A hui hou to a tradition of great aloha
by Dan Kaneko | Feb. 16, 2022
For many of us in Hawaii, Presidents’ Day weekend has become synonymous with the Great Aloha Run. Since 1985, thousands of walkers and runners have lined up along Ala Moana Boulevard with the iconic Aloha Tower overlooking the crowd of excited (or nervous) participants. Against a backdrop of the rising sun on Oahu’s south shore, the race begins, and participants of all ages embark on the 8.15-mile journey to Aloha Stadium. And over the years, teams of Hawaiian Electric employees have walked or run the course to show their support.
For the past 38 years, the Great Aloha Run has been more than just another race–it’s an annual tradition for the Hawaii community that provides support for many of our local charities and schools. The Great Aloha Run was initially launched in 1985 as a companion fundraiser to Carole Kai’s Charity Bed Race. But while the Bed Race–which required participants to form teams to push a wheeled bed across the finish line–ended in 1994, the Great Aloha Run continued to flourish. Since its inception, the Great Aloha Run has raised more than $15 million for over 150 nonprofit organizations and school programs.
Hawaiian Electric has a long history of supporting and participating in the Great Aloha Run. In previous years, we’ve earned the distinction of qualifying for the President’s 100 club for forming a team of participants with at least 100 employees and ohana. We love that we can support our local schools and charities while being healthy and physically active!
In 2021, to keep our communities safe, the Great Aloha Run opted to adopt a virtual format. Although participation dropped from the usual average of about 18,000 walkers and runners to roughly 8,000, the event still managed to raise more than $238,000 for Hawaii’s charities.
This year’s edition of the annual Great Aloha Run will once again be virtual, but also host a special drive-by to allow participants to say goodbye to the beloved Aloha Stadium, which has hosted the finishing ceremonies throughout the years. This year’s event will also have the added benefit of flexibility as participants will be allowed four days, from Feb. 18 to 21, to complete the 8.15 miles at their own convenience. While many will miss the energy and aloha spirit of the in-person race, the new format provides an opportunity for many others to participate in a safe and convenient environment.
Personally, I’m looking forward to the return of the in-person event, but I’m also thrilled to see that the Great Aloha Run has been able to continue its charitable work through these challenging last two years. Like thousands of other kamaaina and visitors alike, I have fond memories of the Great Aloha Run. Nothing quite beats the feeling of running down the tunnel into Aloha Stadium for the finish!
While we’ll be saying goodbye to Aloha Stadium as we know it, the Great Aloha Run promises to be back. So rather than saying “aloha,” for now we are simply saying “a hui hou.”
If you’re thinking about signing up for this year’s Virtual Great Aloha Run, you still have until Monday, Feb. 21, 2022, to register.
Dan Kaneko is a digital communications and social media specialist at Hawaiian Electric Company.
