Origins of the Ekiden date to early Japan when important news was relayed from distant provinces to the capitol using a series of messengers, each of which would carry the message for an individual leg of the journey. Today, the tradition of Ekiden lives on as a sport, which, in addition to being highly competitive, is also used in Japan to promote unity as a team along with personal perseverance.

The Honolulu Ekiden will be an authentic EKIDEN conducted over an ocean view course certified by the USATF. Each runner wears a sash and passes it on to their teammate at the relay exchange station. The sash is a symbol that represents teamwork and unites the runners in their race to complete the course.

Runners will enjoy beautiful ocean views along six different course sections with a total length of 26.2 miles or 42.195 km.

Starting at the base of Diamond Head at Kapiolani Park, the course travels eastward along the coast, where it winds past popular Hanauma Bay. The turn around point will be famous Sandy Beach.

A maximum of six runners may participate as a team. Each runner may choose the course section he or she desires to run. For teams with fewer than six members, a runner or runners may run more than one section consecutively.

Ekiden participants from all over the world will experience a scenic yet challenging course on the island of Oahu along with top entertainment from local and popular Japanese artists in concert in Waikiki.