To start, the Mai tai pitcher is where it's at! great drink to share and they make a good one here. I've only had the fish and chips and I am fan. Love the crispy flaky fish. I like to add Tabasco to my tartar sauce and ketchup for my fries as I live on the spicy side of life My babe enjoyed the macho nachos with avocado. The bar staff are super friendly and quick to serve you. I also love that they typically have some sort of live music. Oh, and they have a pretty good pool table to play on. And they've got a great view for sunsets even though you can't see the sun going down.... The sky changing colors with diamond head in the background is fire read more

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Possibly the most fun in Waikiki. My friend D has been in and out then back in again. I told him it was time to let that flag fly high and proud. We booked a week in Waikiki and stayed at the Queen Kapiolani next door! We actually didn't have a plan when we headed out our first night. To our surprise the hottest and best open minded night club was next door! Great drinks, great food and hot guys! Spent all night dancing and looking at all the meat! Something for everyone. He wasn't shy after some liquid courage down his throat! Best mai tais around! Go there and you won't be disappointed! read more

Hula's Bar & Lei Stand - D after that night out! - Gay Bars Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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I like this place.. it's upstairs and has a great view . Everyone is welcome here . The food is good. The people are nice and , it's got that home town feeling. You have to go upstairs from the hotel lobby . The stars or the elevator .. You walk in and it's a bar.. a big wonderful bar.. seats at the wondow - a huge open area looking at the park. - zoo. It's worth a visit .. read more

Hula's Bar & Lei Stand - Good food , good drinks , good people's - Gay Bars Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I stopped at Hula's for a happy hour drink on my last day in Honolulu and I wish I had tried it out sooner. The beautiful and large, open-air bar/restaurant is located on the second floor of the Waikiki Grand Hotel and has a nice, relaxed feel. There are tables by the open side of the lounge where you can watch the action in Waikiki below. Hula's is much more commercial than the other gay bars I visited in Honolulu, as the servers wore name tags and they had an extensive food menu. The decor was a little kitschy, too, but I loved it! I only came for a drink, though, which was a Blue Hawaiian (of course!), and it was delicious. The place wasn't too crowded while I was there, though it started to pick up a bit right when I was about to leave. There was a live singer performing local music, which was thoroughly enjoyable and the servers were friendly and attentive, too. I'll bet this is a really great place to hang out when it's got a drag show or a deejay going on. I'll definitely have to check this place out more the next time I'm in Honolulu. Five stars for atmosphere and potential! read more

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I've been here a couple times. The first time I met a friend, we got a few drinks, and I got fries to pick on. The drink was delicious. It was a perfectly crafted lemon drop. I had two while there and paired it with some fries. Drinks in Hawaii a bit expensive however I believe the lemon drop was under $12. The second time I came here was in the middle of the afternoon on a Sunday. The one side of the bar is all open, so it is a nice breeze, beautiful sun, and you can see the beach. Staff is friendly and I've been there when they have live music. Overall, it's a good vibe. For parking, you can try either parking at the zoo or along Waikiki Beach. Both you do have to pay for, but are not super expensive. This bar is on the second floor, however, there are both stairs and an elevator if needed. If you're looking for the bar and you can't find it, if you look up on the second level, you'll see the bar with a flag and there should be a sign on the street that informs where to go to get inside. It is located inside a hotel. read more

I was excited to visit this place because of the historical significance. My first time in Hawaii! The lady at the front desk greeted me kindly and showed me the door to the place. So nice! I ordered a beer. I was enjoying myself at a table. Later on, a waiter whom I heard was named Sy, took my unfinished beer from my table. I followed him and was bewildered. I tapped him on the back, wanting my beer back. He first proceeds to accuse me of abuse because I tapped him on the back, then he yells at me "why do you want drinks from another table? You weren't sitting here!" He was yelling and had a very angry tone. I said "no, you took my beer from me and I hadn't finished it yet." I took my beer and showed Sy that there' was still some left. He was very rude. Sy then complained to the bartenders and they refused to serve me, saying I was cut off. He told them the beer was empty. It was not. The bartender said he believed the server and not me. Look, I spent plenty of time in hospitality. It's common decency and courtesy to ask if the person is done, or at least shake the beer. I left and ended up at Bacchus and had a total blast. What a horrible experience. I was gaslit that it was all my fault. Judging by the reviews (3.7??) , I don't believe that's the case. There are other reviews about Sy: same anger, same rudeness. You have a pattern here. and haven't fixed it. You're in hospitality. Why on earth do you employ Sy? I'm kind of glad because it made me visit Bacchus and this place is a total blast. Do better with your customer service and seriously think about making some staffing changes. read more

