The water temps won't change much at Hapuna throughout the day. It will be warm after you jump in and acclimate. It has been warm so air temps will probably be high even early. If you easily chill, bring a long sleeve shirt or sweatshirt to transition. Once the sun rises you won't need anything.

Yes, you can grab bottles on the move. These are standard Gatorade bottles so if your mount hold them they will work. There will be a zone for discarding used bottles.

Wheel depth is personal. If you are a larger rider it shouldn't be too much of an issue if you're used to riding in the wind. If you are smaller or not accustomed to wind, maybe just bring the 404 front and call it good. This course can present a range of wind conditions. You never know what you will get. Generally, between MP 10 and 15 on the Akoni Pule Highway to Hawi is where the crosswinds can be heavy and varying due to terrain features. From MP 15 to the turnaround is typically a crossing headwind climb. There can be solid wind on the Queen K between Hapuna and the Kawaihae Hwy intersection. The thing to remember is the course is generally closed to traffic. It used to be fully closed, but the last few years there has been at least one tour bus come through during the race along the last 5 miles of the bike leg to Hawi. So you have an entire lane and shoulder for reacting to the wind. Just be careful around other riders. The Lance win year (2012?) the wind was the worst ever. Rode tilted for a lot of the upper part of the course and everyone did fine. Logistics would make switching a wheel on race morning difficult even if RD allowed it.

Ask the hotel if they will have a shuttle. You have a long trip to either the Mauna Lani parking shuttle or directly to T1 at Hapuna.

I raced this in 2013 and this was also my first 70.3 distance race. These are a few of my insights.

1. The water isn't too cold. However the swim is amazing. Spend a little time looking around the bay since the water is beautiful. It was the most beautiful race swim I have ever done. If you have a swim skin, wear that, if not no worries.

2. I would actually bring three bottles depending on the heat (If weather doesn't show heat 2 would be fine). Most people I talked to said they sweated more during this race than others. Myself, I was glad I had 3. But depending on your nutritional needs, it might differ compared to what they serve. Myself, I hate the Gatorade, so I bring my own liquid nutrition. You can toss your empty bottles at the aid stations after you fill/drink/ect,

3. I would suggest a more shallow front unless you are very use to crosswinds. There isn't really a way to swap wheels in the morning. Especially since it's a split transition.

4. That I don't know. Sorry

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we live in strange times where narrative has way more impact than utility or truth...
-SteveMc

To supplement the great answers you've already gotten and are still to get - may I suggest reading the IRONMAN 70.3 Hawaii Athlete Guide?

It has answers to all your questions (and then some), and should only take a few minutes of your time to read.

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Jimmy
http://www.Riccitello.com

FWIW, I rode the course this morning, and the wind was minimal - among the best conditions I've ever ridden it in. 808s front and rear were no issue; I'm 150 lbs.

Wind conditions here change frequently, though, so that's no guarantee of anything for Saturday. That said, I rode 808s in the windfest of 2012 when He Who Shall Not Be Named won it and I survived.

The thing to remember about your hydration on the bike here is that you are hydrating in particular for the run, which is almost always hot and brutal. The aid stations provide enough if you have two bottle holders - as long as you like Gatorade...

Have a great race!
Ian

http://www.prh.noaa.gov/hnl/pages/ZFP.php

is a good resource for the wind forecast - scroll down to "Kohala-including Waikoloa". I've found it to be very reliable. Right now it looks like light winds, which will be great for the bike but likely very hot on the run. I'm pretty sure there's no shuttle from the Hilton. You'll probably need some type of transportation to get to the Orchid for check-in, to Hapuna for bike check-in, and back from the Orchid after you've finished.

Have a great race!!

😀

Jimmy, speaking of the athlete guide, I was pretty surprised to see a guy, that looked like Pete Coulson, escorting a participant by bike on the run course yesterday. If he was an official or sanctioned escort I would have expected a helmet and volunteer shirt or vest. Things were more crowded out there on the two loop run course than with the past format so the bike stood out.

was there a new run course this year?

Yes. New course for Honu. Second major change since the race was first held. Before this year the run course was always a single lap. This year it was changed to a two lap format. I've heard two different reasons cited: construction was the first one and property owner road access was the second reason. There is no notable construction underway and no noticeable traffic on race day for the roads used for the former course.

I suspect the change was made for improved logistics. Some local participants actually suited up as volunteers and went back out after finishing for course cleanup work while the finish line performances stretched awards and WC slots out well past the scheduled event times.

With access around the resort area limited to shuttles and walking, the new run course does give racer supporters more opportunity to see their peeps racing the run course. I used to come here as support for my wife and had to really hustle to make it to various points on the course while avoiding infringing on the areas closed to anyone but racers.