Honolulu Gay Bars & Clubs

Exclusive misterb&b data about gay bars in Honolulu for 2026

The Best Gay Bars and Clubs in Honolulu

When I want to start the night in Honolulu with a view, I always head to Hula's Bar & Lei Stand - one of the longest-running gay bars in America, open since 1974 on the second floor of the Waikiki Grand Hotel with unobstructed views of Diamond Head and the Pacific. By day it is a laid-back beach bar; by night it becomes a pumping nightclub with live music, drag shows, and open-mic nights. The mai tais here have been poured by some of the same bar staff for years, and the warmth of the regulars is genuine.

One of my favourite spots in Honolulu for pure dance-floor energy is Scarlet Honolulu, the island's largest gay nightclub, tucked into Chinatown's Pauahi Street. The famous Pineapple Stage hosts drag shows every Friday and Saturday featuring performers of national calibre, including occasional RuPaul's Drag Race alumni, and after the show the dance floor stays open until 2am. It is worth booking a table in advance on busy weekends - the venue recommends it and it genuinely makes the difference.

The bar I always come back to when I want something unpretentious is

My preference when I want karaoke at its most joyful is Wang Chung's Karaoke Bar, a tiny Asian-themed room in the Stay Hotel on Koa Avenue. Songs are $1 each or free during power hour, the bartenders are notoriously handsome and generous, and the whole thing is delightfully chaotic. It is not a venue that takes itself seriously, which is exactly its charm.

on Seaside Avenue rounds out the circuit with drag shows, trivia nights, NFL screenings, and the Aloha Bears' underwear nights - a genuinely varied programme that keeps the calendar interesting all week.

Practical Guide to Gay Bar-Hopping in Honolulu

The five Waikiki gay bars are all within 8-10 minutes walk of each other, which makes bar-hopping genuinely easy and enjoyable - you could cover all five in a long night without ever needing a taxi.For Scarlet Honolulu in Chinatown, budget 15-20 minutes by rideshare from the Waikiki strip, or consider making it the centrepiece of a Chinatown evening rather than a detour from Waikiki. Nights in Honolulu run late by Pacific standards - the crowds genuinely build after midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, so pacing yourself through the generous happy hours from late afternoon is the local approach. All venues require 21+ ID. Cover charges around $20 apply at most venues on peak nights. For verified stays close to the nightlife, see gay BnBs in Honolulu.