Podium Raceway Hawaii

Good thing we called first… they got bought out. Under new management… Your coupons are no longer valid.

Had a great time at a company event! Thanks to Sage and team for taking care of us. Check in was easy. Our room was nice and cool. We got three races in and had lots of fun! Check out Podium Raceway for your next event, rainy day or date! Good fun!

Racing was cool but the kids running the place allow their friends to act like complete fucking idiots on the track… like ramming into other drivers & forcing other drivers off the track… the only reason we ended up coming here is because we had an Go Oahu card which apparently is not valid here after 5:30pm even though that is not advertised anywhere. But whatever, we didn’t drive all the way out here to walk out over 20 bucks.
We decided to do the Mini Golf too, it seemed cool until we went into the room & seen the joke that they just charged us for. OMG & the chick at the Counter seemed bothered we didn’t know where this COSMIC PUTT PUTT COURSE was. And then she left the door wide open so kinda took the COSMIC out of it since the bright lights ruined it all.
Despite everything I stated above, what really ruined our experience was the workers not being friendly at all. They really make you feel like your’e interrupting their day.
*THIS WAS THE ONLY TIME WE EXPERIENCED UNFRIENDLY & RUDE SERVICE IN AN ENTIRE WEEK IN HAWAII… AND WE WENT TO LOTS OF PLACES.
NO MATTER WHAT, WE WILL NOT BE BACK!

I like this place and go there fairly often. There are a lot of ways around some of the opportunities mentioned in other reviews. As follows
Price. First time your there get a track pass. Then watch for the 2 for $ 25 days. Depending on the month it’s usually Mondays one month then Tuesdays the next. You can store your purchased rides on your track pass for later use. Another way buy 10 rides for $ 100 from Costco. If your going with a group you can split the rides up.
The $ 2 Cosmic Racing gee wiz it’s $ 2. I guess that’s a sore number with people considering I seen a kid chase John Cusack around for a whole movie when he didn’t want to pay $ 2
The wait time. Just enjoy quality time with friends or family. Watching other people drive like fools with no control is half the fun. So many crashes… people are crazy. It makes waiting go by faster.
Customer service. I guess I have more patience than some. But considering this is America I can understand how some people want things fast and have their butt kissed and ego polished every second of the day. I don’t know they have always been nice to me
Limited food options. Bring your own food! They don’t mind they know the food options are limited and have never been bothered by people bringing pizza, bentos or maybe a spicy tuna don from Sushi Bay? And feel free to bring your own beverages as well.

1) read ALL signs posted
2) it’s not bumper cars
3) safety is first, if you are being reckless then you won’t have fun
4) remember to sign up after every race. If you don’t then you won’t get put into another race. The cashier might do it for you if it’s slow and you didn’t remember to do it, but it’s not her job to do so. Keep that in mind**
5) there is a $ 2 cosmic fee, added to ALL Purchased races (even if you already paid for it, cosmic was NOT included)
6) don’t complain about waiting… about 15 minute time slot per race, if there are three groups of people then the wait is around 30 – 35 minutes. That’s how the wait time is estimated. Rember that it is an estimation, if it ends up being longer it’s because the racers ahead of you are driving slow or messed up the track so they have to fix it
7) go oahu cards don’t work after 5:30, it’s on the go oahu website, it’s go-oahu’s fault for not putting it on the email. Not Podium raceway!
8) if you want good customer service then be a good customer. If you’re happy then they’re happy. If you’re mad then they’re mad.
9) food. Nachos pizza and hot dogs. They cook it fresh every time so it takes about 15 minutes.
10) price… $ 25 per race. It’s understandable, car parts and electricity aren’t cheap
Don’t use a dress, and don’t use a sweater. That’s all I’ve got to say!

Getting their around noon wasn’t all so bad considering that we had to feed the babies first. The waiting wasn’t all that bad either. The only thing that sucked was that knowing before we left our house that our babies wouldn’t be able to ride with us and we had no sitter for the day. But it all worked out for my husband and I because we came with a group and they helped take care our babies. The experience of riding though felt care-​free and a little dangerous but exciting and fun. I wouldn’t mind going again with a whole bunch of people and the next time without the babies.

This place is horrible. We bought a 2 for $ 25 deal from MWR. We were charged an extra $ 2 per race for them to turn ON the lights around the track and we had no choice but to pay it PER RACE. Ridiculous. Then we waited over an hour for each race– it’s a Sunday night and there is hardly anyone here. Horrible. Do not waste your time or money at this place!!!

