There are few Pride parade settings in the world more exotic than Honolulu.  Commencing in Ala Moana Beach Park, the parade continues along Kalakaua Avenue fronting Waikiki beach.  The Honolulu Pride parade ends in verdant Kapiolani Park in the shadow of Diamond Head, where the Pride festival takes place.  The parade kicks off October 15th at 10:00AM.  The festival runs until 6:00PM.   Full details and a Honolulu Pride calendar can be found at HonoluluPride.com .  

If you're looking for a fun place to meet other LGBTQ travelers from all over, I suggest taking one of the all gay catamaran cruises.  One is run by the Aloha Bears on Saturday October 9th.  Check out the Facebook page of the same name.  On October 15th, the legendary LGBTQ gathering spot Hula's sponsors an afternoon sail.  Hula's is one of the oldest gay bars in the country sporting open air views of Diamond Head and the Pacific ocean.  Check out Hulas.com for sailing tickets and a schedule of their events and very generous drink specials.

On Sunday October 16th Lei magazine sponsors the Pride After Party on Waikiki's most Instagramable pool deck at the Alohilani Hotel on Waikiki.  Proceeds from the event benefit the Hawaii Legacy Fund.  Besides organizing Honolulu Pride, the Legacy Foundation does all sorts of wonderful work for the LGBTQ community of Honolulu year round.  Tickets are about to go on sale.  Check with the Legacy Foundation directly.  More info on HonoluluPride.com .

The Alohilani is a major sponsor of the event, and an excellent choice should you choose to schedule your vacation around Honolulu Pride.  The stunning interiors were designed by the famed Rockwell Group.  My favorite choices for accommodations are the Diamond Head view or the deluxe  Oceanfront rooms.  Call me at Rainbow Voyages Travel to arrange your gay Hawaiian getaway.

And while you're in the islands, you'll definitely want to check out the GayIslandGuide.com . Besides publishing the most comprehensive LGBTQ guide to the Hawaiian Islands I've found, they also organize pool parties.  They'll be kicking off Pride week festivities with their Oasis Pool party on Saturday October 9th.  You can buy tickets on their site.

If you've ever wanted to travel solo to Honolulu, I couldn't recommend Pride week more highly.  There's plenty of opportunities to meet up with like minded travelers.  Just give me a call at (215) 462-2222 to arrange your vacation.

#HonoluluPride #LGBTQ #gay #travel #LGBTQHonolulu #gayHonolulu

Here's a new twist on air travel during these trying times.  Flights to Hawaii that both rarely cancel and operate close to schedule. They're the most reliable way to travel to the Hawaiian islands.  Even if you're connecting to these flights, you'll depart at the crack of dawn.  That's the sweet spot when your flights tend to take off!  And get this, you'll even fly on a more spacious plane and be served a meal.  Here's the deal!

UNITED AIRLINES:  United operates the most extensive network from the mainiand to Hawaii.  To Honolulu, on the island of Oahu, you can catch a United widebody nonstop from Newark, Washington DC/Dulles, Chicago, Houston, and Denver.  United flies a combination of 777's 767's, and 787's to Hawaii.
AMERICAN AIRLINES:  Another major player in the Hawaiian market, American offers 777's and 787's from their hub in Dallas/Ft. Worth to Honolulu.
DELTA AIRLINES:  Fly nonstop to Honolulu from their hubs in Atlanta and Salt Lake City.  Seasonal service is also available from Minneapolis/St. Paul, Detroit, and New York's JFK.  Delta fliers 767's and Airbus A330 aircraft on these routes.
HAWAIIAN AIRLINES:  Get a taste of the Hawaiian islands the moment you step onboard!  Hawaiian Flies A330 jets nonstop to Honolulu 5 times weekly from both Boston and New York's JFK airport.

Why are these flights so reliable?  Air cargo is extremely important in the mainland to Honolulu market.  And in the airline business, cargo gets a high priority. So besides Hawaiian vacation travelers, time sensitive shipments will also be on board.

So does all this reliability come with a higher price tag?  Of course!  We're talking about the airlines here.
You're paying for the convenience of a better schedule and a bigger two aisle plane.  Depending upon when, the tab can sometimes run a few hundred dollars more. Bear in mind Hawaii is a 10,000 mile round trip hop from the east.  So in the post pandemic air travel world, Hawaiian airfares aren't too terrible.
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Those pesky Hawaiian resort fees.  They love then in Hawaii.  But in all fairness they're nothing new, and Hawaii isn't the only destination that has them.  But they do make figuring the budget for your Hawaii vacation tricky. 
The reality of resort fees is that no matter how hotels make excuses for all the things they cover, in reality they're a rate increase.  The amounts range from a low of $20 nightly to $55, with most towards the high side, plus tax!  They're payable directly to the property in Hawaii.  They aren't included in advertised hotel rates.
But there are some properties that don't charge them.  We present them here courtesy of one of our travel partners, Pleasant Holidays.

