By Staff Reports
(Honolulu) – Over 1,000 runners, 300 traveling from Japan, participated in the second annual Honolulu Ekiden and Music Festival at Kapiolani Park on Sunday, June 1. The first place six-member team was Team Hawaii Sport Jaco Rehab, crossing the finish line in just under 2.5 hours to win the grand prize of round-trip airfare to Japan for the entire team, courtesy of lead sponsor Hawaiian Airlines. Other participants included Mayor Kirk Caldwell, Japan Consul General Toyei Shigeeda and Hawaii News Now: Sunrise weather anchor Dan Cooke. They joined student teams, corporate groups, military members and family teams on the 26.2-mile course, split into 6 legs, from Kapiolani Park to Sandy Beach and back. Team members passed a sash embedded with a microchip as each completed one or more legs of the relay-style race.
All photos by Ross Hamamura/Ekiden.
Immediately following the race, participants were invited to “Ho‘ohui Pa‘ani” (be “united in play”) at a celebration in Kapiolani Park, with food vendors and local entertainment including hula, taiko and ukulele performances. The celebration continued into the evening with a music festival at Waikiki’s Sunset on the Beach, featuring performances by Japanese pop acts Kimaguren, Scandal and Monkey Majik.
All photos by Ross Hamamura/Ekiden.
“We are very happy with the successful turnout and can’t wait to see what’s in store as this event continues to grow in the coming years,” said Jon Nakata, Honolulu Ekiden Foundation secretary. “It’s incredibly rewarding to see our runners from Japan and Hawaii having fun while celebrating the very heart of the Ekiden tradition, culture and teamwork.”
All photos by Ross Hamamura/Ekiden.
The Honolulu Ekiden Foundation brought Japan’s Ekiden tradition to Hawaii in 2013 with the inaugural Honolulu Ekiden and Music Festival, with the goal of promoting tourism to the Islands, fostering cultural understanding between residents of Hawaii and Japan, and providing an economic boost to the state. The Ekiden, a cherished cultural tradition in Japan, mimics the ancient practice of delivering messages from province to capitol with multiple messengers each completing a segment of the long journey.
All photos by Ross Hamamura/Ekiden.
Among the top finishers were:
| Category | Team Name | Time | Prize |
| Overall 1st Place 6-member Team | Team Hawaii Sport Jaco Rehab | 2:27:27 | Hawaiian Airlines round-trip airfare to Japan |
| Overall 2nd Place 6-member Team | Apartment A | 2:30:21 | Two-night two-bedroom deluxe suite at Aston Shores at Waikoloa; Mizuno running shoes |
| Overall 3rd Place 6-member Team | The Strongest Running Club | 2:31:17 | Gift certificates at Hy’s Restaurant; T Galleria luxury handbags |
| Fastest High School Team | Campbell High School | 3:01:12 | Dinner at Hawaii Prince Hotel Prince Court |
| Fastest University/College Team | The Cauliflowers | 2:55:33 | Dinner and show tickets to Magic of Polynesia with John Hirakawa |
| Fastest Corporate Team | StartLine Hawaii LLC | 3:10:54 | Dinner at Hyatt Regency (Shor or Japengo) |
| Fastest Co-ed Team | Team Taggart | 3:14:10 | Dinner at Hawaii Prince Hotel Hakone Restaurant |
| Fastest Senior Team (Hawaii Only) | Runner’s HI Geezers – Polynesian Hospitality | 3:17:59 | Reflexology session at Abhasa Spa or Khakara Spa |
| Fastest All Female Team | U Got Chicked | 3:20:48 | Healing lomi lomi massage at Kuub Cosmetics |
| Fastest Family/Ohana Team | Peach’s 2014 | 3:25:54 | Admission and luau show at Polynesian Cultural Center |
| Fastest All Female Team | Dirty Sash | 3:29:39 | Runner’s Route gift certificates |
| Fastest Kama‘aina Team | Hawaii Chrome | 3:33:51 | Sunday brunch at Halekulani Orchids |
| Fastest Military Team (Hawaii Only) | Always Ready | 3:48:41 | Dinner at Sarento’s at the Top of the Ilikai |
| Over 240 (Japan Only) | Hurry Up | 3:58:07 | Three-star dinner cruise with Star of Honolulu |
About Honolulu Ekiden Foundation
The Honolulu Ekiden Foundation was formed on Jan. 3, 2013 to promote the advancement of peace and social welfare among people in the Pacific Rim, including Hawaii and Japan in particular, through amateur sports and cultural activities. The Ekiden and concert will provide recreation, exercise, entertainment, cultural exchange, and an economic boost to the local community.
About Hawaiian Airlines
Hawaiian Airlines has led all U.S. carriers in on-time performance for each of the past 10 years (2004-2013) as reported by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Consumer surveys by Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure and Zagat have all ranked Hawaiian the highest of all domestic airlines serving Hawai‘i.
Now in its 85th year of continuous service, Hawaiian is Hawai‘i’s biggest and longest-serving airline, as well as the largest provider of passenger air service from its primary visitor markets on the U.S. mainland. Hawaiian offers nonstop service to Hawai‘i from more U.S. gateway cities (11) than any other airline, along with service from Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand, American Samoa, and Tahiti. New nonstop service between Honolulu and Beijing, China is now available. Hawaiian also provides approximately 160 jet flights daily between the Hawaiian Islands.
Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. is a subsidiary of Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HA). Additional information is available at HawaiianAirlines.com. Follow updates on Twitter about Hawaiian (@HawaiianAir) and its special fare offers (@HawaiianFares), and become a fan on its Facebook page (Hawaiian Airlines).