Amazing fun! Not bad prices, not too many food options but food is made fresh as you order, it’s a clean place, and they have their own DJ!

Love this place. When you got there early you can race with only your friends it gets busy and it can get costly if you continually ride.
We only did one ride but had fun. If I decide to go regularly I’ll look into what kind of specials they may have. Enjoy!

We were the first customers of the day. Pleasant workers. Good race. More things to do for the kiddies, cosmic golf. Racking for the older kids and adults

Since the first time I came here, they have definitely upped their game. I came here recently (2÷8÷14) with my coworkers for our company outing (yes, my coworkers and I were very fortunate to have an awesome company to work for). Just to make you all aware of the situation that happened on Saturday the computers shut down for 30 minutes. I give the staff mad props for handling the crowd and trying to accommodate everyone. I understand how it feels to be working with computers — so for them to try their best in tough situation is all that matters.
Anyway, after everything got situated I just want to give a shout out to Briana. Thank you for helping my sister and I be added to our group’s race despite it being so busy. Also, thank you for being so patient. Great service and awesome with customers! Loved her personality and she was so easy-​going which made my visit even better.
OK, now on to my review. Podium really did change a few things since the last time I was here. I was appreciative of the fact they change the tracks because this one had more turns than the track on my last visit. At least they take the effort to change up the track so that you have a variety of experiences. I did not know they change the track, but I’m glad I know now. Hopefully on my next visit I get to experience a different track.
Also, if you’re competitive and you bump someone into the sides of the tracks, they have one guy who drives around fixing the track by «bumping» the sides back into place. It’s pretty neat to watch, especially when they reverse the go-​kart back into the pit (never seen that on my last visit).

Horrible service! Had to wait 2 hours for the two guys socializing on the track to set it up. The arcade game I tried took my money, and didn’t work! Went once before and it was pretty fun. Wouldn’t recommend it!

Woohoo!!! This place is awesome!
Where to start… I could imagine this place getting super crowded on the weekends, but during the week is where its at. It was my first time at Podium, so when I first got in I had to register at the computers by the door. From there you can go to the register and sign up for you races. AND!!! Costco has a Podium Race card for a great price. 10 rides for $ 100. It can be used multiple visits and can also be used for multiple people. Definitely a great deal, so look into that before going!
We start signing up for races and they keep you in you’re groups, so you don’t have to race people you don’t know. I liked this because it makes more competitive, and you don’t feel bad when you «accidentally» ram someone into the wall. If you’re using their helmets you put on this black mask to protect the helmets from you funk. You’re vehicle is assigned to you, so watch the screen for that. Buckle up and its race time!
You’re first started out slow to allow everyone to get on the track and get situated. Then comes the speed which is much faster than I thought it would be. Depending on which cart you get, you may have a little different feel, but they’re pretty consistent. Takes a couple races to really get a good feel for the track and the carts if its you’re first time.
To keep in mind when buying you’re race vouchers. For me, two races is fun, three is just nice, four is good, but you’re kinda over it.
We had a great time. My only wish is that I had come here sooner!

Podium Raceway Hawaii can be a pricy but very fun way to enjoy some fast paced fun. If you buy your ticket at the raceway, it is $ 25 for 14 laps but Costco is presently selling a 10 pack for only $ 100 making it only $ 10 each. We were there last Friday and it was very busy. The wait was over an hour because only 8 people can go at a time. It’s kinda fun to watch the more experienced drivers. There was one fairly loud crash involving 4 cars. Thanks to all the safety equipment, no one was hurt but it was a thrill to hear a loud bang!
Food options are very limited such as nachos but they didn’t seem to mind that we brought in our own food.

This place is super fun.
My friend had a groupon deal and asked me if I wanted to go with him. I’m all for fast driving so I figured it would be a fun experience. :) We got there soon after they opened and there was hardly anyone there. it was a weekeday so I’m sure it gets a lot more crowded on the weekends. The only other racers there were two guys that looked like NASCAR obsessed visitors complete with baggy jeans shorts and mullets. My first thought…“Eh, I can take these guys”.
After being prepped by the track guy on what you could and could not do, our race begins. So my friend isn’t really much of an aggressive driver so he’s kind of just casually going along while the three of us other racers are trying to tear it up. Well, it seems there’s this rule where the slower drivers get signaled to move over so the faster drivers can get around. I swear, everytime I came up to my friend and was getting ready to overtake him, the damn track official signals me to move over so one of the NASCAR freaks could get around me. This happened for five damn laps and the competitor in me was just boiling mad.
So after the race as we’re leaving, one of the NASCAR freaks (the one who came in first) signals to us and says «hey, they have the results printout you can look at». He had this I-​rule-​and-​you-​suck smirk on his face while saying it and all I thought was «DON’T MAKE ME GO TORETTO ON YOUR A$$!!!» UGH!
Anyway, this place is super fun and those little cars are pretty quick. The big tip would be don’t go racing with a slow-​poke friend.

