Please join us for the 47th Annual Nā Holo Wāhine Fun Run/Walk.  This event is open to everyone!

  Online registration is open!

SIGNUP HERE

The fun run/walk will be held on Sunday, May 10, 2026 at 7 a.m. at the University of Hawai'i - Maui College, 310 W. Ka'ahumanu Avenue, Kahului.

Nā Holo Wāhine is a fundraiser for the University of Hawai‘i – Maui College scholarship fund, honoring the memory of Kelly Watanabe, who passed away in 2021 after a long battle with cancer. The scholarship celebrates Kelly’s legacy as a runner, wellness advocate, educator, and community volunteer.

A passionate lifelong runner and marathoner, Kelly completed races in all 50 states, Japan, and Canada. She was a devoted member of the Valley Isle Road Runners, serving on the board, helping behind the scenes at fun runs, and co-directing the Nā Holo Wāhine Fun Run/Walk. This year marks the fifth time UH–Maui College has hosted the event, made possible by Kelly’s strong ties to the school. A graduate of the neighbor island Master of Accounting and MBA programs, Kelly went on to teach business and math, later becoming a business careers instructor in 2016 and the accounting program coordinator in 2018. Kelly’s contributions reached beyond academics—she was active in the Wellness Hui, taught Zumba for the Maui Fit program, co-founded the weekly walking Moai, and served as faculty advisor to the Dance Klub led by her son.

Packet pickup is Saturday, May 9, 2026 at UH-Maui College, Noi'i Building from 12 - 2 p.m.  Packet pickup will also be available on race day.

We will also be holding a community food drive for the Maui Food Bank.  Please bring any non-perishable food donations for drop off at packet pick-up and on race day.

Please register early for your event shirt.  No guarantee of a shirt or the correct size for later registrations.  No new registrations will be accepted on race day.

VIRR member pricing:
$25 until 05/08/2026 (VIRR member discount will be automatically applied during check out)

Pricing for NON-VIRR members:
$30 until 5/08/2026

Late registration at packet pickup: $40

Please consider making a monetary donation to the Kelly Watanabe scholarship fund by clicking here.  The link takes you to the University of Hawai’i Foundation website, UH-Maui College Business and Information Technology Program, Fund #127-0050-4. If you have any questions, please email secretary@virr.com

Volunteers are needed to help with this event!   Please contact Joy at secretary@virr.com for more information and to help out.  Mahalo!

Race Day Schedule

6:15-6:45 AM – Mandatory check-in. Packet pick-up available (no new registrations)
 6:45 AM – Group warm-up
6:55 AM – Race briefing     
7 AM – Start!

SAVE THE DATE

July 19, 2026

The IAO VALLEY 5K & 10K

2026 Registration will open at a later date.

DISTANCE: 5K or 10K (~6 miles), 600’ elevation gain and descent 

COURSE: The run starts by the Wailuku Municipal Parking Lot Market Street and follows Vineyard Street up to Main Street and up to the scenic Iao Valley State Park and is a long rolling downhill back to Wailuku. Run facing traffic to be safe and use caution at intersections. 

T-SHIRTS: You must register by June 15, 2026 to guarantee your shirt size which includes a unique finisher shirt — please enter early to ensure the proper size is available.

AWARDS: Awards will be given to the top 3 overall male and female finishers and awards in each 10 year age group.

PARKING:  Free parking is available until 10am with a State ID in the municipal parking garage.

The 56th ANNUAL HĀNA RELAY — September 12, 2026

The 56th Annual Hāna Relay is scheduled for Saturday, September 12th, 2026. We are excited again to be able to have 75 teams. A huge MAHALO to Hāna, the Maui Police Department, Hāna Parks and Recreation, and the City and County. 

2026 Registration will open at a later date

To be sure everyone gets a fair chance of getting in on this event this year, online registration will open in 2 rounds. Here is the schedule for the opening of online registration:

• ROUND 1: is for VIRR annual members only. Online registration will open on June 21 at 6 a.m. Hawaiʻi time and close on June 25 at 6 p.m. or when the limit has been reached. No one will be able to sign up before June 21.

