IRONMAN and Hawai`i: A Special Bond Founded on the Importance of Community Connection, Living Aloha, and Celebrating Human Achievement

October 9, 2025

– Live Aloha initiative encourages all those attending, visiting, and participating in the 2025 IRONMAN World Championship in Kailua-Kona to respect, connect with, and celebrate the Hawaiian culture, lands, and people

– Family, friends, spectators and the entire Hawai`i community encouraged to celebrate the amazing accomplishments of the world’s best triathletes both at the finish line and the brand-new Watch and Wait event in the back parking lot of the King Kamehameha Kona Beach Resort

– Athletes reminded of the importance of cyclist and resident safety, inclusive of safe and accessible training locations

KAILUA-KONA, Hawai`i (October 9, 2025) /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ — For nearly 50 years, IRONMAN and Hawai`i have been intertwined with one of the most iconic relationships in all of sports. The special bond has been founded on the importance of community connection, living aloha, and celebrating human achievement. With race week for the women’s 2025 IRONMAN^® World Championship triathlon in Kailua-Kona in full swing, anticipation is building as race day nears and athletes, supporters, media, and spectators from around the world have arrived on the Island of Hawai`i. As final preparations ramp up and training intensifies, IRONMAN encourages all visitors to embrace the spirit of Aloha – honoring and respecting the land, people, and culture of Hawai`i – like has been so important since IRONMAN’s humble beginnings in 1978. Athletes are also reminded to train safely, tread lightly, and be pono – acting with integrity and respect – as they navigate the island’s roads, trails, and waters, ensuring their presence contributes positively to the local community and environment.

For triathletes, making it to Hawai`i and Kailua-Kona for the IRONMAN World Championship is a lifetime accomplishment in which facing the challenges of race day while connecting with the land and culture is a deeply spiritual experience. Uniting the important Hawaiian culture and community with the global triathlete community results in an event unlike any other that embodies the spirit of Aloha – respect, perseverance, and harmony between people and nature. Competing in Kona isn’t just about finishing a race – it’s about testing human limits in one of the most beautiful, mythical, and demanding places on the planet.

Key points are highlighted below on training safety, protecting nature, the Live Aloha initiative, and the new Watch and Wait event to help ensure the IRONMAN World Championship is a positive and safe experience for everyone.

Safety & Respect While Training on the Island

Kona is the heart of the race, where athletes from around the globe come to test their limits. As the roads get busier leading into race day, the safety of all is of paramount importance. To ensure all road users remain safe, and to reduce the impact on the local community, guidelines for cyclists, of locations to avoid, have been mapped out and are requested to be followed.

Specifically, athletes should not ride on the roads south of Kona town, as shown on the map below and publicly available. These roads are narrow and lack a hard shoulder on which cyclists can ride. The lengthy traffic delays caused by the inability to pass cyclists on these narrow roads also creates inconvenience for the local community and can become a danger for athletes and drivers. For athlete safety and consistent with the Live Aloha Initiative and the Pono Pledge, athletes are asked to refrain from cycling on portions of: Hwy 190/Palani Rd, Hwy 180/Old Mamalahoa, HWY 11/ Queen Ka`ahumanu Hwy, and Hwy 160/ Napoopoo Rd.

For those supporting athletes who are training on the course, please remember that riding against the traffic is against the law, and all traffic laws while on the Island must be followed. If training with an athlete who is running, please refrain from riding against the traffic.

A dedicated Kokua (“help”) Patrol team will also be monitoring certain cycling routes on the Island to ensure all athletes are respecting the guidelines, as well as providing any necessary support.

Cyclist Safety

• Cyclists, stay aware of your surroundings. Kona’s roads can get busy, and it’s important to always ride with caution. Follow the designated race routes and obey all traffic signals.
• Always ride in dedicated bike lanes and stop at the stop signs and lights. Remember, cyclists have the same responsibilities in following local traffic laws as vehicles.
• Please ride single file at all times.
• For community members, whether you’re cheering from the sidelines or driving through town, be extra vigilant. Watch for cyclists, especially at intersections and crosswalks. Give them the space they need to navigate safely and always drive with Aloha.

