Despite the rain, women and girls of all ages laced up their shoes and lined up at Kapiolani Park today for the 46th annual Hawaii Pacific Health Women’s 10K & 5K Fun Run. Nearly 1,000 participants registered for this year’s race. This morning, community partners, supporters and volunteers cheered as participants made their way through Diamond Head and Kahala.

The state’s only all-female sanctioned race began at 6:30 a.m., just after sunrise. Akiko Patterson from Hawaii Kai was the fastest to cross the finish line at Kapiolani Park, clocking in at 43 minutes, 53 seconds.

“I always wanted to do the HPH 10K race, but I was always traveling or something so I wasn’t able to do it,” Patterson said. “But this year, I got an opportunity to run and I was so happy that I was able to win.”

The 5K Fun Run, which draws many younger runners, started 30 minutes after the 10K began. This year’s 5K winner was one of the race’s youngest competitors. 12-year-old Quinn Turner ran the 3.1 miles in 21 minutes and 44 seconds to take first place. Quinn’s mom, Crystal Turner, finished close behind and claimed third place with a time of 23 minutes and 59 seconds. The mother and daughter, who are visiting from Orange County, California, only signed up yesterday when they learned about the race.

“I think it was really cool and motivating as you’re running by because all these women are on the side cheering for you,” Quinn said.

“This morning, when we walked up to the park, she said to me, ‘Mom there is such a vibe,’ because we walked up to Beyoncé singing ‘Run the World (Girls),’” Crystal said.

Several participants ran together as mother-daughter duos, including Jaime and Sydnie Sambueno of Aiea. It has been a decade since Jaime ran this race, but she returned this year for her daughter’s first Women’s 10K.

“This is my first race running with my mom,” Sydnie said. “She’s done it before, but to run together it means a lot, especially because she’s my best friend. We’re doing it together—we’re both excited.”

Catherine Chang won the 2024 Martha B. Smith Award, which recognizes the HPH employee with the fastest time for the Women’s 10K. Chang finished 20th overall with a time of 52 minutes and 19 seconds.

The top three finishers in each age division were recognized in an awards ceremony following the race. There were a total of 15 age divisions, from 14-years-old-and-under to 80-years-old-and-over. Awards were also handed out for the fastest finishers in the following categories: stroller, teams of three, military, corporate challenge, school challenge and HPH employees.

All participants received a rose, commemorative medal, finisher’s T-shirt and souvenir bag.

Captions

Photo (top): Some of the HPH Women’s 10K and 5K runners. 

Photo (inset): 2024 Martha B. Smith Award winner Catherine Chang.

Photo (bottom):  Top 10K finishers Akiko Patterson (center), Patricia Luksich (left) and Luci Searels (right).