• ROUND 2: will be open to the public. Online registration will open at 6 a.m. on June 26th and close when the limit of teams has been reached. No one will be able to sign up before that day and time.

• Here's the information that you will need to sign your teams up quickly:

  1.  First Name & Last Name
  2.  Email Address
  3.  Date of Birth & Gender
  4.  Phone Number & Address
  5.  T-Shirt Sizes
  6.  Emergency Contact Name & Phone Number

There is a 9-hour cut-off time. Our permitting states the run will end at 2:15 p.m. The Maui Police Officers duties end at 2:15 p.m. and they will not be out on the course after that time. You may continue on your own and the staff will be at the finish line area until the last runners are accounted for. 

Be aware that cell phone service is not very good in Hāna. 

Finisher medals and division awards will be given out as they crosses the finish line.

• Divisions - First place in the division will receive an award

  • Open Women - all ages
    (Teams that do not consist of all Women will be placed in the Open Mixed Division)

  • Open Men - all ages
    (Teams that do not consist of all Men will be placed in the Open Mixed Division)

  • Open Mixed - Any age or  gender - NO AWARDS
    (Mixed team of any age or gender)

  • Women’s Masters – 40 and older
    (Teams that do not meet this criteria will be placed in the Open Mixed Division)

  • Men's Masters – 40 and older
    (Teams that do not meet this criteria will be placed in the Open Mixed Division)

  • Masters Mixed – All members must be over 40 and consist of any gender - NO AWARDS
    (Teams that do not meet this criteria will be placed in the Open Mixed Division)

Hāna Relay packet pickup will be held at: 
LOCATION: Skechers, 150 Dairy Rd., Kahului
WHEN: Friday, September 11th, 2026, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Handoff Locations 2 pages
Full Route Map 17 pages

Results are under the "VIRR Race Results" link

EVENT HISTORY

The Valley Isle Road Runners are the original founders of the Hāna Relay race.
Seven teams ran the very first year. The race initially consisted of 1 mile legs in the first year but teams ran longer legs toward the end of the race. UH track team held the record, 4hrs and 20 min for the fastest time but that was when they did 1 mile legs.
Aaron Altura had a team that holds the running record based on the current leg setup of about 4 hours and 30 minutes.
Another team ran faster than Aaron’s team but was disqualified for being jerks and their check bounced and was never paid. 

The relay in the early years quickly developed into one of Hawaiʻi’s top competitive relay races. Teams from across the state would come. Top runners representing their island would compete, Kauaʻi, Big Island, Oʻahu, and Maui were all represented in most of the early events mostly sponsored by a company. Since Joe Alueta started directing in 1993 he moved the race to a more fun event with goofy prizes.

In 2020 - 2022 COVID put a dead stop to all events worldwide — Hawaiʻi was no exception.

2023 - This year was the first Hāna Relay since COVID-19. We wanted to restart with a small event of 25 teams and not overrun Hāna with our event. 

2024 - 2025 - The event ran with a capacity of 75 runners. The event went very smooth and the weather was perfect. 

Maui News Article September 11th, 2024

Mahalo for our Sponsors:

Mahalo for joining us in 2025!
Sign up Here

Come join us on Sunday, December 20, 2026 for a Holiday 5K Run and a Quarter-Mile Keiki Dash! We will also be accepting donations for the Maui Food Bank, so please bring a non-perishable food item to donate.

EVENTS:
A Quarter Mile Keiki Dash: A special race for keiki (children) ages 8 years and under.
5K Run (more like a 5.5K — the extra 0.5 means extra fun!).  Check out the route on Strava. This race will not be timed.

WHERE:
Kanaha Beach Park in Kahului, Maui at 8:00 a.m.
Drop these coordinates in your map for the GPS start / finish location.
20.900320, -156.437464

COST:
Free for VIRR Members (discount automatically applied upon checkout)
$35 for Non-members (until Nov. 14th)
$40 for Non-members (after Nov. 14th)