Honolulu Marathon 2025: Best Cheer Stations for Spectators

Aloha, marathon besties!

Mark your calendar: Sunday, December 14, 2025, 5:00 a.m. fireworks over Ala Moana Beach Park will kick off the 53rd Honolulu Marathon. More than 20,000 runners from 50+ countries will chase that famous Hawaii sunrise finish, and the smartest spectators (that’s you) won’t be stuck in the Waikiki crowds fighting for a glimpse. You’ll be at the perfect mile markers where the energy is electric, the views are unreal, and your bright, breezy JAMS World outfit makes you impossible to miss—even at 6:30 a.m. when everyone’s still half-asleep.

Whether you’re a local cheer captain, a mainland family flying in to surprise your runner, or a first-timer who just wants to nail it—this guide has everything: the only packing checklist you’ll ever need, the exact spots where runners need you most, and the tropical spectator outfits that turn heads from 100 yards away.

Honolulu Marathon Spectator Packing Checklist (2025 Edition)

Lightweight Hawaiian shirt or dress that pops from 100 yards (see our 60th Anniversary prints below)
Wide-brim bamboo hat or bucket hat – sunrise burns are real
Reversible JAMS World tote bag (for snacks, signs, cowbells, extra layers)
Foldable hand fan or mini battery fan (it’s December… but it’s still Hawaii)
Portable phone charger + waterproof case
Clear rain poncho (just in case of liquid sunshine)
Cowbell or ukulele (noise makers = love language)
DIY poster board + Sharpies (ideas below)
Sunscreen, lip balm, band-aids, cash for shave ice
Lightweight pareo or robe for the runner’s recovery hug at the finish
Reusable water bottle (stay hydrated while you hydrate them!)
Small cooler with ice-cold coconut water & spam musubi

Pro move: Pack everything in your JAMSWorld tote the night before — you’ll thank us at 4 AM.

Mile-by-Mile Cheer Station Map – Where the Magic Happens

We walked (and drove) the entire 26.2 miles to find the spots with the best energy, easiest parking/access, and biggest “OMG there’s my people!” moments.

Start Line – Ala Moana Blvd (Mile 0–1) → Ocean-side sidewalk by magic island
Mile 4–5 – Kalakaua Ave Waikiki (in front of Duke’s statue) → Classic vibe
Mile 7–8 – Diamond Head Road climb → Right after the gas station – they NEED you here
Mile 10 – Kahala Ave near Kahala Mall → Wide sidewalks + shade
Mile 13 – Hawaii Kai Costco turnaround → Loudest unofficial cheer zone on island
Mile 18 – Portlock Road → Quiet street = your voice carries forever
Mile 22 – Makapu’u Point pullout → Epic ocean backdrop for photos
Mile 25 – Kilauea Ave / 22nd Ave → Final push energy is electric
Finish – Kapiolani Park (Mile 26.2) → Get there by 6:30 AM for front-row under the banyan

Full course map & road closures

Wear the Brightest Lightweight Hawaiian Shirt on the Island

(Your runner will spot you from 100 yards away — guaranteed)

This year JAMS World dropped the 60th Anniversary Collection in electric new colors that basically glow in the dark (perfect for 5 AM starts and golden-hour finishes).

Top marathon spectator outfits we’re wearing this year:

Men: 60th Anniversary Rayon Camp Shirt (so lightweight you forget you’re wearing it) + Bamboo Shorts → Shop Men’s Lightweight Hawaiian Shirts
Women: Breezy Midi Dress or Kimono + Bike Shorts underneath for all-day cheering → Shop Women’s Dresses & Kimonos
Recovery royalty: Post-race, swap into a JAMS World Robe or Pareo — tropical running recovery wear at its finest.