Lavaman Triathlon, the designated USA Triathlon Hawaii State Championship race, will take place on the west side of the island this weekend. The 15k swim, 40k bike and 10k run will start Sunday morning at Waikoloa Beach Resort.
The event starts with the athletes swimming around a designated course in Anaeho‘omalu Bay that is guarded by canoes and kayaks. The athletes then transition to the bike portion, in which they ride south down Queen Ka‘ahumanu Highway before circling back up to the resort. Competitors end with their run through a lava field trail and the Hilton Waikoloa Village resort property.
The event also has a new “Duathlon” option, in which athletes can elect to run a 3.1-kilometer route instead of the full 10-kilomter option in the running race.
There is no qualification to compete. The top 35% or top-five finishers in each age group will officially qualify for the 2025 USA Triathlon Olympic and Sprint-Distance National Championships on Sept. 13-15 in Atlantic City, N.J.
Registration is still currently open to anyone interested in competing. Hawaii residents who bring identification will pay $375, while out-of-state athletes must pay $399. Military members can compete on a discounted rate of $275. Ages 14 through 18 cost $200.
For any athlete that wants to split the race with one or two people, Lavaman is also offering a relay option. A two-person relay is $270 per person, while a three-person will be $230.
For any keiki athletes, the LavaKids Youth Aquathon and Keiki Dash Race will begin 8:30 a.m. Sunday before the main race. Ages 7-10 can swim 100 meters and run one kilometer, while 11-14 can swim 200 meters and race two kilometers. Race check-in can be found at the bottom of Grand Staircase next to the Lavaman Expo from 7 to 8:15 a.m.
Registration for any of the events listed above can be found at lavamantriathlon.com.