We passed by this spot numerous times and finally decided to try it on a Sunday night. It wasn't too crowded so we got a seat right away. The live music was great! And the drinks were really good. Such a fun vibe and convenient spot since it's so close to the beach. read more

Hula's Bar & Lei Stand - Pina Colada - Gay Bars Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Super fun! Had a blast! Food and drinks are amazing! Lively staff and great views and location!

They still got roaches? Asking for a friend? They claim it's an outdoor environment Straight bar vibe and nothing has upgraded after all the wonderful years of being open. Would waste a penny for the owners vibe he claimed the roaches were ok. read more

Great bar to hang out and enjoy a drink with a view, the staff here are really friendly and a big shout out to Lee. We definitely had a great time talking and meeting some folks. The live band on Tuesday was a joy to listen to after a long day at the beach, it was relaxing and chill. This bar is a good place to just hang out and enjoy. I really appreciate how everyone made me feel welcomed upon my first time here while visiting this beautiful island. I liked the cool electronic name badges too that they wear. It's very different from any other bar that I have been to. They do have drink specials and also serve food. Definitely will return here again. Thank you read more

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Service was one of worse have ever had ...the bartender just stared out the window when we walked up. For about a minute. Then finally turned to us and stared at us. No words.. then we told him our order Never spoke till he needed to tell us about. Slender, thinning blond hair read more

it was always a good time going to hula's, except for this last visit unfortunately. bartenders, front desk, and patrons are always respectful and even go above and beyond for their guests, but the server Sy is very rude. almost made me wish i gave my business somewhere else due to their lack of professionalism and calling us "bitches" to our faces over a couple of empty cans on our table. If Sy's not working, enjoy your time at this lovely establishment. If Sy is working, go somewhere else. read more

Always a fun spot in Waikiki day or night. During the day sitting by the big open windows sipping cocktails is the best. By night the entertainment begins with live vocalists then the windows close and the DJ gets the crowd on the dance floor. It's vodka soda time. read more

Hula's Bar & Lei Stand - Gay Bars Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Great views, cheap drinks, kind people -- Hula's Bar & Lei Stand is arguably the best gay bar on the island. A wonderful safe space for the queer community and their allies. I've been frequenting Hula's so much these past ten years that I never even considered writing a review. It hardly seems like a business at all when you're constantly surrounded by friends and chosen family; but the reality is they ARE a business, and a damn good one at that. There are days reserved for dancing, live music, catamarans, drag shows, etc., so there's something for everyone. Plus they have some surprisingly good bar food, too! Whether you're around for one drink or an entire day, you should absolutely check out this decades old establishment and continue supporting LGBTQ owned businesses. read more

Hula's Bar & Lei Stand - Gay Bars Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Hula's is a really fun place to go with friends. Hula's is an inclusive bar in Waikiki that always has something going on whether it's karaoke, djs, dancing, and even a pool table to play against strangers! It's a place for everyone and the vibe is welcoming, with lots of locals and regulars who are super fun and friendly. If you want to play pool all you need to do is sign up on the whiteboard and before you know it, you're meeting new people. Pro tip though, bring cash to play otherwise you'll need to use the atm which has a $5 fee. The drinks are fine but nothing special - a typical dive bar type vibe. If you want a lively, welcoming night out in Waikiki, Hula's is a great place to stop by. read more

More fun than most of the bars I went to while in Waikiki! Definitely place for drinks and dancing! Nice to feel welcome from the jump! Quick service! Yummy drinks! Can't go wrong! read more

They let me buy 3 drinks for the bar mascot and my 2 friends. Right after bouncers took away our drinks and told us we need to go. They gave me F-En $8 as compensation. $8 is nothing to 3 drinks with 20% tip which I wouldn't do if I knew they would take it away right after???!!!!!). $8 is less than a drink with tip. Be weary of this SCAM JOINT!!! I was escorted out when I questioned why I just paid for drinks and they were taken away. Brute force. Good to know a place you NEVER want to frequent and hope you don't as well!! SO many food places in Waikiki don't go to this loser place. read more

