Hawaii, Big Island: Kona Ironman Triathlon, Oct. 13

Does a trip to Hawaii make you dream about swinging in hammock under a coconut tree? Or are you the type of extreme athlete who wants to stride across the finish line of the Ironman Triathlon world championship, which happens every fall on the Kona coast of the Big Island? If you’re like me and just enjoy being an awestruck spectator, it’s not too late to escape to Hawaii in mid-October.

Deal: The cheapest round-trip flights that I could find from LAX to Kona International Airport at Keahole (KOA) for the triathalon weekend (Fri.–Mon) were $445, but flights to/from Hilo International Airport (ITO), on the opposite side of the island, cost $20 less via Orbitz. Since you’ll need to rent a car to get around the Big Island anyway, it doesn’t matter much which airport you fly into. Hilo is a 100-mile, two-hour drive from Kona, and there’s plenty to see and do along the way, from waterfall hikes to paniolo (Hawaiian cowboy) horseback rides on the upcountry Parker Ranch.

Any tips for dealing with Hawaii’s hot, dry weather during autumn? Tell us how to do it by posting in the Comments section below.

When: The Ford Ironman World Championship will start on the Kailua Bay beachfront of Kona on the Big Island on Saturday, Oct. 13, 2007.

Why Go: To be amazed by feats of athleticism you may never match in this lifetime. This triathlon involves a 2.4 mile swim, followed by a 112-mile bike race and a 26.2 mile marathon run.

Why Not: Standing around in soaring temperatures under a blazing sun on a lava-rock coast? No thanks.

Critique: How many superstar women athletes have to compete in the race before they call it something other than the Ironman? Then again, they have already created Iron Girl events, too.

Contact: Ford Ironman World Championship, (808) 329-0063

Related Los Angeles Times links:
Hawaii: Winter baseball on Oahu, Maui & the Big Island
Hawaii’s Big Island: Vintage South Kona hotels
Hawaii, Big Island: Kona Coffee Festival Nov. 2-11

– Sara Benson, L.A. Times Travel Deal Detective

[Photo credit: LAT / Lawrence K. Ho]

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 25, 2007 at 9:38 pm by Sara Benson and is filed under Fall, Hawaii, Hawaii's Big Island, Islands & Beaches, Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site.