TRAINING SAFETY MAP – IMAGE LINK

Live Aloha and the Pono Pledge

The 2025 IRONMAN World Championship `Ohana recognize that we must all Tread Lightly when visiting Hawai`i, respecting the people, the places and the culture, and encourages all those attending, visiting, and participating in the event to Live Aloha throughout their visit to the Island.

Created in accordance with Hawai`i Tourism Authority’s Destination Management Action Plan for responsible tourism, Live Aloha is IRONMAN’s permanent reminder that the IRONMAN World Championship and the land, culture, and host communities of Hawai`i are intertwined in creating the rich history of one of the most iconic and important sporting events in the world. As such, all those coming to the Island are responsible for adding to that history in a positive way by treating the land and community as if it were their own home.

Live Aloha also encourages all people to be pono (righteous) on Hawai`i Island by taking the Pono Pledge. As described by Larry Lindsey Kauanoe Kimura, Grandfather of Hawaiian Language Revitalization, “Pono extends beyond its many English translations. To live pono is to be in perfect harmony with all things and to be aligned with your custodial relationship with the planet and its inhabitants.” The Pono Pledge vows to mindful visitation, community enrichment, and more. To make the Pono Pledge, visit https://ponopledge.com/take-the-island-of-hawaii-pono-pledge.

Tips to Live Aloha while visiting Hawai`i:

• Aloha spirit: Embrace the lessons of peace, kindness, compassion, and responsibility that come with being in the presence of and sharing the essence of life.
  • Take time to greet locals who are sharing their home with us.
  • Be mindful and courteous on the road during practice runs and rides.
  • Obey all traffic and cycling laws.
• Love of the land: Mālama (care for) land and sea and admire wildlife only from afar.
  • Use mineral-based sunscreen only, all others are banned.
  • Leave a place better than you found it.
• Observe, learn, and understand: This island is one of rich history. Take pause to learn of the peoples who have inhabited Hawai`i for centuries.
  • Tour Hawai`i Island’s historical sites.
  • Learn about the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawai`i Authority (NELHA) and make note of the numerous sites along the race course.
  • Admire the work of local artists and artisans at galleries like Donkey Mill Art Center.
  • Book yourself seats at a lū`au for an immersive experience of local cuisine and Polynesian performances.
  • Support the local business community and take a moment to soak in each place you visit.
• Honor the culture: Immerse yourself in local and Native Hawaiian customs that make up the island’s unique culture.
  • Take a deep breath and relax. The pace of life is slower on the Island; don’t waste time trying to force things.
  • Aloha is a lifestyle, a reciprocal value centered on kindness and respect. You give it without expectation of something in return.
  • Don’t be afraid to ask questions and learn from locals and Native Hawaiians.
• Admire and respect the beauty: Mindfully seek wonder but not wander where one does not belong.
  • While the Island of Hawai`i is filled with opportunities for adventure, be aware of and comply with all county ordinances and state laws.
  • The landscape of Hawai`i is remarkable. Do not remove any plants, sand, or rocks from their original habitat.
  • Do not approach or touch wildlife.

Protect Yourself and the Reef

A key part of the Live Aloha commitment is protecting Hawai`i’s fragile marine ecosystems, including its iconic coral reefs.

Many common sunscreens contain chemicals which are harmful to coral reefs. These substances can damage coral DNA, disrupt the development of coral larvae, and negatively impact marine life.

Choosing a Safe Sunscreen

• Look for active ingredients like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide.
• Avoid ingredients such as avobenzone, homosalate, and octocrylene.

IRONMAN Watch & Wait Zone

New for 2025, IRONMAN is working with the King Kamehameha Kona Beach Resort to make the back parking lot ‘home base’ by providing a free Watch and Wait event for spectators, family and friends of athletes, and the greater Hawai`i community. Located at the rear of the resort, there’s shaded areas, plenty of room to relax, fuel up, follow the race action on a big screen, and reunite with athletes after they finish their race day, at the first meet-up point.

Entry is free and all are welcome to enjoy covered seating, a live stream of the race broadcast, water stations, food trucks, and a cash bar for beer, wine, and soft drinks. Festivities will run from 1-9pm. For more details and a spectator guide, please visit www.ironman.com/races/im-world-championship-kona/supporters.