The bar is great. Good drinks. Decently priced. Terrible and rude service from SY! Always had an attitude. read more

High energy dance club inside of the Waikiki Grand Hotel. Fun servers and strong drinks. Highly recommend! $5 cover on Friday night. read more

Hula's Bar & Lei Stand - Entrance - Gay Bars Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Justin was fantastic! Friendly, helpful..perfect..Great bar..wonderful atmosphere. Good drinks..will definitely be back read more

Hula's Bar & Lei Stand - Gay Bars Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Great drink prices and atmosphere. Always felt comfortable coming here. The bartenders are super sweet. It can get crowded on certain days of the week and the dance floor is always open. read more

Hula's Bar & Lei Stand - Gay Bars Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Great atmosphere! Very friendly gays at the bar. I came as a tourist, and I felt at ease. Bartenders were very friendly read more

Omnia was the absolute best. Made everyone feel welcome and well taken care of. Atmosphere was impeccable with the live music and the views of the ocean and Diamond head. Would recommend anyone to stop in here for a Sunset drink! read more

Hula's Bar & Lei Stand - Gay Bars Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Really disappointed with our experience here. We walked in at noon hoping to grab a bite to eat before heading to a hike. Everything seemed cool. The atmosphere is really pleasant and we're looking around all of the awesome decor as well as the view. Unfortunately, Johnny was our bartender today. He seemed fine at first. We put in an order for food and got a soda. We get the coke and it tastes a little off. When I asked Johnny for a replacement, he seemed annoyed. We were in a bit of a rush so after fifteen minutes I went to the bar again to ask if our food would be ready soon. I wasn't confrontational, just trying to see how much longer it would take. The bar was nearly empty and I had assumed they had a dedicated kitchen. Turns out that it's actually part of the burger place on the floor below. As soon as I ask, Johnny gives me a snippy tone and tells me it's the middle of lunch and "this isn't fast food, honey." (I mean are nachos not quick? Also, most of the menu is just fried food being prepared at a burger joint, but I digress.) I made it clear that I didn't realize the kitchen was downstairs but I also told him he didn't need to be so rude about it. We canceled the order, got a refund and left immediately. On the way out we saw our order being brought in, but honestly Johnny made the whole place just feel so unpleasant that there was no going back. The staff is part of the atmosphere too which is why I've given that 3 stars. I hope Johnny has a better day tomorrow, I guess. We are guests at the hotel and were really excited to check this place out, so this whole experience is just so disappointing. read more

Big thanks to Andrew at the bar, good Mai Tais, good service. Will be back, nice view and atmosphere.

Honestly one of the most entertaining finds that Jamie W. and I made on our week-long Oahu vacation was this expansive gay bar on the second floor of the vintage Waikiki Grand Hotel. By pure coincidence, my dad owned a rental condo across the alley from the hotel, so when it was free, he would take us here for holiday. I remember walking by the hotel. Now here I was chilling just a few yards away decades later. It's a big space with an open-air balcony with panoramic views of Kapiolani Park and Diamond Head. This is where the prime people-watching seats are, and there are several tables set up just that way. The bar itself takes up the center space, and there's a nightclub setting just behind it with cocktail tables and a big screen to show dance videos. There's a mini-stage for live performances. In fact, we were here nursing a couple of $11 Irish Coffees while watching open mic night (photo: https://bit.ly/3kPBq8p). We were bummed we missed RuPaul's Drag Race on Friday night when the place was apparently percolating. However, we ended up coming by a couple more times since it was so conveniently located in Waikiki. Besides, they offer big Happy Hour Mai Tais for just $9 each before 6PM (photo: https://bit.ly/3IJsRE8). On another mid-afternoon visit, we even tried the $15 Kalua Pork Quesadilla with pulled pork, pepper Jack cheese, lomi salmon, and poi drizzle (photo: https://bit.ly/3ESbpvU). Pretty tasty bar bites that doubled for lunch. Nice bartenders, friendly locals. Yep, we'd likely be regulars here if we lived in Honolulu. Hmmm, it could happen. FOOD / COCKTAILS - 4.5 stars...big potent libations, Happy Hour prices are a deal, the pulled pork hit the spot AMBIANCE - 5 stars...huge space and the open-air set-up keeps things cool SERVICE - 5 stars...friendly and pretty attentive TOTAL - 5 stars...probably the most convivial gay bar on the island...BTW where's the lei stand? RELATED - Exploring Hawaii? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/3Kz5ksc read more

