Kauai Marathon 2025

Question

Hi. Wondering how the marathon road closures might affect our drive to Waimea Canyon (from Princeville) on Sunday morning. TIA

Answer

Hi — that’s a great question. Whether the 2025 Kaua‘i Marathon will affect your drive from Princeville, Kauaʻi (North Shore) to Waimea Canyon State Park depends on which roads you’ll take — and fortunately, the impact should be minimal. I walk you through what you should expect (and watch out for), so you can plan accordingly.

🏃‍♂️ What is the Kaua‘i Marathon & when/where are the closures

The 2025 Kaua‘i Marathon (and half-marathon) will take place on Sunday, August 31, 2025, starting around 6:00 a.m. Road closures and traffic restrictions will affect parts of the south and west side of Kauaʻi — notably around the towns of Kōloa, Poʻipū, Lāwa‘i, and Kalaheo.

Some of the closures / restrictions include:

Full or partial closure of Kōloa Road inbound/outbound from Kaumuali‘i Highway (HI-50) between ~6:30 a.m. and ~12:30 p.m.
Closures of various smaller roads on the south shore (Poʻipū Road, Ho’onani Road, ʻŌmaʻo Road, etc.) around early morning to late morning/early afternoon, to support the race course.
Alternating one-way traffic on a portion of Highway 50 (Kaumuali‘i Highway) between certain junctions from early morning until about 9 a.m.
Overall advice from officials is that “drivers should plan ahead, expect delays, and use extreme caution.”

In short — the marathon’s impact is concentrated on the south/west portions of the island, especially around Poʻipū / Kōloa / Kalaheo / Lāwa‘i / Kōloa-area roads.

🚗 Your route from Princeville (North Shore) to Waimea Canyon — and why marathon closures probably won’t block you

If you’re driving from Princeville to Waimea Canyon, the typical route is:

From Princeville, take Kūhiō Highway (HI-56 / HI-560) south along the North Shore and around the east/south side toward Līhue / central Kauaʻi.
Then merge onto Kaumuali‘i Highway (HI-50) west toward Waimea, Kauaʻi.
From Waimea town, turn onto Waimea Canyon Drive (HI-550) / also known as Kōkeʻe Road to ascend into the canyon area.

According to local travel-time guides, that drive from Princeville to Waimea Canyon should take roughly 2 hours and 10 minutes in normal traffic.

Importantly: the marathon’s road closures are mainly around Poʻipū / Kōloa / south-shore roads. Since your route from Princeville to Waimea Canyon uses Kūhiō Hwy → Kaumuali‘i Hwy → then Waimea Canyon Drive — and doesn’t rely on Poʻipū or Kōloa Road — there’s no indication that those closures directly block your path.

✅ What you should expect / plan for on Sunday if you do this drive

You should be able to drive from Princeville to Waimea Canyon without being blocked by the marathon — as long as you avoid detours into Poʻipū / Kōloa areas. The main thoroughfares (HI-56/560, HI-50, HI-550) remain the standard route.
You may encounter heavier traffic than usual, especially on Kaumuali‘i Highway (HI-50) near the south part of the island, because some closures on smaller roads may force more drivers onto the main highway. Marathon-related traffic control may cause slowdowns.
Because your drive is fairly long (2+ hours from Princeville to Waimea Canyon in normal traffic), give yourself extra time — delays could add 15–30 minutes or more depending on traffic flow.
Be cautious of possible alternating one-way sections or traffic management on Kaumuali‘i Hwy early in the morning (some reports mention detours or alternating traffic control near closure zones) — though those reports relate mostly to stretches between Maluhia and Ōmaʻo Road (south/west areas).

🕒 My recommendation

If I were you and planned to go from Princeville to Waimea Canyon on Sunday during the marathon, I would:

Leave early — aim to be on the road before sunrise or early morning to maximize your chances of smooth driving.
Avoid detouring through Poʻipū, Kōloa, or Kalaheo — stick to the main highway route (Kūhiō Hwy → Kaumuali‘i Hwy → Waimea Canyon Drive).
Allow extra time for the drive — expect 2 to 2.5 hours or more depending on traffic.
Have a backup plan: if traffic is really heavy, you could consider postponing your canyon visit to later in the day (though note that earlier starts are best for canyon lookouts and light).

📌 Bottom Line

Yes — you should still be able to drive from Princeville to Waimea Canyon on Sunday even with the marathon happening. The marathon closures are mostly on the south shore (Poʻipū / Kōloa / Kalaheo) and don’t block the standard route north-to-west across the island. Just plan for possible traffic slowdowns, leave early, and avoid detours into closure zones. With a bit of extra time and patience, you’re likely to enjoy your canyon drive just fine.

Mahalo for asking — and hope you have an amazing time exploring Kauaʻi!

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