CONTRIBUTOR – HONOLULU MARATHON CEO

Dr. James Barahal, has been the president of the Honolulu Marathon for 27 years. Since taking over the event in 1987, Barahal has developed the race into one of the world’s largest marathons and the biggest economic impact sporting event in Hawaii. It generates more than $100 million a year in visitor spending each December.

Barahal has also put together world class professional fields up front since the mid-1980s, a factor that gets the race worldwide coverage. In December 2012, the Honolulu men’s winner was Olympic medalist, Wilson Kipsang of Kenya who went on to break the world marathon record in October 2013.