Norman Tamanaha
Norman Tamanaha is considered the “Father of Distance Running in Hawaii.” Long before the running boom of the early 1970s, Norman dominated local races, was a key figure in promoting running in Hawaii through the Mid-Pacific Road Runners Club (MPRRC) and the Hawaii Masters Track Club (HMTC), and coached track at St. Louis High school.
Records indicate that Norman won the inaugural Hawaiian Amateur Athletics Union’s Marathon held on Maui in 1943.
His achievements at the Boston Marathon are noteworthy. An examination of results compiled by the Boston Athletic Association (BAA) reveals that Norman was the first Hawaii resident ever to compete at Boston, completing five marathons from 1952-1956. It wouldn’t be until 1965 that another Hawaii resident would run at Boston.
His five top twenty-five overall finishes came when he was between 45 and 49 years old:
- 1952 – 5th place (2:51:55)
- 1953 – 10th place (2:38:38)
- 1954 – 13th place (2:45:45)
- 1955 – 15th place (2:38:30)
- 1956 – 25th place (2:38:46)
During the 1970s, Norman competed in HMTC track meets and ran some fast times such as 18:40.6 for 5k (age 65), and 10ks of 41:36.0 (age 66), and 43.46.0 (age 67).
After he passed in 1977, HMTC sponsored the first Norman K. Tamanaha 15K Run in 1978 and is still one of Oahu’s most popular races.
