This series presents Honolulu ride trip notes from riders participating in the Honolulu Century Ride 2025.
In this fourth installment, we feature Daisaku Kawase, Communication Director of Global Ride and a television producer, who is taking part in the Honolulu Century Ride (HCR) for the third time.

With extensive experience in ride events across Japan, Kawase prefers to travel with his own bike whenever possible, relishing the freedom of exploring destinations by pedaling through them. He delights in local cuisine just as much as riding, seeking out great neighborhood spots along the way. On race day, his approach to HCR feels less like a competition and more like an extension of a cycling journey—cruising through Hawaii with an easy, joyful rhythm, as if on a bike trip rather than an event.

5 Nights, 7 Days / Life-Changing Views…Why the 80km Course Is the Best Way to Experience Hawaii— My Third Journey to Honolulu —
Note by_Daisaku Kawase

Date	Itinerary
Day 1	Travel	Night: Depart from Haneda Airport
Day 2	Travel	AM: Arrive in Honolulu→A ride before check-in
	Sightseeing	Ride first after arriving in Honolulu.
Day 3	Sightseeing	Jogging → Workation
Day 4	Sightseeing	Exploring stylish spots in downtown
Day 5	Sightseeing	Cycling to the North Shore
Day 6	Event	Participate in Honolulu Century Ride 2025
Day 7	Travel	AM: Depart from Honolulu

I used to think I didn’t really like Hawaii, and I honestly wondered why people kept coming back again and again. But after my first visit two years ago, I’ve ended up returning every year since. In other words—I’m completely hooked now (laughs).
So this ride trip note is all about how I enjoyed my third visit to Honolulu, sharing everything along the way.

September 23 (Tue)

Arriving in Honolulu on a morning flight, hotel check-in wasn’t available yet, so I left my luggage and headed out for a quick ride on my Brompton. It was the perfect way to shake off the fatigue from the flight, get used to riding in Hawaii traffic, and—best of all—start enjoying the island’s breathtaking scenery from day one.

In the evening, we headed to ASAHI GRILL, about a 10-minute bike ride away, for oxtail soup and rice. It’s incredibly comforting and really restores your energy—highly recommended.

September 24 (Wed)

I woke up a little later than usual, went for a light jog, and then headed out for a slightly late breakfast. The destination was Liliha Bakery at Waikiki’s International Market Place. Their dish called Two Eggs—a classic fried-egg set meal—is unbelievably good. You can choose sides like sausage or bacon; that day, I went with Spam. I like to finish it off with a splash of soy sauce, some black pepper, and a few drops of Tabasco.

Later that day, I had a few remote meetings with Tokyo. I wrapped things up by around 5 p.m., then wandered through Waikiki. I stopped by Waikiki Market—which I jokingly call Honolulu’s version of Seijo Ishii—and picked up a few souvenirs, including some handmade soap.

September 25 (Thu)

On the third day, I headed to downtown. By bike, it’s only about a 20-minute ride. Along the way, I stopped at Bac Nam, a Vietnamese restaurant famous for its crab curry. The curry, packed with generous chunks of crab and vegetables, is served with a baguette. It’s richly spiced yet gentle in flavor—absolutely delicious.

In downtown Honolulu, there is the Hawaii Izumo Taisha Mission. Thinking about how generations of Japanese Americans have cherished and preserved this place is deeply moving. The guardian lion-dog statues were especially charming.

One of my top recommendations in downtown is Roberta Oaks Hawaii, a well-curated select shop offering stylish accessories and aloha shirts. I happened to discover it by chance last year, and the soap I bought there was such a hit that I had to come back again this year. I instantly fell in love with a bag from the West Coast brand graf lanz, debated for about ten minutes—and then bought it.

September 28 (Sun)

Let me state this outright.

The Honolulu Century Ride (HCR) is the best ride event in the world when it comes to breathtaking scenery.
The sunrise over Diamond Head, the steep mountains that let you feel the raw energy of the earth, and above all, the endlessly beautiful ocean—each view is powerful enough to change your life.