​OAHU (Most hotels in Honolulu)
AULANI, A Disney Resort & Spa
Courtyard by Marriott Waikiki Beach
Courtyard Oahu North Shore
ESPACIO, The Jewel of Waikiki
Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko’Olina
Halekulani
Halepuna Waikiki by Halekulani
Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton Oahu-Kapolei
Marriott’s Ko’Olina Beach Club
Ramada Plaza by Wyndham Waikiki
Regency on Beachwalk Outrigger
The Kahala Hotel & Resort
The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach Hotel
MAUI
AC Hotel Maui Wailea
Aina Nalu Lahaina by Outrigger
Aston Maui Hill
Courtyard Maui Kahului Airport
Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea
Ka’anapali Beach Hotel
Lahaina Shores Beach Resort
Mana Kai Maui
Napili Kai Beach Resort
Napili Point Resort
Napili Shores Maui BY OUTRIGGER
Palms at Wailea Maui BY OUTRIGGER
Puunoa Beach Estates
Residence Inn Maui Wailea
Royal Kahana Maui BY OUTRIGGER
The Westin Ka’anapali Ocean Resort Villas
The Westin Nanea Ocean Villas

KAUAI
Castle Kaha Lani Resort
Castle Kiahuna Plantation & The Beach Bungalows
Kiahuna Plantation Resort Kauai BY OUTRIGGER
Lae Nani Resort Kauai BY OUTRIGGER
The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas
Timbers Kauai Ocean Club & Residences
ISLAND OF HAWAII
Castle Kanaloa at Kona
Fairway Villas Waikoloa BY OUTRIGGER
Four Seasons Resort Hualalai
Mauna Kea Beach Hotel
Mauna Lani Point
Royal Sea Cliff Kona BY OUTRIGGER
The Islands at Mauna Lani

Hawaii most certainly has earned the distinction as a Pacific foodie destination.  And it's much more than the "east meets west" kind of affair your parents might have sampled on their Hawaiian honeymoon.  There's a large and varied multi-cultural mix of chefs and cooks concocting new creations in the kitchens of the Hawaiian islands.

So here's the 2022 Hale Aina Awards list as compiled by Honolulu Magazine.
Gold Winner - Nature Waikiki
The chef describes the cuisine as sustainable Island French.  Besides the regular menu, there's a tasting menu that can be enjoyed at the Chef's table that offers a choice between regular and plant based plates.
Kuhio and Seaside Aves, near the Hyatt Centric Waikiki
Silver Winner – Bar Maze
​Here's a unique twist!  Bar Maze is an innovated, integrated culinary and cocktail experience by Justin and Tom Park, the duo behind the award winning cocktail bar, Bar Leather Apron in Chinatown.
604 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu
Bronze Winner - Queensbreak
The Waikiki Marriott's newly renovated pool deck is home to Queensbreak, their open air dining experience.  The new dining spot is open all day, and features entertainment starting at 530PM.  Make a day of it by purchasing a pool resort pass at an additional charge.
2552 Kalakalua Ave. Waikiki
Finalist – Huihui
Maui's Kaanapali Beach Hotel is the Home of HuiHui, open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  This stunning new restaurant affords fabulous views of the Pacific.  Cuisine is Hawaiian inspired.  
2525 Kaanapali Pkwy, West Maui

Hawaiian weather causes a lot of confusion for the uninitiated.  In most travel destinations, the higher the hotel and air rates, the better the weather.  That's not the case in Hawaii.  American school holidays and Japan's Golden Week, typically from the end of April to the first week of May determine the levels.

Basically Hawaii is two seasons, Summer and Winter.  While the temperature is pleasant year round, it does get warmer in the summer.  Winter brings rainfall, though it is unlikely your vacation will be a washout.  Hurricanes are a rarity in Hawaii due to atmospheric conditions and trade winds.  Keep in mind that the Hawaiian islands are the only significant land mass in the 2500 mile stretch of Pacific from California.  So Hawaii contains many microclimates.

The following link is the best I've found charting the variations in Hawaiian weather.  But throwing climate change and Mother Nature into the mix, there are no guarantees.

For Hawaiian weather charts and comparisons for all the islands CLICK HERE.