The Gay Side of Waikiki
By Stan Jenson
Maui normally tops the lists as the most beautiful destination among the five Hawaiian Islands regularly visited by tourists. However, it is very quiet. If you want to combine lots of people with your beautiful scenery, head to the island of Oahu and the beaches of Waikiki.
A suburb of the capital city of Honolulu, Waikiki is the tourism center for Hawaii. It has more hotels, restaurants and T-shirt stores than all the other islands combined. That’s a mixed blessing. On the one hand, the large number of hotels means the best travel pricing and biggest selection of activities. On the other hand, there are some pretty tawdry and cheesy attractions, and lots of gawking crowds. Still, it is the only city on the islands with a significant gay community. So, if you want to mix your daytime sightseeing with some nighttime partying, Waikiki is your best choice.
GETTING THERE
Hawaii is a year-round destination, but it is in the northern hemisphere and shares a diluted version of our seasons. Therefore, you have a greater chance of rain in November than in June, and August afternoons can be quite humid. The legendary sunsets occur much earlier, in December rather than in July. These seasons are also reflected in travel pricing, with December often offering air and a hotel for what the air alone would run mid-summer. Check the travel websites for packages combining air and hotel, and remember that there are now nonstop flights from Orange County and Ontario as well as Los Angeles International airports. Beware that some of the hotels used in these promotions are bargains for a reason, and it’s always a good idea to seek the assistance of a travel professional in your plans.
When you arrive at the Honolulu Airport (HNL), a taxicab to Waikiki hotels typically costs around $30. There are frequent airport coaches for $9 one-way, or $15 round-trip. Car rentals are available, but parking in Waikiki is very difficult, and almost everything can be reached on foot or by public bus.
WHERE TO STAY
Waikiki’s hotels span every budget and taste — from high-rise ocean views on the beach to mountain-view rooms a few blocks inland. The only all-gay guesthouse, The Cabana at Waikiki, is a four-story building with 15 one-bedroom suites. Although it is located in a small, crowded laneway with absolutely no view, it is well maintained, with a friendly Jacuzzi, and a greation location near the gay beach and bars.
THE BEACHES
Waikiki Beach is surprisingly narrow by California standards. The distance from the sidewalk to the surf is usually fewer than 200 feet. However, it is rarely crowded, since all of the hotels have swimming pools. The gay beach, officially and appropriately called Queen’s Surf Beach, is adjacent to Kapiolani Park at the Diamond Head end of Waikiki. Depending on the tides, there is little or no sand to stretch out on, because the ocean touches the seawall that supports the park. Nevertheless, there’s great sunbathing on the grass of Kapiolani Park.
THE BARS
The legendary watering hole Hula’s Bar & Lei Stand on the second floor of the Waikiki Grand Hotel has an open-air front and faces a large park. You’ll get a sincere “island” feeling while you are there. The bar is open during the day, with free Internet to check e-mails and a casual group with whom to share a drink. It is packed every night, with a cover charge.
A few blocks away, Angles is a bit more of a neighborhood bar, featuring free Internet and a balcony with a view of the busy sidewalk. On Sundays, it sponsors an all-gay catamaran sailing, which is not to be missed.
Behind Angles is Tapa’s, a bistro. It is so small, in fact, that you feel like you’re visiting someone’s home.
Late nights, everyone heads to Fusion, the city’s only gay nightclub, which is next door to Angles. And all of the bars have a mix of gay women and men.
For more carnal satisfaction, Max’s Gym, Velvet Video and Suzie’s offer entertainment with an adult twist.
It’s a good idea to spend a day driving around the Waikiki. Moped rentals, snorkeling in Hanauma Bay, a sunset cruise and luaus have all earned their places as tourist must-dos, but the best part of a Waikiki vacation is just walking down the busy sidewalks with lots of gorgeous tourists from all over the world.