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Visited from LA for a day drink to meet some new friends Saturday on the day of the catamaran trip, and the vibe was very island vacation party day-drink which is what we wanted. How fun that they do stuff like that! Imagine. A big gay catamaran trip with a bunch of queens drizzunk on the ocean?! The queen hosting the event was *entertainting* the bartender with the piercing blue eyes and dark curly hair was a cutie pie, so incredibly sweet and custom made me the most perfect fruit punch cocktail I've even had in my whole life. I wish I had learned his name. I will be back when I visit next time for sure. read more

Hulas has a fun casual feel. The tropical drinks are plentiful and the server staff sweet. With this laid back atmosphere you will feel totally festive and gay. There are also nights with special events. I did not try the food but the drinks went down easily. The crowd is mixed and diverse representing just about every type of vacationer and local you can imagine. read more

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Stopped by Hula's with a couple of friends while visiting Oahu and ended up having a really good time. I grabbed a couple Coronas and some fries while enjoying the live music. Derek took care of us and did an awesome job fast service and really attentive. He even dealt with a disruptive customer smoothly so everyone else could enjoy the night. Solid service and great vibes. read more

Fun, open dance floor, great variation of music., had a great time. You do have to order from the bar per our visit. It's a wide range mixed crowd. Good vibes all around. It's a good size venue, nice location away from the center of Waikiki (by Zoo). Don't know about parking since we did Uber. It's Waikiki, parking is always an issue. First time at this location but have fond memories of the previous one. I really like the setup, bar in the center so tables are all around it, giving you seating choices near or away from dance floor. Happy to see this business is still alive and thriving over all these decades. Aloha nui loa Hulas! read more

Came here after a wedding for an after party! Good crowd. Crowded on a Saturday evening but our group of 40 people made do! We took over the dance floor. It was hot and barely any AC blowing in the place so no makeup ladies! You don't need it for the dim lights in the place! The Kiddies were going off to some kind of dancing, some dancing solo. Not many dancing when we first came in but our group took over the dance floor people after awhile and it was fun. No one was rude. Good strong drinks but DJ sucks ! He does not know how to mix whatsoeva. We know 5 other DJ'a better then him. Sorry! Good enough place to hang out. Cover charge of $5 after hours. No food. Would come back if there was a better DJ that can mix! Didn't know how to dance from fast, beat, slow and mellow then back again. No consistency in the melody to continue dancing. Had to review before I forget the night! Hahaha! [88th R] read more

Hula's Bar & Lei Stand - 10/1/2022 - Gay Bars Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

So I always try to stay near a gay bar on vacation. I love a local chill hangout. This place did not disappoint! We would go for happy hour drinks around 4 pm most days. Some days it was busy, others not so much. They play lots of very fun music videos and the DJ that showed up on one of the days was so fun and friendly (cute dog with him!) and entertained us with out of this world visuals. I cannot say enough how friendly the staff are and the prices were cheaper than seattle! read more

We had a great experience here when visiting Waikiki. The staff were very friendly, helpful, and efficient, and the drinks and food were good. Each night had a different type of entertainment, so we ended up coming back over several nights. read more

