Celebrate the rainbow!
The Parade will begin at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 19, 2019. The Festival begins at 11:30 a.m. that day and goes until 6:00 p.m.
For gay travelers who love jaw-dropping beaches, a sophisticated cityscape, and all the fun and fanfare of Pride, Honolulu beckons! Hawaii’s most gay-friendly destination will play host to the 2019 Honolulu Pride™ Parade & Festival. Whether you come for a few whirlwind days or stretch your trip out to savor every drop of excitement, you’ll see there’s no better place to be this fall!
Honolulu Pride™ is the Aloha State’s largest and most spirited festival, bringing together gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, and allied communities. In 2018, this colorful, boisterous event featured more than 100 moving units with 3,000 participants, and was attended by more than 30,000 enthusiastic spectators.
This year, the parade will feature a contingent that commemorates the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in New York, often credited with beginning the modern LGBTQ rights movement.
Throughout the parade, you’ll see plenty of rainbow flags flying, drag queens dancing, and hula skirts swaying. What better place to celebrate Pride than a palm-tree-filled Pacific island paradise packed with fellow LGBT community members and allies?
Additional events from the upcoming Honolulu Pride™ line-up include a 5K, a Pride After Party at Hulas Bar and Lei Stand, and the Aloha Rainbow Classics Awards + Pool Party.
Hightailing it to Honolulu to relish in the raucousness, but want to make sure to pack as many experiences as possible into your itinerary? GayTravel.com has you covered! Read on to see our recommendations, plus ways you can save loads of money while sampling the best that Oahu has to offer, thanks to our Let’s Get OUT There!SM campaign partners Advantage Rent A Car and Aloha Hawaii Tours.
Get a stylish set of wheels
First things first: You need a way to get around once you land in Oahu! Head directly to the Advantage Rent a Car counter at the Honolulu International Airport to pick up your rental car, and prepare to be wowed by your savings. When you rent a car from Advantage using the promo code GAYTRAVEL, you get 20% off and a free additional driver! This generous discount is made possible by a partnership between GayTravel.com and Advantage as part of the Let’s Get OUT There!SM campaign, designed to save LGBT travelers money that they can donate to organizations doing amazing work for the gay community. This year, consider donating your savings to the Hawaii LGBT Legacy Foundation, which supports and empowers LGBT organizations and individuals in Hawaii and also organizes the Honolulu Pride™ event.
Keep your eyes peeled during the parade for the Advantage Pride Ride, decked out in rainbow colors and covered in plenty of reminders to use the GAYTRAVEL promo code for significant savings anytime you rent a car, anywhere Advantage is available.
Experience Oahu’s cuisine, culture, and nature with Aloha Hawaii Tours
Aloha Hawaii Tours, also a Let’s Get OUT There!SM partner, is your best bet for one-of-a-kind experiences showcasing Oahu’s stunning natural assets and rich cultural heritage. From snorkeling near the North Shore to visiting Oahu’s historical monuments and museums, these tours get you up close and personal with the island’s can’t-miss spots.
And the best part? You can save 20% on ALL of their tours when you use the “GAYTRAVEL” promo code while booking. Even more reason to partake in one of Aloha Hawaii Tours’ super-fun lūʻaus, where you can chow down on traditional Hawaiian cuisine with good company in gorgeous environs.
At the Diamond Head Lūʻau, Hawaii's only farm-to-table lūʻau, you can get hula lessons, make leis, try your hand at playing a ukulele, and more! As a bonus, each ticket to this lūʻau gets you exclusive access to the nearby Waikiki Aquarium.
To get a taste of the east side of Oahu, sign up for the Ka Maona Lūʻau, hosted at the Sea Life Park Hawaii, a marine mammal park, bird sanctuary, and aquarium located on a breathtaking stretch of coastline. Voyage through Polynesia with traditional music, dance, and the finest Hawaiian cuisine.
Take a fascinating Segway tour
Itching to see every corner of the bustling and beautiful Waikiki neighborhood? Sign up for a Waikiki Segway tour, led by knowledgeable and entertaining tour guides. Your two-wheeled scooter will take you to places like Magic Island Beach Park, Diamond Head, and Kapiolani Park, plus plenty of hot spots around the Waikiki area. You can even create your own custom, private Segway tour! And don’t forget to use the GAYTRAVEL promo code when you book to get your 20% savings!
Savor innovative cuisine at Oahu’s legendary dining establishments
Dining out is a huge part of any gay vacation, and lucky for you, there are plenty of flavors to keep your palate piqued in this seaside city!
At this new spot, well-known chef Vikram Garg, formerly executive chef at Halekulani, has created an elevated experience using carefully sourced ingredients crafted in a non-pretentious fashion. We’re gaga for the Kona abalone, which arrives in the shell with a miso-pepper crust, resting on briny ogo and sea asparagus. Another standout is the to-die-for Tomahawk ribeye, prepared in the Tandoor oven and served with a plethora of delicious chutneys and sauces.
Helena’s
Dying to try traditional Hawaiian food? Helena’s has been catering to tourists’ cravings since 1946. Head to this unpretentious spot and choose from several set menus that allow you to sample a variety of home-cooked dishes.
Tiki’s Grill and Bar
This award-winning seaside spot garners plenty of attention with its island décor, its eclectic menu, and its picturesque terrace overlooking the ocean. Come for Happy Hour specials and stay to soak in the good vibes with other travelers.
Recharge and relax at gay-friendly hotels in Honolulu
Looking for a chic base for your gay Honolulu adventures — maybe a place where you can decompress after long days enjoying the island? At GayTravel.com, we’ve rounded up a few of our favorite properties, each with its own unique style and amenities.
- Alohilani Resort, opened in 2017, offers a modern and tranquil oasis in the heart of Waikiki. You’ll love the 280,000-gallon Oceanarium, the sophisticated lobby lounge and bar, and the signature restaurant, Morimoto Asia.
- The Equus, a GayTravel Approved® boutique hotel on Waikiki’s upper west side, is convenient to one of the world’s largest malls and offers access to an unspoiled stretch of North Shore beach at its sister property.
Stay tuned for next year’s sweepstakes
Any trip to take part in Honolulu Pride™ is magical, but imagine doing so with free airfare, lodging, tours, attractions, and more! For 2020 Honolulu Pride™, we’re planning a sweepstakes with a VIP trip to next year’s event as a grand prize. More details forthcoming, so stay tuned! Click here to register to be one of the first to know how to enter.
