PO‘IPU — The economic benefit to Kaua‘i from the second annual Kaua‘i Marathon totalled $2.41 million, according to preliminary county estimates. Based on a total registration of 1,520 runners and teams from Kaua‘i, 45 states across the nation and 10
PO‘IPU — The economic benefit to Kaua‘i from the second annual Kaua‘i Marathon totalled $2.41 million, according to preliminary county estimates.
Based on a total registration of 1,520 runners and teams from Kaua‘i, 45 states across the nation and 10 foreign countries, the biggest economic impact came in room revenues with a projected income of $909,295.
Of the total number of participants, 335 were Kaua‘i residents, 314 came in from Neighbor Islands, 764 were from the Mainland and 107 came in from countries outside the United States.
Using a multiplier of 2.3 people for each runner, the Kaua‘i Marathon generated 2,479 people from the Neighbor Islands and Mainland, and 214 visitors from the foreign countries, based on a 2.0 multiplier.
While on Kaua‘i, the visitors generated an estimated $279,565 in car rental fees based on 5,083 rental days by all of the visitors and a daily average of $55/day.
Neighbor Island participants stayed an average of three days, and based on a room average of $110/day, contributed $103,620 toward the total room revenue of $909,295.
Mainland participants and their groups were averaging five-day days and based on a $185/day rate, generated $706,700.
Visitors from the countries outside of America contributed $98,975 based on the same $185/day rate and also averaging five-day stays.
Visitor spending while here for the marathon amounted to $261,141 based on Mainland and foreign visitors shelling out $105/day, and Neighbor Island visitors dropping $75/day.
Overall, based on these three major areas of impact, Kaua‘i received a direct economic benefit of $1.45 million. The total economic benefit was arrived using the state DBEDT 1.6 multiplier, amounting to $2.41 million.
“We are very happy that this signature event for Kauai has done so well in its second year and is capturing national and international attention,” said Kaua‘i Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. after reviewing the figures. “The County of Kaua‘i is fully committed to supporting this event and seeing it grow in stature and participation.”
Despite the lower attendance for the marathon, local businesses continued to support the event. CG Custom Prints was in charge of producing the event wear, increasing the number of choices available to participants and fans.
Jeni Kaohelauli‘i of Work It Out in Kapa‘a did outreach work, arranging to have the representative for Phiten available at the Health and Fitness Expo preceding the marathon and then at the shop’s “Pau Party,” Monday, where some participants took advantage of Kaohelauli‘i’s gesture of awarding a premium for bringing in their marathon-finishers shirt.
The economic impact does not take into account the promotional value to Kaua‘i from the participation of Bart Yasso, labeling himself as the Chief Running Officer for Runner’s World magazine. He plans on doing a piece on the marathon from a runner’s view.
A video on this year’s event was also being worked on with footage being supplied from a local videographer for airing on the Mainland at a later date.
“I got my worst times at this marathon, but it is the best experience,” said Aiea, O‘ahu, resident Keala Hook, finishing her second Kaua‘i Marathon.
