With unique parties, parades, and outdoor celebrations, plus special discounted flights, it’s time to celebrate pride in Hawaii this October. YOUR ex has all the details.
Honolulu Pride Month is just around the corner, promising a vibrant celebration of love, diversity, and inclusivity. Mark your calendars for the highly anticipated “Rooted In Pride: Homecoming” event on Saturday, October 21, 2023. Taking place in Hawaii’s largest city, Honolulu, this annual extravaganza is scheduled to align with LGBT History Month, National Coming Out Day, and Spirit Day. Honolulu Pride Month spans four weeks and offers a rich array of community events, parties, cultural gatherings, educational activities, and more. The festivities commemorate the spirit and resilience of the local rainbow community while fostering unity and acceptance. With each passing year, Honolulu Pride grows in scale, attracting locals, visitors, and allies from all walks of life.
Booking flights to Honolulu couldn’t be easier thanks to Hawaiian Airlines – who, for a limited time, are offering 7% off return economy flights for Honolulu Pride (departures between 12 October to 11 November).
One of the highlights of Honolulu Pride is the colourful and exuberant Honolulu Pride Parade. Drawing over 30,000 spectators and featuring 60 parade entrants, 115 moving units, and 1,500 participants, the parade has become increasingly lively and festive over the years, and 2023 looks to be the biggest yet! Kicking off at 11 am from Magic Island, the Parade traverses the heart of Waikiki along Kalakaua Avenue and concludes near Kapiolani Park. This eagerly anticipated event takes place on the third Saturday of October and serves as the grand finale of the two-week celebration dedicated to Hawaii’s rainbow communities and their allies.
Following the parade, the Pride Festival Day takes place at Diamond Head Greens, adjacent to Kapiolani Park. From 11 am to 8 pm, attendees can revel in live entertainment, captivating shows, and a full program of events. The after-party attracts more than 4,000 partygoers, creating an electric atmosphere of celebration and joy.
Honolulu Pride also encompasses a series of lively parties and engaging events, including the ever-popular White Party, Black Party, and various pool parties, so break out your speedos. Additionally, keep an eye out for special projects like “Rainbows Over Waikiki,” featuring 150 rainbow banners adorning the heart of Waikiki for two weeks leading up to the festivities.
While the gay bars in Honolulu are conveniently concentrated in the Waikiki tourist district, those seeking the city’s only dedicated gay dance club, Scarlet Honolulu, will find it downtown.
For beach enthusiasts, Queen’s Surf Beach stands out as the most popular gay beach in Hawaii, known for its stunning beauty and worldwide recognition. Located in the heart of Waikiki, this relatively secluded stretch of sand offers a more private setting without direct hotel frontage. As a result, you can enjoy the beach’s tranquil ambience with a predominantly gay-male crowd.
Prepare yourself for an unforgettable celebration of love, acceptance, and self-expression at Honolulu Pride. Join in the festivities, embrace the welcoming spirit of the island, and make memories that will last a lifetime. Honolulu Pride: “Rooted In Pride: Homecoming” awaits your presence!
Where to Stay:
Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club (surfjack.com).
Surfjack has a contemporary island style that brings the outdoors in with a to-die-for location in the heart of all that Waikiki has to offer. The friendly staff are dressed like they’re heading to the beach; the reception backs on to the open-air pool; and around it, people dine and lounge under atmospheric, warm lighting that makes you feel instantly relaxed. Gay watering hole Bacchus Waikiki (bacchus-waikiki.com) is located right next door.
Where to Eat:
Located in Honolulu’s Chinatown district, Fête (fetehawaii.com) won the James Beard Award for Best Chef (Northwest and Pacific) last year. These awards are an American take on the Michelin star, and Chef Maii (also Fête’s owner) is the first winner from Hawaii since 2003. Portion sizes are generous, and winners include the Steak Tartare with anchovy butter, Local Pork Ragu with rigatoni and house ricotta, and homemade Rocky Road Ice Cream.
Where to Visit:
Kualoa Ranch (www.kualoa.com) is 24 miles north of Honolulu and boasts 4000-acres of private nature reserve and a working farm. The ranch has been used as a filming location for Hollywood movies for 50 years, but its popularity dramatically increased after scenes for the original Jurassic Park were filmed there. Since then, Jurassic World, Lost, Godzilla, and Kong: Skull Island have all been shot there, along with countless others. Kualoa offers a range of movie tours, along with zip lining, horseback riding, and home-grown culinary experiences.
Get 7% off return economy class fares on Hawaiian Airlines Auckland to Honolulu. Departures 12 October to 11 November 23, subject to availability. Full T&Cs are available at hawaiianairlines.co.nz/honolulupride