Hula's Bar & Lei Stand - Gay Bars Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Leaving the nest for college took a leap of faith and courage as I wanted to go out-of-state. I met so many people from across the US and internationally as my college focused on diversity. I'm fortunate where I keep in contact with good friends, where one of them recently came to Oahu for a layover. He was staying in Waikiki and I asked where he wanted to meet up and the venue he selected was Hula's Bar and Lei Stand (Hula's). Hula's first opened back in 1974 on Kuhio Ave under the legendary Banyan tree and in 1998 they relocated to the Waikiki Grand Hotel 2F in 1998. This is a non-judgmental establishment that serves beverages and food overseeing the ocean and Diamond Head. Some will categorize Hula's a gay bar but they welcome locals and out-of-town guests, nationally and internationally, from all walks of life. I've never been to the original Hula's location but previously came to their current site several times with some friends as we bar hopped in Waikiki in my younger days. My friend arrived in Honolulu at about 730pm and we agreed to meet up at 930pm to allow him to check into his hotel and wash up. I was fortunate to have scored street parking a few blocks away and walked over. As I arrived at the Waikiki Grand Hotel, I followed the sign advising Hula's patrons to use the stairs to the second floor rather than the elevator. Upon entry, I was immediately carded and after showing my drivers' license, I walked around and immediately saw my friend sipping on a cocktail as he arrived first. By pure coincidence, one of his friends from his childhood days who also attended the same college as us joined us. Although it was over 30 years ago, I recall seeing her as she'd often visit our dorm. She was in town for vacation and brought along one of her friends. What a coincidence. We moved to a larger table that opened with a great night view overseeing Kapahulu Ave. Our server (cannot recall his name) was super attentive as he came to our table multiple times to check up on us and took our drink order. Because they were on a vacation, I decided to join in the tourist mode and also ordered a Mai Tai for the first round. My drink was sure tasty and could taste the rum. I hadn't eaten dinner yet as I drove directly from my part-time job to Waikiki so I polished off the pineapple wedge. It was juicy with a good balance of sweet and tart. I ended up getting a Gin and Tonic for round 2 and equally enjoyed it. To sober up for my drive back home, we asked for several glasses of water in which our server immediately brought to us. The music was a little loud but we could still converse with each other without excessive yelling. It was mixed with a few songs from the 80's and 90's, which we all appreciated. It wasn't extremely busy for a weekday night but there weren't many vacant tables. The crowd was mixed with people of all ages - - some locals wearing leis and apparently some out-of-town guests who wore aloha shirts and all rosy for being out in the sun earlier. Overall, I had a great time catching up with my buddy and seeing his friends that evening. Hula's was a great venue for us to spend the evening over cocktails and conversation. Parking may be an issue when coming to Waikiki but I wouldn't hesitate to come back to Hula's for drinks and trying their food menu. read more

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Monday afternoon, empty, but Peter was a ray of sunshine and made my fiancee and I some STRONG (all day) happy hour cocktails and gave us great info on other places to hang. Come here, best value and vibe we've found in Waikiki! read more

Hula's Bar & Lei Stand - Peter the amazing bartender! - Gay Bars Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I visited this bar hoping for a fun, inclusive night with friends, but was disappointed by the hostile environment around the pool table. When we asked to play, we were met with aggression from a man who claimed there were "rules" and that we'd have to play him first. He quickly became confrontational, used profanity, and spoke to my friend in a demeaning way. Adding to the discomfort, an off-the-clock employee--tall, Black man--stood nearby and not only failed to intervene but contributed to the conflict. Rather than helping to de-escalate, his presence and comments reinforced the aggressive tone. This created an unsafe and unwelcoming atmosphere for everyone nearby. We left shortly after. I hope management takes this seriously and ensures that both staff and regular patrons contribute to a respectful, inclusive space--especially one that's meant to be safe for the LGBTQ+ community. read more

Decided to go out on a random Wednesday and enjoyed AMAZING drinks and conversation with our lovely bartender, and now forever friend, Christain thank you to the welcoming staff and safe environment to enjoy a drink, or two, or three on a lovely vacation where its slightly hard to get away from touristy spots, this is not one of those Happy New Year! read more

Hula's Bar & Lei Stand - AMAZING bartender Christain!!!! Let him hook you up with his 2 (not one BUT TWO) different signature drinks TO DIE FOR! - Gay Bars Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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I came into town with a group of 8 for my 40th birthday. I've been coming to Hulas every visit leading up to this and it's always a highlight of my trip. Johnny and the rest of the bar staff are always incredibly friendly. And the perfect blend of indoor/outdoor vibe. read more

Come for the mai tai, stay for the view. Don't forget to book one of their famous catamaran, booze cruises. This is a must stop every time we visit Waikiki. read more

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Came on a Friday for drinks. It's on the second floor in a hotel. Big place inside with a pool table, lots of screens playing music videos, there's a dance area but not a ton of people dancing that night. Felt kind of like a lounge. Would like to go back when there's drag. Bartenders were efficient and smiley. I'd go back. read more