It is a heartwarming event and anyone could easily participate and enjoy it.
The aim is for the event to be a fun and enjoyable one. There is no time limit and a 10km distance is also available.
This makes it easy for even beginners to run to participate, and people with disabilities can also participate.
In this article, we will introduce the life of Nami Kishida, who lives with her mother who is in a wheelchair due to illness, and her intellectually disabled brother.
We bring you the story of her and her family as they take on the Honolulu Marathon.
Nami Kishida
Author. After working as the public relations manager for a venture company for 10 years, she went independent.
Her essays on the blog service "note" have garnered attention and have been made into books and TV dramas. She was also selected for Forbes' "30 UNDER 30 JAPAN 2020" and "30 UNDER 30 Asia 2021."
Her books include "It's not that I love them because they were family, I loved them and they were my family" (Shogakukan), "I can't take it anymore diary" (Writes Publishing), and "It's because I get bored easily, it seems like love" (Kodansha).
X: @namikishida
Note: https://note.kishidanami.com/
I really, really hated the marathon.
I was desperately trying to think of a way to skip the school marathon.
There have also been times when I "warped" by running the shortcut unnoticed by my teacher.
Even though I ended up having to crawl under the fence and through the hedge, I really didn't want to run.
That's me!
The Honolulu Marathon!
I can't believe I have to run!
And with my family.
It all began 15 years ago in a hospital room.
"Even wheelchair users can run in the Honolulu Marathon!"
My mother said as she lay in bed.
She was diagnosed aortic dissection and had a narrow escape from death, but was never able to walk again.
At that time, all my mother thought about was dying.
Not a bolt from the blue, but across the ocean to Hawaii.
I wondered what it was, but it seems that she learned it from a fellow rehabilitation patient.
The sight of the person running happily with a wheelchair in Hawaii was a flash of light for my mother, whose future was completely bleak.
"Do you like marathons?"
"No way, no way, snail."
Dislike of marathons is genetic.
"But in Hawaii, I feel like I can run."
A love of Hawaii is also genetic.
For my mother, who was exhausted from the rigorous rehabilitation and had run out of savings to make her home barrier-free,
it was a distant dream. But my family motto became, "One day we'll run the Honolulu Marathon."
It was a moment that was engraved in our hearts. What is a family motto?
Time passed and it was 2023.
My mother has finished her fifth surgery. She had to spend the New Year in the hospital, but
she came back home in good shape.
The secret to good health is as you can imagine.
We had decided that once the surgery was completed successfully, we would sign up for the Honolulu Marathon.
"A full one is a bit..."
So it turned into a 10km run and walk.
Write my mother's name
"Only me is a bit..."
So I decided to run too.
I ended up running. I was fooled. I've never heard. I was attacked by the family precepts.
As I write my name, a thought suddenly occurs to me.
What should I do about my younger brother?
There was no way I was going to leave my little brother with Down's syndrome alone in the hotel.
My brother ended up running too.
The Kishida family's unusual journey in the Honolulu Marathon has been confirmed.
If it's for mom, yo‐heave‐ho!
Around autumn, my mother and I started practicing casually.
That said, I only went for a quick jog around the neighborhood, about 4 kilometers.
There was a feeling that I could do it.
by the way.
"Have you ever seen Ryota (younger brother) running...?"
"No"
Yes. My brother doesn't run. He doesn't run at all. He's the epitome of a laid-back guy.
Wherever he is, whenever he is, every move, he moves slowly. Sometimes he dances.
When we walk, he is behind us.
He never stand next to us. He follows us, keeping a certain distance.
He didn't even run when he and his mother were selected as torchbearers for the Tokyo Olympics.
He's dignified and slow. That's my little brother.
I have a bad feeling.
I tried to invite him several times, but he never joined in on practice.
December.
The Kishida family flew to Hawaii.
I love the moment when the plane heads off to greet the morning.
When my mother was no longer able to walk and began using a wheelchair, I couldn't even imagine flying overseas.
But now, I have no worries. My mother is sleeping soundly next to me, looking incredibly calming.
There are small wheelchairs available on JAL planes. Even after the lights went down and it was pitch-dark,
the flight attendant
"Please let us know whenever you need to use the restroom."
They said. At first I wondered how they could do that in such a small bathroom space.
However, my mother and I were surprised that we were able to slide right in with our wheelchair.
Even if there are barrier-free facilities such as restrooms and ramps,
flight attendants and airport staff always ask me how we want them to help us.
With each anxious journey to a foreign and unknown country, the feeling turns into a relief.
"Well, we can go."
It's a relief. Every time I see the JAL logo, I feel like I've found a reliable travel companion.
Arrived in Hawaii.
I think there is a kind of happiness in this world that can only be experienced when you arrive in Hawaii.
I want to jump in the ocean right now, eat a big steak, and shout aloha to everyone.
But.
This time, I'm in Hawaii for the marathon.
I came to the Marathon EXPO to pick up my bib number.
Ah, I want to swim.
Among the various booths, there was a corner where you could try out WHILL's electric wheelchair.
"It runs."
My younger brother muttered. I could see a glimmer of hope that maybe we didn't have to run by foot.
I want to do that too.
I was so excited to think, "Wow, I am actually going to run."
I was so nervous, wondering if I could actually run.
It all came together and I couldn't sleep well the night before.
December 10th.
A new morning has come.
It's a morning of hope. Or perhaps a morning of despair.
What's going to happen from now on?
The younger brother was the only one who was fast asleep, and he was full of motivation.
With light steps that seems to be able to run anywhere.
Unfortunately, he doesn't really understand the unit of 10 kilometers.
Even though it's only 4am, the area in front of Ala Moana Park is packed with runners.
I was nervously waiting for the start.
"Wow, it's Kishida-san! I read it all the time!"
People called out to me. Thankfully, several people did. Everyone was in high spirits. I was happy, but
Suddenly the tension grows.
Well, I have to run properly.
I don't know who's watching.
The starting fireworks were set off at exactly 5 o'clock.
At the same time, the road became congested heavily. So the runner traffic jams do happen..
There were too many people and I couldn't run. I just took some photos.
The contents published are accurate at the time of publication and are subject to change.