And yet… I can’t help feeling that just how incredible this event is hasn’t quite reached everyone. That may be because the 160km distance sounds fairly hardcore, giving the impression that only serious road cyclists can take part.

But in fact, HCR offers shorter-distance entries as well. And honestly, it’s those who think “cycling might not be for me” that I want to encourage to try them. I want more people to experience this illusion of scenery so spectacular it can truly change your outlook on life.

I’ll admit that when I first entered three years ago, I approached the 160km ride with a fair amount of determination—training seriously and preparing myself mentally for the challenge. Long rides are a kind of adventure in their own right, and there’s nothing wrong with that. But I began to wonder if there wasn’t a more relaxed way to enjoy HCR too.

So this year, I decided to take it easy and ride the 80km course.

After all, HCR is an out-and-back course to Swanzy Beach Park, with the return route mostly retracing the same roads. That’s when it hit me—why not just ride the way out? A bit of a cheat, perhaps, but a tempting one.

At 80km, even people who don’t ride regularly can manage the distance with a little effort. Wanting to keep things casual, I wore a T-shirt and shorts, chose sneakers instead of clip-in shoes, and rode a Brompton. The whole setup felt more like a relaxed neighborhood spin than a major event.

So how was it?

Simply put—it was incredible.
In fact, I started to think that choosing 80km might actually be the best way to experience HCR.

This year, new scenic sections were added, and I found myself completely absorbed by the ever-changing views. I reached Swanzy Beach before noon, and still had plenty of time afterward. Back in Honolulu, I enjoyed beef stew at my favorite diner for lunch, and steak for dinner. After all, with the number of calories burned on the bike, it’s basically zero calories, right?

So with that, let me introduce the Honolulu Century Ride 2025—an experience where you can savor world-class scenery to your heart’s content.

6:15 a.m.
We roll out from Kapiolani Park, riding straight toward the rising sun. Right after the start, the pack is still tightly grouped, and we pedal through a sea of gently swaying red tail lights. That surge of excitement in the opening moments of a ride never gets old, no matter how many times you experience it.

The first truly spectacular viewpoint comes about five kilometers from the start: the Diamond Head lookout. Reached via a gentle climb, it’s also the course’s first Instagram-worthy spot. If time allows, take a moment to stop and watch the sun slowly climb higher. The sky glowing orange, the waves shimmering as they reflect the light, and the scenery changing by the second—this fleeting moment is, quite simply, priceless.

The soft whirr of freewheels fills the air, surrounding us in sound.

And as mentioned earlier, this year the course features an additional stretch of breathtaking scenery. Around 20 kilometers from the start lies a road overlooking Hanauma Bay—and it is truly spectacular. Because the road is narrow, it’s normally off-limits to cyclists, but with traffic fully closed for the event, riders are able to pass through. In fact, several local riders said they entered the event specifically because this stunning section was included—it’s that appealing.

This scenic highlight comes just beyond a long, steady climb. As you grind your way up, pedaling and catching your breath, the view suddenly opens up before you.
At that instant, the beauty is so overwhelming that your heart skips a beat—and you can’t help letting out an audible “wow.”

In previous years, this part of the course ran through inland urban areas. To be honest, it was a bit monotonous for an early section of the ride. But with the addition of Hanauma Bay, the route now delivers a breathtaking one-two punch: Diamond Head followed by Hanauma Bay. The ocean, hazy white with crashing spray, and the towering mountains beyond—putting it modestly, it’s scenery that truly makes your heart tremble.

After weaving our way downhill through this spectacular scenery, we soon arrive at the first aid station (AS), Sandy Beach Park. Set right along the shoreline, it’s a beautiful spot where you can relax and take in the view. Donuts, energy bars, and plenty of fruit—bananas and oranges—are laid out in abundance.

To make it through the 80km course, it’s important to take proper breaks at the aid stations. They’re placed roughly every 20 kilometers—at 20km, 40km, 60km, and 80km. Even though HCR is held in September, it can still be quite hot. Cycling burns far more calories than you might expect, and there’s still a long way to go. Be sure to refuel properly and give your legs a chance to rest.