So, my boyfriend surprised me by buying the groupon ($ 25 for two races for ONE person). I wasn’t too excited to go for some reason, but of course I didn’t want his money to go to waste and we went. To my surprise, I had a really great time. I’ve heard good reviews about this place and heard it gets busy, but lucky us, we pretty much had the place to ourselves. The staff was nice and the place was clean. The cars go pretty fast and have really good grip!
For first timers like us– As you enter the building you register yourself at the computers to the left, then you walk to the cashier where you pay for your races, then they call you up, you watch a short video on the rules and what not, then you grab your helmet and head sock thing before getting into your designated car. Then you go back to the cashier when you’re ready for your next race.
The process may be slightly different if it’s crowded, but this is how we went about.
I wouldn’t mind going here again someday, but I doubt this will become a hobby of ours because it’s a bit pricey!

Ranked 272 or 91,370 as of July 8^th
Simple Tips:
Wear covered shoes.
Bring your own (full-​face) helmet if you already have one.
Arrive early (avoid long lines! They open around 11:00am on weekdays).
Use the padded booster seat as a cushion for your back.
Do not leave when your wait time is an hour or less.
Make sure your whole party is registered by handing your track passes and IDs in at registration. Ask, «When should we be back?» or «How long until our race?»
Find a Groupon. 2 for $ 25 tax free will be as cheap as it gets.
Last but not least, PRAY you don’t get a moke in your group. Bumbai dey gonn talk like, «hoo brah, I was going soooo fast cuhz. I went lap diss guy. Took diss turn like ‘ERRR’ and turned back like ‘ERRR’ cheeeee.» — though it IS really funny to hear them talk.
—-
Location:
Though it’s in Kapolei, it’s actually a good opportunity to explore the area with your after you finish your races. Shopping area is cool. Plenty places to eat while you wait for long races.
Service (4.5 stars):
Depending on the time you go, there may be a crowd. I suggest going early to avoid the long wait. The people working there are usually really nice. Pit crew is getting increasingly better every time I go.
Equipment (3 stars):
Head Socks (ski masks — freshly cleaned), helmets, and neck rolls are provided. Though I have heard from my friends that there are people who sweat through the sock right onto the cheek pads. Bringing your own helmet is always nice. Although they have a nice selection of sizes, they once ran out of Mediums (the one time I didn’t bring my own helmet) and I had to use a Large. — I still won though, thank goodness.
Go-​Karts are dinged from a lot of crashes (which is expected). Some seat belts are faulty (gets loose while driving — not safe). Tires do not seem to be maintained in rare cases (threads showing — also not safe). Seats are stiff (use the booster seat — no shame).
Race (4.5 Stars):
Each race is 14 laps for adults. No more than 30 seconds (even for the slowpokes) each lap assuming no one crashes totaling 7 minutes per race.
If you’re in with the right group, your adrenaline WILL get pumping. My friends usually drink Starbucks… I don’t. I call an adrenaline rush my «Starbucks» and this place does it for me… EVERY time.
Overall:
Great activity for almost anyone. Groupons are your best option for price discounts considering they don’t charge you tax. However, you need to redeem them on weekdays only. I only come when I can find a good deal… it’s really tough for me to justify racing in go-​karts vs. something more real.

