KAILUA-KONA — There’s much to be excited about as exactly one year from today, the iconic UCC Coffee Kona Marathon will move back to its Kona roots in 2025 after being staged along the Kohala Coast for the last ten years.
On June 21, 2025, the 27th edition of the 26.2-mile footrace and family fun runs will once again travel through the heart of Kona and back along the famous Alii Drive. This time event boasts a new resort partner, The Royal Kona Resort and Spa, along with the race’s title and loyal sponsor of 25-years, UCC Ueshima Coffee Co., Ltd. and another major sponsor —Alaska Airlines.
“It’s taken awhile to get back to a point where we are going to have the opportunity to get it back to Kona, to have a great and nostalgic course, and a safe course,” Kona Marathon race director Brent Imonen said. “It’s always been called the Kona Marathon and now that we are back, I think it’s very appropriate that we are returning to Kona.”
After purchasing the race from Sharron Faff in 2018, Imonen held the race for just one year in 2019 before COVID-19 shut down the sports world in 2020. Since then, the Kona Marathon has been on a pause.
“I’ve done a lot of research and there were so many events that didn’t come back after COVID,” Imonen said. “I really wanted to be one of the events that was first back to the world. But I think it was an unfortunate time in 2020 where everything changed in the event world, Hawaii prices for hotels especially for out-of-state visitors were challenging. I feel that we are at the right spot at the right time, with the right energy, and with the right partner with Royal Kona Resort to come back and move forward with the next ten years of the Kona Marathon.”
The 2025 Kona Marathon races will include the marathon (26.2 miles), Kona Half Marathon (13.1 miles), Kona Quarter Marathon (6.55 miles) and Kona 5K (3.1 miles) race. A health-and-fitness fair and keiki events are planned leading up to the marathon. Other highlights include the return of the “mass start” and a new race course starting and finishing at the Royal Kona Resort.
“I do believe that the Kona Marathon is a local event and it will always be one,” said the 55-year old Kamuela resident. “But I think it is also one that is a bucket list for those who have always wanted to do Kona or people who want to do 50 marathons across 50 states. As you know there are so many pieces to putting on an event that I can’t say it’s any one piece more than another, but right now, I think we are at the right place, at the right time, and with the right partner.”
Imonen is looking forward to a turnout of 700 upwards to 1000 participants. The event will be held on a Saturday with the race course for all events predominately held on Alii Drive.
“It’s been a challenge to find the right time to bring the Kona Marathon back and it’s not an easy challenge, but I think it’s the right time to bring it back. With the uniqueness along Alii Drive, it’s as close to what the (former) Keauhou-Kona Triathlon used to be. This is what I hope to get back to and hope to continue to grow in the years to come. I’m just really excited about bringing it back to Kona. It’s been a long road and I finally feel like everything is in place.”
For more information and to register for the 2025 Kona Marathon events visit www.konamarathon.com.