The scenic highlights just keep coming.
Not long after Sandy Beach Park—around the 25 km mark from the start—you reach the Makapuʻu Point lookout overlooking Rabbit Island. By the time you arrive, the sun is already high in the sky, and the blue of the ocean grows ever deeper and more intense. Hawaii’s grand natural scenery never becomes tiresome, perhaps because it reveals so many different expressions.

The steep, rugged mountains are lush and green, often wrapped in clouds, giving them an almost King Kong–like presence. Being able to ride through such rich and dramatic nature is something only Hawaii can offer.

From here, the route follows the coastline for a while, then leads into what’s known as the “Jungle Road,” where dense, lush trees close in around you. When people think of Hawaii, they often picture the ocean, but riding through this rich, tropical forest—so thick it feels like King Kong might appear at any moment—is truly one of the ride’s scenic highlights. Surrounded by Hawaii’s overwhelming natural grandeur, you’re reminded of how small you are, and everyday worries begin to feel insignificant, replaced by a generous, open-hearted sense of calm.

Once you pass the 40 km aid station, the route mainly follows the highway. There are some gentle ups and downs, but this is the section where you can maintain the highest cruising speed of the entire course. By this point, you’ve fully adjusted to riding on the right side of the road, and you start to be more aware of the riders around you. Calling out “On your left” when passing, or using hand signals to warn riders behind you about rough pavement—being able to communicate like this adds an extra layer of satisfaction to the ride.

By the way, riding a Brompton often prompted comments like, “I can’t believe you’re doing this on such small wheels.” Chatting with people from all over the world while riding is one of the great pleasures of the HCR. On the saddle, everyone is a fellow rider. Don’t hesitate to strike up conversations and make new friends along the way.

The final scenic spot is the coastal stretch in the last 5 km. The road runs right along the edge of the sea. It’s often called a “reward” for reaching the end, as you can ride with the stunning ocean right beside you. From here to the finish, the road is flat. Five kilometers pass in no time, so be sure to take in this last breathtaking view.

11 a.m. Reaching the finish line amid cheers from local high school girls. Along the way, you stop to take photos, pause to admire the breathtaking scenery, and savor delicious coffee. Even so, you can reach the finish in just five hours. Turning back from here would require some serious determination, but the sense of accomplishment is immense, and it’s really the perfect distance.

Completing 160 km can leave you pretty exhausted. But at 80 km, you get a good workout without reaching the point where your body just won’t move.

If you finish the ride by noon, you can head back into town and still enjoy half a day of activities. This time, I went to one of my favorite diners, had loco moco and beef stew for a late lunch, and polished off a steak in the evening. The great thing about a ride is that afterward, you can eat plenty without any guilt.

Going all out for 160 km is great, but this 80 km ride was pure fun, letting me fully enjoy the stunning scenery at a relaxed pace. Even if you’ve never cycled before, you can easily join with friends or a partner. Honolulu has plenty of rental bikes, and you’re bound to experience a side of the city you’ve never seen before.

🚴‍♂️Honolulu Century Ride 2025 Trip Notes from Five Riding Duos
01 – 5 nights, 7 days / with a friend of 50 years.
02 – 5 nights, 7 days / Riding 80 km in Honolulu with My Two Schoolgirls
03 – Two Nights, Four Days: A Gentle and Beautiful Ride with Friends
04 -5 Nights, 7 Days / Life-Changing Views…Why the 80km Course Is the Best Way to Experience Hawaii— My Third Journey to Honolulu —

Profile

Daisaku Kawase
He is a Free Producer, the Representative of Days Co., Ltd, Global Ride Communication Director.
Born in Aichi Prefecture. With 16 years of road cycling experience, he loves scenic rides. He squeezes in rides between work and travels all over Japan with his bike. His beloved bike is a Trek. After working as a producer on programs like “Ariyoshi no Okane Hakken Totsugeki! Kaneo-kun,” “Oyasumi Japan Nemuiine,” and “Asaichi” at NHK, he became independent in 2022. In addition to producing programs, he also handles project production for government and corporate clients.

Post Date：2026.01.05