2024 Ironman World Championship in Kona: What you need to know

Are you ready for the VinFast Ironman World Championship on Oct. 26? Here’s everything you need to know about race week and race day.

This year it’s all about the men. Beginning last year, the field has been divided by gender due to the growing number of competitors. Defending Ironman World Champion Sam Laidlow of France leads an elite men’s field of 56 triathletes, including three other winners of the championship. (The women, who competed in the Kona championship last year, were in Nice, France, this year in the alternating course format).

But before race day, there are three community events.

• On Tuesday, it’s the Ironkids Keiki Dip-n-Dash at 4 p.m. at Ka’ahumanu Place. Registration is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesday at the canoe landing at King Kamehameha Kona Beach Resort. The Dip-n-Dash is for kids ages 6 to 14 who have a USA Triathlon membership, and the event costs $15. Just the Dash event is for kids ages 2 to 14, with courses of 0.25 miles and 0.9 miles. USAT membership also is required, and the this event also costs $15.

• On Tuesday, it’s also the Parade of Nations, which starts at 5 p.m. The parade runs along Aliʻi Drive between the Kona Beach Resort and Hale Hālāwai.

• On Thursday, the Ironman Foundation hosts the UnderPants Run in the back parking lot of the Kona Beach Resort at 7:30 a.m. It is open to everyone, but registration is required. This event began in 1998 as a protest against wearing Speedos in inappropriate places, like stores and restaurant, but has morphed into a pre-race icebreaker and local fundraiser. Over the years, more than $360,000 has been raised for “community giveback.”

On race day, the triathlon starts at 6:25 a.m. HST, when athletes kick off the grueling 140.6-mile race in the crystal clear waters of Kailua Bay for a 2.4-mile out-and-back swim as the sun rises over Hualālai in the background.

The 112-mile bike course starts at Kailua Pier and takes athletes onto Ka‘ahumanu Highway, facing a challenging evelvation gain — of up to 5,814 feet — and potentially strong crosswinds on their climb to Hawī, but soothed by breathtaking scenes of lava fields and ocean coastlines.

At Hawī, they turn around and head back to Kona.

The triathlon culminates with a 26.2-mile run through Kona, up Palani Road and onto Queen Ka‘ahumanu Highway, where competitors will run through HOST Park at the National Energy Laboratory Hawaiʻi Authority, navigating intermittent steep spots before making their triumphant return along the highway.

Athletes will then take their victory lap down Ali‘i Drive to cross the finish line, where they started at Kailua Pier.

The seawall is the perfect spot to watch the triathletes enter the water to start the race in Kailua Bay.

Spectators then often move to line the run and bike courses on Ali‘i Drive, Palani Road and Queen Ka‘ahumanu Highway.

If you can’t make it out to watch the race in person, keep up with the athletes live on Ironman’s YouTube channel and Facebook page.

To note:

• Ka‘ahumanu Place and Kailua Pier will be closed starting at 6 a.m. midnight Oct. 24 till 3 p.m. Oct. 27.
• Ali‘i Drive from Ka‘ahumanu Place to Likana Lane will be closed starting at midnight Oct. 24 till 3 p.m. Oct. 27.

Find more race day road closures below.

For all VinFast Ironman World Championship information, news and updates, keep your eyes right here on Big Island Now throughout the week and on race day.

You can also visit the official Ironman website for more about this year’s race and other Ironman events.

Race day road closures

• Queen Kaʻahumanu Highway between Palani Road and Kaiminani Drive
  6 a.m. to 1 a.m.: Southbound lanes closed; northbound lanes open
• Makala Boulevard between Queen Kaʻahumanu Highway and Kuakini Highway
  6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.: Limited lanes open; no access to Kuakini Highway
• Kuakini Highway between Makala Boulevard and Palani Road
  6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.: Closed
• Palani Road between Queen Kaʻahumanu Highway and Kuakini Highway
  6 a.m. to 1 a.m.: Westbound lane closed
  6:30 a.m. to 1 a.m.: Eastbound lane closed
• Palani Road between Kuakini Highway and Aliʻi Drive
  6 a.m. to 1 a.m.: Closed
• Kaʻahumanu Place and Kailua Pier
  Midnight Oct. 24 to 3 p.m. Oct. 27: Closed
• Aliʻi Drive from Kaʻahumanu Place to Likana Lane
  Midnight Oct. 24 to 3 p.m. Oct. 27: Closed
• Aliʻi Drive between Likana Lane and Hualālai Road
  6 a.m. to 1 a.m.: Closed
• Hualālai Road between Aliʻi Drive and Kuakini Highway
  6:30 a.m. to 1 a.m.: Closed
• Aliʻi Drive between Hualālai Road and Laʻaloa Avenue
  9 a.m. to 1 a.m.: Hualālai Road to Walua Road closed
  9 a.m. to 9 p.m.: Walua Road to Laʻaloa Avenue closed
• Kuakini Highway between Hualālai Road and Kahakai Estates
  6:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.: Closed, with limited access
• Kuakini Highway between Palani Road and Hualālai Road
  6:30 a.m. to 1 a.m.: Southbound lane closed
  6:30 a.m. to noon: Northbound lane closed from Hualālai Road to Henry Street
  No access to Palani Road: All traffic routed up Ololi Road
• Loloku Street between Luhia Street and Kuakini Highway
  6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.: No through access to Kuakini Highway

For more information or questions, call the Road Closure Hotline through Oct. 28 at 808-334-3400.

Race day solid waste facility closures

Hawai‘i County announces the following solid waste facilities and services will be closed Oct. 26 because of the above road closures for the Ironman World Championship:

• Kealakehe Recycling and Transfer Station, Reuse Center and HI-5 Redemption.
• West Hawai‘i Sanitary Landfill (Pu‘uanahulu).

The closure at the Kealakehe Recycling and Transfer Station will affect all services, including residential trash disposal, HI-5 redemption, 2-bin recycling, green waste recycling, the Reuse Center and mulch pick up.

Regular operations and services at the two facilities will resume as follows:

• Kealakehe Recycling and Transfer Station will resume regular daily operations Oct. 27.
• West Hawai‘i Sanitary Landfill will resume its regular schedule and reopen Oct. 28.

All other solid waste facilities will operate on their regular schedules on race day.

Call the Hawai‘i County Department of Environmental Management Solid Waste Division Office at 808-961-8270 with any questions.

Click here for more information and updates.

Get the Ironman VIP spectator experience

Don’t want to brave the crowds? Want some Ironman swag? Looking for better race day viewing spots? Then why not support your Ironman athlete while Ironman supports you?

Enjoy the convenience, hospitality and dedicated viewing areas throughout race day and experience the action as a VIP during the 2024 Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona.

There are several levels of VIP to choose from, with several perks ranging from a commemorative gift bag, VIP seating for the VIP and their athlete at the E Komo Mai Banquet, an invitation to the pro press conference, up to 6 nights at Courtyard by Marriott King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel, pier access for swim viewing, access to the VIP viewing platform and more.

To become a VIP today or for more information, click here. For questions, email to worldchampionshipvip@ironman.com.

Track Ironman athletes live

So you saw them swim out and watched them bike out of town, but now what? Follow the Ironman triathletes live by downloading the Ironman Tracker mobile app and selecting the 2024 Ironman World Championship event.

Participants, family and friends can all use the Live Results feature to share in the excitement. On race day, spectators can get the status of participants in real time using the Live Tracker and Leaderboard functions.

The app is available at the Apple Store and Google Play. Download it today.