,424.54 | $45 → $53.42 | $213.68 | $1,638.23 | 36–40 min |
| Queen Kapiolani Hotel | $1,424.54 | $50 → $59.36 | $237.42 | $1,661.97 | 7 min |
| Park Shore Waikiki | $1,424.54 | $52 → $61.73 | $246.92 | $1,671.46 | 6 min |
| Hilton Hawaiian Village / Hyatt Regency | $1,424.54 | $55 → $65.29 | $261.17 | $1,685.71 | 14–34 min |
The fee gap between the cheapest and the dearest hotel is only about $119 over four nights, while the walk home after the race differs by up to 37 minutes: for a marathon, location beats the fee. Skip the rental car. The convention center lot is closed on the Thursday of expo week, parking is banned at Ala Moana Center and Ward on race morning, and these hotels charge $41 to $69 a night to park. Fees are from each hotel’s website (verified October 2026). Our Waikiki resort fees list covers 36 hotels, and the Oahu hotel tax guide explains the 18.712% rate (11% state TAT, 3% Oahu TAT, 4.712% GET).
Runner-Friendly Perks: Early Breakfast, Late Check-Out, Ice and Laundry
- Breakfast: the shuttle runs from 2 AM to 4 AM, so race morning starts in the middle of the night. We found no Waikiki hotel advertising a pre-dawn runners’ breakfast for 2026; Aqua-Aston’s marathon page mentions early check-in, gear storage and meals but gives no terms. Bring your own, or book a kitchen (Ilikai, Waikiki Banyan, Waikiki Sunset).
- Late check-out: with a 5:00 AM start and no time limit, a six-hour runner finishes at about 11 AM, check-out time at most of these hotels (noon at the Ilikai). Flying out Sunday? Get late check-out in writing when you book, or stay until Monday for Finisher Monday.
- Ice and recovery: the Prince Waikiki has a hot tub and the Waikiki Banyan two jet spas and a sauna. Ask the front desk on Saturday where to get ice.
- Laundry: coin laundry on floors 6 to 37 at the Waikiki Sunset, and a washer/dryer in every suite at the Aston Waikiki Beach Tower.
- Clothing check: there is none at the start. Bags go in the official clear bag, are dropped in Kapiolani Park on Saturday (10 AM–5 PM), and bags not collected by 3 PM on race day go to charity. Near the finish, you can skip it.
Getting to a 5 AM Start Without a Car
Fireworks start the race at 5:00 AM, and the start line closes at 5:30 AM. Bibs are color-coded by start area, and the race asks runners near the front to arrive early. Your options:
- Free shuttle: from the Honolulu Zoo, 2 AM to 4 AM, to Atkinson Drive and Ala Moana Boulevard. Space is limited, so don’t wait for the last one.
- Walk: 3 to 13 minutes from the Ala Moana end; about 1.5 miles from central Waikiki and 2 miles from the Diamond Head end, where the shuttle makes more sense.
- Drop-off: on Waimanu Street before 3:40 AM; after that, at Pensacola and Kamaile streets or Piikoi Street at Kapiolani Boulevard. No parking at Ala Moana Center, the Ward Center theatre or Whole Foods.
Road Closures on Race Morning
As of November 2026 the race site still links to the 2025 traffic advisory, so treat it as a guide. In 2025, tow-away zones ran from midnight to 5 PM; Ala Moana Boulevard was closed from Atkinson Drive to Ward Avenue from 12:30 AM to about 8 AM; Kalakaua Avenue traffic was sent onto Kuhio Avenue from 3:30 AM; makai-bound Kapahulu Avenue was closed at Kuhio from 1:30 AM; and Monsarrat Avenue was closed from 4:30 AM to 3 PM. Some TheBus routes were canceled or detoured. Don’t book a dawn airport ride for Sunday.
After the finish: you leave the park on the mountain side of the Waikiki Shell parking lot. The race says most Waikiki hotels are within walking distance; TheBus picks up at the Monsarrat Avenue stop from about 9:30 AM ($3.25 cash, or $3.00 for a 2-hour HOLO pass). Our Kapiolani Park guide covers the park’s jogging paths for a Saturday shake-out run.
Where to Stay for the Kalakaua Merrie Mile and the Start to Park 10K
The Kalakaua Merrie Mile starts at 7:00 AM on Saturday, December 12 (meet from 6:00 AM). The out-and-back course starts on Monsarrat Avenue, turns at 2424 Kalakaua Avenue, the Hyatt Regency Waikiki’s address, and finishes at Queens Beach, at Monsarrat and Kalakaua. The 2026 elite race pays $15,000 for first place, and children of any age can run with a registered parent or guardian. Closest to the finish: Park Shore (3 minutes), Queen Kapiolani and The Twin Fin (4 minutes each).
The Start to Park 10K shares the marathon’s 5:00 AM start and finishes in Kapiolani Park, so the same rule applies: stay at the finish end and take the zoo shuttle. Ten-kilometer walkers will be back at a finish-end hotel by mid-morning.
Prices vary according to travel dates and availability.
Staying on for the holidays? Our guide to Waikiki hotels for Christmas and New Year’s Eve has the December calendar and the rooms that face the midnight fireworks.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the 2026 Honolulu Marathon?
The 2026 JAL Honolulu Marathon is on Sunday, December 13, 2026, starting at 5:00 AM with fireworks on Ala Moana Boulevard at Queen Street and finishing near the Kapiolani Park Bandstand. The expo runs December 10 to 12 at the Hawaii Convention Center, and the Kalakaua Merrie Mile is on Saturday, December 12, at 7:00 AM.
Where should I stay for the Honolulu Marathon?
Most runners should stay at the Diamond Head end of Waikiki: Park Shore Waikiki, Queen Kapiolani and The Twin Fin are 6 to 8 minutes from the finish and close to the free zoo shuttle. Choose the Ala Moana end (Ala Moana Hotel, Prince Waikiki, Ilikai) only if a short walk to the start and the expo matters more than a short walk home.
Can I walk to the Honolulu Marathon start from Waikiki?
Yes, from the Ala Moana end: the Prince Waikiki, the Ilikai and Hilton Hawaiian Village are 7 to 13 minutes from the shuttle drop-off at Atkinson Drive. From central Waikiki and the Diamond Head end it is 1.5 to 2 miles, so most runners take the free zoo shuttle (2 AM to 4 AM).
Can someone pick up my Honolulu Marathon bib for me?
No. The race does not allow pick-up for a friend or family member, packets are not mailed, and there is no race-day pick-up. Go to the expo yourself, with valid ID and your bib-number email, before it closes at 5 PM sharp on Saturday, December 12.
Is there a time limit at the Honolulu Marathon?
No. There is no cut-off, and the Kapiolani Park finish stays open until the last person crosses. That is why a hotel near the finish matters: slower runners and walkers can finish around midday or later, after check-out time at most hotels.
Sources
Photo credits
- Photo: Anthony Quintano from Honolulu, HI, United States / CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
- Photo: Daniel Ramirez from Honolulu, USA / CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
- Photo: Daniel Ramirez from Honolulu, USA / CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
- Photo: Daniel Ramirez from Honolulu, USA / CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
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