Hawaii’s largest city, Honolulu hosts the Honolulu pride celebration each year, now that it is held in mid to late October.
Since 1990, Honolulu Pride has organized the Honolulu Gay Pride Parade and Celebration. This year’s date is October 22, 2016. The event includes a parade that departs at 11 am from Magic Island (oceanfront, just south of the Ala Moana Center, at the east end of the park), continues along the heart of Waikiki along Kalakaua Avenue, and ends near Kapiolani Park at the festival’s new home, Diamond Head Greens, adjacent to Kapiolani Park by the base of the iconic Diamond Head – this celebration takes place from 11 a.m. at 8 pm
Also note that several related events take place during the weeks leading up to Honolulu Pride, including Maui Pride (September 30-October 2), and then in Honolulu and Waikiki between October 9 and October 22. October, karaoke night at Chiko’s Tavern, and parties at various venues including Scarlet, Tapas Lanai Bar, Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club, Bacchus Waikiki, In Between Waikiki, Club 939, LGBT Center in Waikiki, Hula’s and much more. .
Check the schedule on the official Honolulu Pride page for details on each of these events, or download the Official Honolulu Pride Guide in PDF format.
Looking for tips on nightlife? Take a look at the Honolulu Gay Bar Guide.
Previously held on the same weekend as Pride, the 27th Annual GLBT Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival has also moved, but is now held in August (2016 dates are August 6-28, and you can view a full schedule of screenings here), with screenings throughout the month at the Honolulu Museum of Art’s Doris Duke Theater (900 Kinau St.).
Looking for a place to stay in Honolulu during Pride?
LGBT-supporting Aqua Hotels & Resorts offers a special 15% discount to gay and lesbian travelers heading to Honolulu for Pride. The deal also includes a complimentary mai tai cocktail at Honolulu’s popular gay bar, Hula’s. There are several fabulous Aqua properties in the heart of Waikiki, some of them located on or very close to the Honolulu Gay Pride Parade route, including Aqua Oasis, Hotel Renew, Aqua Bamboo, Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club, Aqua Waikiki Pearl, Aqua Pacific Monarch, Ewa Hotel Waikiki, Park Shore Waikiki, and many others, most of them with fairly reasonable rates by Honolulu standards.
More Hawaii Gay Pride Celebrations
There are other Gay Pride events in Hawaii as well, including Kauai Gay Pride in June, Big Island Gay Pride in Hilo in July, and Maui Gay Pride in early October.
Honolulu Gay Resources
DiscoveringHawaii.com also has a helpful guide to gay travel in Hawaii, and GoGayHawaii.com is a helpful guide to pride in Hawaii. Take a look at my gay guide and gallery to Honolulu and Waikiki for more ideas on where to stay and what to do. Also explore the excellent site produced by the Hawaii Convention and Visitors Bureau for general assistance with travel planning.
