LGBTQ+ Guide to Honolulu
We visited Oahu for the first time during Honolulu Pride and had the absolute best time! We were invited by Alaska Airlines to March in the parade and it was truly an unforgettable experience. This trip also made us fall in love with Honolulu and even though we were only there for a few days, we did not want to leave. Since we visited during Honolulu Pride (which is in October), there were a lot of queer and Pride activations happening throughout the city. We got to visit a lot of queer spaces, attend queer events, and talk to the locals about their LGBTQ+ community. We thought Honolulu was very inclusive and welcoming and a great place to celebrate Pride!
Where to Stay in Honolulu
We stayed at the Kaimana Beach Hotel on Waikiki and absolutely loved it. Kaimana is Waikiki’s only beachfront boutique property, and it is a welcoming & inclusive place for all. We loved the beachfront access, ad also how it was in walking distance to downtown Honolulu as well. The property itself was gorgeous & so fun, and also had great food and cocktails.
Find other Honolulu accommodations here on Hotels.com!
How to Get Around Honolulu
There are a few ways to get around Honolulu: you can either rent a car, grab an Uber, or walk. Since we were only staying for the weekend, we chose to Uber or walk to get around and that was perfect for us! If you want to explore more of the island outside Honolulu, we recommend renting a car as it’s the best way to see everything. We always rent cars on Expedia because they are trustworthy and reliable! We have had some bad situations in the past renting cars in Hawaii, but Expedia never does us wrong!
Best Things to do in Honolulu
Swim on Waikiki Beach - one of the most famous beaches in the world! Waikiki is great for swiming, surfing, or jsut laying out on the beach. If you stay at Kaimana Beach Hotel you can also rent surfboard, paddleboards, and boogie boards for free from the hotel!
Go Shopping in Downtown Waikiki - Kalākaua Ave is where you can find great shopping & restaurants in Waikiki!
Watch the sunset on the North Shore - Uber to drive to The North Shore to watch the sunset. Lanikai Beach is a great spot to watch the sunset or just hangout on the beach for the day.
Grab a drink at Hula’s, one of Honolulu’s Gay Bars - Hula’s was so fun and such a vibe! Since we visited during Pride, Hula’s had a lot of fun events happening, but it’s still a great spot to grab a drink and support the local LGBTQ+ community.
Find tours & activities you can book in Honolulu on Expedia!
Where to Eat & Drink in Honolulu
Tane Vegan Izakaya
Sunrise Shack
The Pig & The Lady
Duke’s Waikiki
DECK
Hula’s
If you want to see exactly what we did during Honolulu Pride, make sure you check out our Honolulu YouTube video below!
Thank you to Alaska Airlines for inviting & hosting us on this trip! As always, all opinions are honest and our own. Some links on this post are affiliate links of which we receive a small commission, but the price is the same for you.