Hawaiian Travel this Fall

[ICTJOCK]

Hey guys,    so I'm thinking of finally taking a trip to Hawaii with a friend of mine.    We originally planned it for 2020,  but then COVID  hit and everything went to hell.

I'm planning on cashing in some of my credit card points and after a little review I can see I lost  (not gained ground,  even with purchases since).    I've always heard that a trip to Hawaii was best planned in October or early November during the off season.     Just wanted to get your take on:

1.  Is my understanding correct that October and early November is best?

2.  Good hotels to stay,  that are cost effective.    I don't want something that is dirt cheap,  but a good value for the money and reasonable.

3. I know nothing about the gay district in Honolulu.   What are some good places to see in the gay district?

I may decide to do some escort business while there,  we'll see.   Wanted to get my travel down in advance.    Thoughts?     Thanks much.

[CuriousByNature]

4 hours ago, ICTJOCK said:

Hey guys,    so I'm thinking of finally taking a trip to Hawaii with a friend of mine.    We originally planned it for 2020,  but then COVID  hit and everything went to hell.

I'm planning on cashing in some of my credit card points and after a little review I can see I lost  (not gained ground,  even with purchases since).    I've always heard that a trip to Hawaii was best planned in October or early November during the off season.     Just wanted to get your take on:

1.  Is my understanding correct that October and early November is best?

2.  Good hotels to stay,  that are cost effective.    I don't want something that is dirt cheap,  but a good value for the money and reasonable.

3. I know nothing about the gay district in Honolulu.   What are some good places to see in the gay district?

I may decide to do some escort business while there,  we'll see.   Wanted to get my travel down in advance.    Thoughts?     Thanks much.

Haven't been to Hawaii in a while, but others I know who have been both before and since the pandemic have seen a doubling of hotel rates in some places, and triple in others.   You may need to prepare for some sticker shock...

[ICTJOCK]

5 hours ago, CuriousByNature said:

Haven't been to Hawaii in a while, but others I know who have been both before and since the pandemic have seen a doubling of hotel rates in some places, and triple in others.   You may need to prepare for some sticker shock...

I noticed.   I "lost ground"  with my points since 2020.    All my purchase points are still there and added every month,  but the cost overall has gone up by at least $500.00.   Not thrilled.

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

Honolulu is so bland.  If you want real Hawaii, I'd steer clear and pick a more unique island.

Kauai, Maui and Lanai are my suggestions. 

Maui could especially use the tourist dollar and as long as you stay away from Lahaina, the rest of the island is open and needs the business.

 

[ICTJOCK]

On 9/23/2023 at 10:50 AM, BenjaminNicholas said:

Honolulu is so bland.  If you want real Hawaii, I'd steer clear and pick a more unique island.

Kauai, Maui and Lanai are my suggestions. 

Maui could especially use the tourist dollar and as long as you stay away from Lahaina, the rest of the island is open and needs the business.

 

I friend of mine also discouraged a visit to Honolulu saying that the city isn't terribly attractive and the city has challenges   (but what city doesn't?)     I will definitely consider those ideas as decisions are considered!

[+ azdr0710]

last trip was to The Big Island and was my first to it......really found it fantastic because of the very wide variety of destinations and options:  not just a beach.......snow on Mauna Kea, running lava, human sacrifice altar, ranches, tidal wave museum, Captain Cook death site, snorkeling with turtles, coffee plantations, and a lot more variety   

[+ Vegas_Millennial]

23 hours ago, ICTJOCK said:

I friend of mine also discouraged a visit to Honolulu saying that the city isn't terribly attractive and the city has challenges   (but what city doesn't?)     I will definitely consider those ideas as decisions are considered!

If you go to Oahu and have a rental car, spend a day at Polo Beach, the only naked beach on the island.

If you go to Maui, check out Little Beach, one of my favorite nude beaches in the world

[ICTJOCK]

On 9/25/2023 at 12:29 PM, Vegas_Millennial said:

If you go to Oahu and have a rental car, spend a day at Polo Beach, the only naked beach on the island.

If you go to Maui, check out Little Beach, one of my favorite nude beaches in the world

I will do that,  any recommendations on gay areas of Honolulu to visit or is that really a not?

[ICTJOCK]

On 9/25/2023 at 11:30 AM, azdr0710 said:

last trip was to The Big Island and was my first to it......really found it fantastic because of the very wide variety of destinations and options:  not just a beach.......snow on Mauna Kea, running lava, human sacrifice altar, ranches, tidal wave museum, Captain Cook death site, snorkeling with turtles, coffee plantations, and a lot more variety   

Sounds awesome, Scott.   I should just be asking you travel input directly!   LOL

[Marc in Calif]

If you're intent on visiting Honolulu, here's some comprehensive info:

https://queerintheworld.com/gay-honolulu-travel-guide/

[Whippoorwill]

You probably want to check out RentMasseur / RentMen and see who's in town...there are a constant stream of visitors to Honolulu, and your dream boy from XYZ might just be there. And when you want to get your sleaze on, there is Velvet Video arcade in Waikiki...like all these places, experience varies the full gamut from great to terrible.  

[+ Vegas_Millennial]

On 9/29/2023 at 9:55 AM, ICTJOCK said:

I will do that,  any recommendations on gay areas of Honolulu to visit or is that really a not?

The "gay district" in Honolulu is the same as the generic tourist district, which is Waikiki.  All 4 gay bars on the island, and one video arcade, are in Waikiki within a few blocks of each other.  There is one gay night club, only open on weekends, in downtown Honolulu, but the reviews say most of its patrons are straight female tourists.  Most of the gay tourists I met for interaction were via Grindr or Growler in Waikiki, not at the bars.

Edited October 30, 2023 by Vegas_Millennial

[+ Vegas_Millennial]

On 9/29/2023 at 9:55 AM, ICTJOCK said:

I will do that,  any recommendations on gay areas of Honolulu to visit or is that really a not?

Hula's bar is the gay bar with the best view.  Get there in the afternoon to start drinking, and enjoy the view of Diamond Head from the 2nd floor bar open windows.  

[Guest]

The truth of the matter is that ALL the Hawaiian 🌺 islands are beautiful and unique and in my opinion not to be pitted against each other. Yes Kauai, Maui and its other islands  are splendid but Oahu is amazing in its own right, there's infrastructure there! I lived in Kaimuki for some time many years ago.... let's not forget Oahu's rich history, Duke Kahanamoku introduced the world to surfing... there's wonderful places to hike, if you want peace and tranquility you can find it, if you want night life it's there, there's the west side of Makaha, Nanakuli if you dare to see how Hawaiians live... be respectful, tread lightly and the same respect will be returned. I have friends there that are of Hawaiian 🌺 royalty ( the Kinimaka family ) I've competed in outrigger canoe paddling races for years, I surf Queens, I surf Ala Moana with zero issues.... flip the script, of course Waikiki is is touristic but it can be fun... having lunch or a drink at Dukes after a swim or surf NEVER gets old.... Honolulu is home to loads of AMAZING restaurants, it has something for EVERYONE, from Airbnb's  to 5 star hotels like the Halekulani, the Ritz Carlton.... 

As someone who speaks fluent Sāmoan, has a firm grasp on Hawaiian Pidgin and has been traveling to Hawaii for most of my life, I feel very safe and at home there. Again, be respectful and it will be returned. And it's also my opinion that every American who visits Oahu should visit Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona at least once in their lifetime and let's not forget the magnificently curated Bishop museum.  

Mahalo nui loa!