The 2005 Honolulu Marathon and its Race Day Walk generated more than $100 million in visitor spending, according to a study conducted by the Hawai'i Pacific University's Travel Industry Management program.

The study, funded by a research grant from the Honolulu Marathon, concluded that participants and their friends and family who came here for the events also contributed $4.4 million in state taxes.

The marathon and race day walk, held Dec. 11, drew 26,426 participants from outside Hawai'i, a 4.5 percent increase from the 2004 events. About 82 percent of visiting participants in the events were from Japan. The study noted that Japanese visitors spend close to $100 more per day than other visitors.

Last year's HPU economic impact study on the 2004 Honolulu Marathon and Race Day Walk, which drew 25,237 out-of-state participants, concluded that the events generated about $90.7 million in visitor spending.

The study is based on interviews with 1,385 visiting runners and walkers between Dec. 7 and Dec. 10.

Reach Lynda Arakawa at larakawa@honoluluadvertiser.com.