70.3 · 5 June 2027 · Hawai`i (Big Island), Kohala Coast, United States
Ironman 70.3 Hawai`i 2027
IRONMAN 70.3 Hawai`i (known as Honu) takes place on the Kohala Coast, based at the Fairmont Orchid. Ocean swim in Pauoa Bay, bike on the Queen Ka`ahumanu Highway up to Hawi — the northern half of the Ironman World Championship course — and a two-lap half marathon run almost entirely on a golf course. It's not a fast course: constant wind on the bike, heat and humidity on the run. Forums rank it among the toughest 70.3s in the US; the top 10% in 2019 finished in 5:24, roughly 20-35 minutes slower than St. George. The climate indices and estimated times below are our own rough assessments, not official data.
Course
Three legs, three different races
Indicative profile · Scheda automatica da fonti pubbliche (2026-11): da rivedere. The organiser publishes the final course in spring: this page updates.
Swim1.9 km
- 1,931 m ocean swim in Pauoa Bay, starting from the Fairmont Orchid.
- Average water temp 24°C (75°F): no wetsuit, so think swimskin and sun protection.
- Depending on the day it can be calm or choppy: race reports cover the full range, including swells that make sighting tricky on the way back.
- Train bilateral breathing and sighting in swell: the return stretch can be the toughest part.
Bike90 km · 827 m D+
- 90.1 km from the Kohala Coast out to Hawi and back: it's the northern half of the Ironman World Championship bike course, on the Queen Ka`ahumanu Highway.
- 827 m (2,713 ft) official gain: a false flat uphill (1-3%) for ~18 km toward Hawi, steepest pitch 5.6% on a short section, lots of flat and descent on the way back.
- The wind is the real opponent: gusty head/crosswinds up to Hawi, cross-tailwind on the descent. Stay aero and keep a firm grip.
- Lots of reports of flats from thorns on the road shoulder: tires in good condition, a full repair kit, and don't cut corners onto the edge of the road.
- Don't be fooled by the modest elevation gain: times here are generally slower than on hillier courses.
Run21.1 km
- 21.1 km in 2 laps on the Mauna Lani golf course with an out-and-back on Ho`ohana Road, finishing at Honu Pointe at the Fairmont Orchid.
- Rolling: 554 ft of official gain, lots of short, steep rises.
- About 90% on fairway grass: a spongy surface that saps your rhythm and trashes your legs.
- Heat and humidity are the limiting factor: ice and water at every aid station, slow down before you overheat.
- If the wind drops, the run gets hotter: manage the bike so you arrive with something in reserve.
Which athlete it takes
| Goal | Swim | Bike | Run | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Relaxed finisher | 0:50 | 3:30 | 2:35 | 7:05 |
| Mid-pack goal | 0:42 | 3:05 | 2:15 | 6:10 |
| Fast goal | 0:36 | 2:45 | 1:55 | 5:25 |
| Top age-group | 0:31 | 2:30 | 1:40 | 4:50 |
Indicative splits from recent editions' results, transitions included. The personal forecast, below, compares them with your data.
What the course asks
Stories from the race
The best of the race
A selection of the most watched videos and the most popular photos. The full galleries are at the bottom of the page.
Reviews
Who raced it, what they say
At launch, pages start from syntheses of public race reports, declared as such. Verified reviews come from athletes who receive the invite within 7 days of the race, with the activity recorded on their device.
Structured fields: finish and leg times from your device, wetsuit yes/no, gear, perceived temperature, what you'd do again and what not, «I'd race it again». Free text is the race report. The linked activity makes it verified without exposing personal data.
The form appears here after the race, for those who connected a device or appear in the official results.
Is it a wetsuit swim? No. The water in Pauoa Bay averages around 24°C (75°F): a non-wetsuit ocean swim. Bring a swimskin and test it in training before race day. How hard is the bike really with only 827 m of elevation gain? Harder than the number suggests. The ~18 km false flat toward Hawi is ridden into a headwind, with gusty crosswinds. Times are typically slower than on courses with more climbing. Which wheels should I bring, deep or mid-depth? It depends on your confidence in crosswinds. Gusty crosswinds are frequent: if you're not comfortable with deep rims, go mid-depth and stay aero. What's the run surface like? About 90% on golf-course grass, over two rolling laps with 554 ft of gain. A spongy surface that saps rhythm: train long runs on grass and pick a stable shoe, not your most extreme racing flat. What time should I expect compared to my other races? Budget 20-35 minutes more than comparable 70.3s: in 2019 the top 10% overall finished in 5:24. Wind, heat and grass slow everyone down. Is the run really that hot? Yes: typical highs around 30°C with high humidity. And if the wind drops, the run gets even hotter. Plan heat acclimatization in the 1-2 weeks before and an ice+water protocol at every aid station. Is it true flats are common? Reports mention lots of punctures from roadside thorns, even on recon rides. New or near-new tires, sealant or spare tubes, and never leave the tarmac. How is transition set up? Simple: T1 and T2 are both at the Fairmont Orchid, with the swim in Pauoa Bay in front of the resort and the finish at Honu Pointe. One place to be on race day. Where should I stay if I can't get the Fairmont Orchid? Waikoloa Beach and Waikoloa Village are the most practical alternatives; Kona if you want more services and atmosphere. On race day you park outside the resort and use the free Ironman shuttle. What's the cutoff time? Not found in the sources we consulted. Check cutoffs and schedules in the athlete guide published on the official race website before you travel.
