Oahu
Waikiki Beach, Oahu
Hawaii is the furthest you can get from our country, without crossing a border! With no passport necessary, Hawaii is the perfect destination for a tropical, exotic vacation, and it’s as gay friendly as you would expect. The Blue State is welcoming to all communities and backgrounds, and Oahu is the only island with a strong population of gay ex-pats, gay bars (like long-standing Hula’s Bar and Lei Stand (www.hulas.com), and a gay beach. The new Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina (www.fourseasons.com/oahu) is a game changer, starting with its helicopter or yacht airport transportation. In “the place of joy,” the 650-acre resort offers outdoor pools, sumptuous suites, four restaurants, and a mind-blowing spa. Oahu is undergoing a restaurant boom, led by The Pig and the Lady (www.thepigandthelady.com). The elevated, Hawaiian-inspired cuisine is so remarkable and unique, celebrities like Samuel L. Jackson, Rachel McAdams, and Chris Pratt dine there when in town. To escape the crowds, head to the North Shore, home to popular surf reality shows and a stretch of beach that’s considered among the best in the islands.
