Big Island International Marathon Returns to Hilo Bayfront on March 15

Runners gathered along Banyan Drive on the Hilo Bayfront on Sunday morning, March 15, for the annual Big Island International Marathon, tracing what organizers describe as the "old coast" of the Big Island in a course designed as two out-and-backs beginning and ending at the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel.

The event, organized by the Big Island International Marathon Association (BIIMA), offered participants four distance options: a full marathon, half marathon, 10K, and 5K. The two out-and-back marathon format kept the start and finish anchored at the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel on Banyan Drive, Hilo, HI 96720, giving spectators a predictable spot to track runners at multiple points in the race.

Pre-race logistics were handled the day prior, with packet pickup and an expo running from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 14, at the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel. Official 2026 results are now live, with the race joining a results archive that spans at least three consecutive years; last year's edition was held on March 16, 2025, also in Hilo.

Bob Wedeman is associated with the race through BIIMA, though his specific role was not confirmed before publication. Winners, finishing times, and participant totals from this year's field have not yet been officially released in race communications reviewed for this story.