The Q&A is fed by reviews and the rulebook: every answer says where it comes from.
Preparation tips
What to do from today to race day
Roadside thorns caused lots of flats on recon rides: new or near-new tires, sealant or spare tubes, and don't leave the tarmac.
The false flat into a headwind tempts you to push too hard. Keep the watts in check: the fast return leg gives time back, the run in the heat doesn't.
Ice in your tri suit, water over your head at every aid station. Athletes have risked heat stroke: cool down before you feel bad, not after.
Non-wetsuit swim: test your swimskin and an ocean start in training, including sighting in swell.
Soft, uneven surface for most of the half marathon: pick a stable shoe rather than your most extreme racing flat.
Single transition area
T1 and T2 are both at the Fairmont Orchid: simple logistics on race day.
Where to stay
The Fairmont Orchid offers athlete bookings; practical alternatives are Kona, Waikoloa Beach or Waikoloa Village.
Parking and shuttle
If you're not staying at the Orchid, park outside the resort and use the free Ironman shuttle.
Guides and deep dives
Everything you need before you register
One article per topic, written from the sources listed at the bottom of the page and updated every edition. AI syntheses are declared as such.
Honu Race Day: Timeline, Common Mistakes, and Plan B
From race week to the finish line at Honu Pointe: what to do when, where people usually go wrong, and how to react if something goes sideways.
Logistics · 4 min · AI synthesisHonu Logistics: Getting There, Sleeping, and Getting Around the Kohala Coast
A single transition zone at the Fairmont Orchid, lodging from Kona to Waikoloa, free shuttle: what to plan and when.
Run · 4 min · AI synthesisThe Honu Half: 21 km on Grass, in the Heat
Two laps around the Mauna Lani golf course, spongy footing, 30°C and humidity: the leg that decides the race—and how to keep it from deciding against you.
Bike · 4 min · AI synthesisThe Honu Bike Course: 827 Meters of Climbing That Feel Like Twice That
False flats, crosswind gusts, and thorns on the shoulder: how to manage the 90 km on the Queen Ka`ahumanu Highway up to Hawi.
Gear
What age groupers ride and what this course asks for
At Kona, age group average
Latest Kona bike count (2026): about ≈2,260 age-group bikes, pros excluded. Shares of bikes counted.
World Championship athletes are qualified and more performance-oriented than the average field here. Source: Slowtwitch, compiled with volunteers and IRONMAN access. Slowtwitch
Wheels for this course
A rule of thumb from this course: 9.2 m of climbing per km and high wind exposure. It is guidance, not a count. (hilly)
Front wheel
35-45 mm deep
Rear wheel
50-60 mm. Use a disc only if the descents are not technical and the weather is stable
Tyres
28-30 mm, tubeless if possible. Choose pressure by weight and road surface, not by habit.
Check the weather and the wind forecast on race week: on windy days, drop a depth step on the front wheel.
Race kit
Fuel and pack, nothing forgotten
Work out carbs, fluid and sodium for this course, split into bottles, gels and bars, then tick off everything to pack from passport to Vaseline.
Start at 60 g/h if you have not trained your gut, 80-90 if you have. Never try new products on race day.
Hot course: drink to thirst plus the amounts shown, favour salt, and use ice and water on the run.
Before the race
Carb load
560-700 g carbs per day for the last 1 day(s)
Breakfast, 3 h before
70-140 g carbs, low fibre, familiar food
On the bike 3:05
Every 20 min · 23 g carbs and about 233 ml
On the run 2:15
Every 20 min · 17 g carbs and about 200 ml
Whole race
After the finish
70-84 g carbs and about 21 g protein within the first hour
General guidance for healthy adults, not medical advice. Adjust with your coach or dietitian and rehearse it in long sessions.
Sources
Where what you read comes from
Race reports, blogs, videos and threads that tell Hawai`i. Linked, never copied: they feed the syntheses, the FAQ and the Q&A.
Your plan for Ironman 70.3 Hawai`i
Connect what you have, the course does the rest
First today's form and the forecast for the three legs, then a preview of the week built on the Hawai`i segments and your routes. The account comes after, if it convinces you. Until 31 December 2026 everything is free: we're in alpha.