From Inspiration to Race-cation – IRONMAN 70.3 Hawai`i

For those inspired by this week’s athletes, Kona not only hosts the IRONMAN World Championship but also the IRONMAN^® 70.3^® Hawai`i triathlon which has taken place for over 20 years and uses portions of the world championship course. The next edition of the IRONMAN 70.3 Hawai`i triathlon takes place on May 30, 2026, with general registration open now at www.ironman.com/races/im703-hawaii/register. The race is built around the grounds of the Fairmont Orchid, Hawai`i Hotel, beginning with a 1.2-mile swim in the beautiful Pauoa Bay through the crystal-clear waters of the Pacific Ocean as the sun rises over the Island of Hawai`i. The 56-mile bike course leads athletes to the magical Kohala Coast on the northern portion of the IRONMAN World Championship bike course. As athletes climb to Hawi, they will experience the rolling hills of Kohala and barren lava fields. The gorgeous 360-degree views of the island follow athletes on the entire ride. The two-loop, picturesque run course takes athletes on the pristine Mauna Lani Golf Course through rolling lava fields and out-and-back on Ho`ohana Road before running through the beautiful seascape finish line at Honu Pointe on the grounds of the acclaimed Fairmont Orchid, Hawai`i. Traverse the iconic terrain, embrace Hawai’i’s rich heritage, and create your own chapter in the storied legacy of this world-renowned event

Honoring the connection between our Hawaiian events, the IRONMAN 70.3 Hawai`i triathlon will offer age group qualifying slots to the 2026 IRONMAN World Championship (in addition to offering IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship age group qualifying slots). For more information, visit the race event page at www.ironman.com/races/im703-hawaii.

For more information about the 2025 IRONMAN World Championship in Kona, Hawai`i please visit www.ironman.com/races/im-world-championship-kona. To learn more about the IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 brands and series of events, please visit www.ironman.com. Media inquiries may be directed to press@ironman.com.

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About the IRONMAN World Championship

On February 18, 1978, 15 competitors came to the shores of Waikiki, Hawai`i to take on the first-ever IRONMAN<sup>®</sup> triathlon. It was an idea hatched by John Collins, a Naval Officer stationed in Hawai`i, and his wife Judy during a swim club gathering. Collins’ proposal was a friendly test of fitness combining the three toughest endurance races on Oahu into one race: The 2.4-mile Waikiki Rough-water Swim, the 112-mile Around-Oahu Bike Race, followed by a 26.2-mile run on the Honolulu Marathon course. That first race would set the stage for what IRONMAN triathlon would become: the most-challenging single-day sporting event in the world, and a brand symbolizing the belief that “ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE^®.” Since its inception in 1978 on the Island of O`ahu and continued history in Kona on the Island of Hawai`i with recent stops in St. George, Utah and Nice, France, the IRONMAN World Championship^® triathlon has etched its name in history through historic performances, inspiring athletes, and a lifetime of memories that define the sport of triathlon today. The IRONMAN World Championship remains the most iconic single-day endurance sporting event in the world and is the culmination of 40 global IRONMAN events with over 94,000 athletes around the world striving for one of the coveted qualifying slots of any sporting event in the world. For more information, visit www.ironman.com/races/im-world-championship.

About The IRONMAN Group

The IRONMAN Group is the world’s largest operator of participation sports with a portfolio of brands, events, media, partners, merchandise, and digital platforms operating in over 50 countries worldwide. A global portfolio consisting of hundreds of events includes the IRONMAN^® Triathlon Series, the IRONMAN^® 70.3^® Triathlon Series, 5150^® Triathlon Series, IRONKIDS^®, premier running events including the Rock ‘n’ Roll^® Running Series, the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon™ and City2Surf^®, the UTMB® World Series of trail running, the Epic Series™ of mountain biking including the Absa Cape Epic^®, and a collection of road cycling and other multisport races. Since the inception of the iconic IRONMAN^® brand and its first event in 1978, millions of athletes have proven that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE^® by crossing finish lines around the world. From its beginnings as a single race among friends in Hawai’i, The IRONMAN Group has become a global sensation and collection of high-growth lifestyle brands that inspire people to unlock their potential in life. For more information, visit www.ironman.com/about/ironman-group.