This review is based on my experience with KIDS…
I decided to bring my older son (8 years old) and his 2 cousins (12 year old and 10 year old) to podium. My baby also came along for the ride.
Tips:
(They allow outside food)
*Bring Food
*Bring Snacks
*Bring Drinks in a cooler
–They have a filtered water fountain (bring a container for water)
*Games
–Cards/​Board Game/​Chapter books
*Fully Charged Phone
If you forget all of this they have an ATM, snack vending machines, drinks for sale, and an arcade. The kids raced 3 times and we spent 3 hours there! We went on a school day. My child is enrolled in a year round school. Don’t worry I didn’t let him skip out. I expected it not to be busy because of a school day, so I spent over what I expected to spend to help keep the kids busy during wait times. After the first race we forgot to register again to participate in another race so we were set back 2 races.
Prices for Kids
TRACK PASS MEMBERS
1 Race for $ 15
3 Races for $ 36
(Purchase the pass if you intend to go here more then once, it’s only $ 6)
Other added Benefits of purchasing the pass
Use of Podium Raceway helmets
Use of Podium Raceway head socks
Use of Podium Raceway neck cushions
On line access to your racing scores
Makes your child feel cool because he has a podium card with his picture on it.
NON-​MEMBERS
1 Race for $ 20
3 Races for $ 60
The children get to race 9 Lap Race
Minimum age: 6 years old — 48 tall
Up to 25 miles per hour
ID card discount (Isle Discount Card)
15% off and guest
I got the military discount for April, two for $ 25. My nephews are tall enough to participate in the adult races. But my older son is still too short, so they stuck to the kid races. For the adult race the carts are bigger, they go faster, and they go 5 extra times around the track. If you think that your child can handle driving 45 miles per hour and be able to race with the adults this is a better deal.
The kids really enjoyed it. When I attended a Unilocal Elite sponsored event I had a total blast :) Despite the fact I was sidelined countless of times. I admit it is quite expensive if you don’t get a deal. I recommend coming with a friend who has an ID card or check Groupon, living social, or hot deals Hawaii for deals. These sites periodically offer a discount for the podium.

It was an adventure in itself to make it out here — we caravanned it out on Memorial Day and it was a toss-​up as to whether or not it would be crowded. I had heard from friends whom visited on the 4^th of July that they waited for over an hour to race but luckily we only had to wait about 15 minutes for our names to be called for pre-​race briefing.
What’s great about the venue is you can bring your own food and they’ve got lots of arcade games to occupy your time while you’re waiting for your turn to drive. Or as a first-​timer you can scare yourself shitless by watching the races (and sometimes loud crashes)!
These were pretend game-​faces, I was pretty nervous!
But it’s not so scary once you actually race… this is coming from the girl who came in 8^th place so I obviously wasn’t driving as fast as I coulda.
For those at my speed, keep in mind that when they wave the flag and point at you, they’re telling you to get the hell out of the way cause someone going fast is trying to pass you! I gladly complied!
Also, the helmet condoms are awesome, I was way more comfortable shoving that tight helmet over my face and hair knowing it was protected from the other skin cells and ukus that may have just touched it a few minutes prior. Sanitation!
You can still front like you were a winner by standing atop the 1^st place podium stand they have against the wall for pictures — who’s gonna say it ain’t so? …Unless you chose the option at sign-​up to have them post your results to your facebook wall!
#18/​365

Unilocal Challeng 365 #9/​365
I bough a ²⁄₁ groupon deliberately for my visiting niece and nephew. If you are not familiar with the Kapolei area, go during the day. Myself? Got lost even with broad daylight. Sheesh! that area has grown! In any case, we finally arrive at Podium Raceway.
There are monitors to the left of the entrance which you use to sign in. You need to do this in order to get your name on the list. DO NOT stand in line unless you’ve completed the forms offered by these monitors. Then, you stand in line. (We had a 30 minute wait and this is the lunch hour on a weekday!!!)
The line you stand is the pay line. They sell t shirts, hats, water bottles, and other novelty items if that’s what you’re in to. After you make your payment, you sit and WAIT until your name is called.
You are grouped in 14’s. Go pass the gate, into the fitting room where you receive basic instructions (the do’s and the do not’s) of the race track and they give you this black bag thing you put over your head. Covers your hair and protects the inside of the headgear which you must wear to run this track.
Now its time to get in your carts… Ready? Set! Go!!! The speeds are controlled though so you can’t go blasting out to the tracks. You are given 14 laps.
I’m looking at the leader board and notice my nephew is in 1^st place. I run to the sidelines and motion that he keep focus on the track and ussh him along. Now, I’m trying to take a picture of the leader board showing him in 1^st place and all of a sudden he’s #2. Forgetting about the pic, I get back to the sideline and motion he’d better get with it. (As if he could understand what I was saying…)
14 laps later, my nephew finishes # 2 and my niece #10. They both had fun (lots of fun) and the funniest part was he placed #2 to a young gal who definitely knew what she was doing. Right Keala?
Great place to go for kids (and adults). Only vending machines for snacks and drinks. I saw many with cups from Starbuck’s, McD’s, etc so I am guessing outside food and drink is permissible.
My next visit there will be to test my driving skills! LOL