HONOLULU -- It will be an early morning Sunday for thousands of runners in the 33rd annual Honolulu Marathon.

For decades, thousands of people have been hitting the road every December to run 26 miles in the Honolulu Marathon. The event brings in millions of dollars to the state's economy.

Japanese are the biggest spenders and a driving force in the marathon. The sport is popular there. However, a weakened yen means fewer runners visiting from Japan.

Marathon officials have hired nearly 350 police officers to monitor the race. In addition, the Honolulu Marathon Association has hired five private ambulances for the purpose of attending to runners.

The 25,000 runners will weave through downtown, Waikiki and out to Hawaii Kai before snaking back. That means there will be major road closures and traffic slowdowns. Officials said residents in the area should plan ahead and expect delays. Road closures will begin shortly after midnight.

The race starts at 5 a.m. near Aloha Tower.