On a serene Hawaiian morning, hundreds of community members gathered at Four Seasons Resort Hualālai to cultivate change and hope for a world without cancer. This annual fundraiser traces its roots back to the 1980s, when Four Seasons founder Isadore Sharp supported Terry Fox—a young man who attempted to run across Canada on a prosthetic leg after losing his own to osteosarcoma. Mr. Sharp was deeply familiar with the heartbreak of cancer, having lost his own son to melanoma. The story of a young man giving his all to raise awareness and funds for cancer research is what continues to weave a special bond between Four Seasons and the Run for Hope. The Four Seasons’ efforts raised $1.8 million in 2025.
“It is within our Four Seasons DNA to fight against cancer,” says Charlie Parker, regional vice president and general manager of Four Seasons Resort Hualālai. “I’m a big believer in these events that knit communities together. I’ve seen the power of fundraising in its ability to unify.”
The weekend-long event appeals to all crowds and offers community members a chance to be part of the solution. Events kick off Friday evening with a Taste of Hawaiʻi dinner and silent auction, followed by Saturday’s schedule of entertainment for runners, plus golf, tennis and pickleball tournaments.
6:30 a.m. Registration Begins
As the sun begins to peek over Hualālai, race participants gather near the resort grounds. Amid familiar faces, mothers with keiki in jogging strollers begin their pre-race stretching, while Charlie Parker joins the crowd with an energizing smile. Participants carefully affix their race bibs to their shirts, while others change into the commemorative 2026 gray Run for Hope T-shirt. The ambient sound of ocean swells and early-morning breezes sets an inviting tone as the grounds slowly awaken with excitement for the day ahead.
7:00 a.m. Pre-Race Blessing and Warm-up
The crowd gathers quietly around the start line, hanging on every word of the pule ringing out from the loudspeakers—a reverent moment that echoes the quiet hopes of everyone present. As the blessing concludes, an eager anticipation fills the air. Lively warm-up exercises and uplifting music begin, turning reflection into active purpose and sparking smiles across the crowd. The collective energy builds as families, seasoned marathoners and resort guests line up together under the crisp morning light for a unified cause.
7:15 a.m. The Race
Following the keiki dash, hundreds of participants stream across the start line onto a pathway dappled in golden sunlight. The course is simply stunning, winding through a manicured golf course, along a coastal trail lined with lava rock, and beneath a canopy of plumeria trees—surrounded at every turn by the effortless luxury of Four Seasons Resort Hualālai. The energy is electric as resort team members cheer participants across the finish line, offering cold towels and warm congratulations as runners celebrate their personal triumphs.
8:00 a.m. Breakfast and Awards Ceremony
An elegantly curated breakfast party awaits in the resort’s garden amphitheater. The buffet features elevated breakfast classics, tempting participants to fill their plates high with delicacies. Awards are presented to the top runners, followed by a raffle featuring coveted local prizes and stays. Athletes wait on the edge of their seats for their winning numbers to be called out. The event closes on a heartfelt swell of warmth, camaraderie and hope, leaving guests inspired by the island community’s unified spirit.