Diamond Head View Vacations

Grand Waikiki

Hokondo Waikiki Beachside Hostel

Angles Waikiki

Waikiki's Friendliest Gay Nightclub

2256 Kuhio Ave. (2nd Floor), Waikiki
Tel. (808) 926-9766, Info line (808) 923-1130

 

Fusion Waikiki

Dancing and Live Shows

2260 Kuhio Ave. (upstairs), Waikiki
Tel. (808) 924-2422

 

Hula's Bar & Lei Stand

By the Beach in Waikiki

134 Kapahulu Ave., Waikiki (Waikiki Grand Hotel, 2nd Floor)
Tel. (808) 923-0669

 

In-Between

2155 Lau'ula St. (off Lewers), Waikiki
(down walkway by Prada on Kalakaua)
Tel. (808) 926-7060

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Fine Art

Douglas Simonson

Tel. (808) 737-6275

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Gyms

Max's Gym

444 Hobron Lane, Waikiki (Eaton Square, Fourth Floor)
Tel. (808) 951-8232

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Massage Therapists

Brooks Frank

Licensed Massage Therapist

Call (808) 347-0816

 

Diamond Head Massage

Relaxing, Professional Massage

3061 Pualei Circle #107 (by appointment only)
Call Jim, tel. (808) 922-1838, Cellular (808) 225-8206

 

Massage in Waikiki

Call Jimmy at (808) 286-6081

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Mortgages

Mortgages for the Gay & Lesbian Family

Purchase and Refinance

Cathy Santa Ana, Chief Loan Officer
Call (808) 479-8960

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Personal Services

Gavin

Call (808) 599-1900

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Private Clubs

Max's Gym

444 Hobron Lane, Waikiki (Eaton Square, Fourth Floor)
Tel. (808) 951-8232

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Real Estate

Donald Munro, Realtor

46-251 Ikiiki St., Kaneohe 96744
Tel. (808) 235-1124, Toll Free (800) 235-1151

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Island Heritage Realty

Catering to the Gay Community

1400 Kapiolani Blvd., Ste. A-1, Honolulu
Tel. (808) 941-3202, Toll Free (800) 373-3122

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Restaurants

La Cucaracha

Mexican Bar & Grill

Corner Kuhio Ave. & Nahua St., Waikiki
Tel. (808) 922-2288

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Scuba Diving

Taking the Plunge

Scuba Diving Adventures

Tel. (808) 922-2600 or 941-5497

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Shopping

80% Straight Inc.

Eaton Square, 444 Hobron Lane, Waikiki
Tel. (808) 956-1411

 

Newt at the Royal

Royal Hawaiian Hotel, 2259 Kalakaua Ave., Waikiki
Tel. (808) 922-0062, Toll Free 1-800-508-HATS

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Taxi Service – Airport

Towncar Taxi

Toll Free Reservations (888) 377-3110
In Honolulu call 377-3111

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Video

Diamond Head Video

870 Kapahulu Ave., Honolulu
Tel. (808) 735-6066
747 Queen St. (next to Club Yokohama), Honolulu
Tel. (808) 597-9099
25 Kaneohe Bay Dr., Kailua (videos only)
Tel. (808) 254-6066

Getting Away Together for the First Time
Alan Bennett Ilagan
Friday, February 11, 2005

http://www.alanilagan.com

There comes a time in every new relationship when you will be faced with the prospect of going away for your first vacation together. It's the fastest way to get to know someone, and while it has the potential to backfire spectacularly, it can also be well worth the gamble. A good vacation is magical – a time to look lovingly back on years later. Whether it's a quick trip to a nearby shore, or a lengthy holiday excursion to another country, there are a few things to consider to make the trip an enjoyable one.

The experience of traveling together is wisely met with trepidation and ambivalence. Sure you clicked together in the bedroom after a dozen martinis, but can you translate that into a daylight trip fraught with the tensions and tribulations of travel?

It can bring out the worst in people. Normally-sane folk turn into nightmarish tourists – forgetting how to read a map, how to order food, and how to behave in public. Here are a few tips for those contemplating their first trip together.

1. WHERE TO GO – Vacations are times of heightened experiences; traveling by itself is a big deal to some people. Deciding how far you want to go is an important first step. Would you feel more comfortable close to home, or do you want to go for broke and traverse the globe? It's probably a good idea to start small – no remote deserted islands, no one's old hometown (keep it on equal footing), and no place that you both can't agree on.

Provincetown, Fire Island, Key West and other traditional gay spots may seem ideal spots where you can both be at ease, but might not be the best idea if you're looking for intimacy, or to get to really know the other person. It's not always wise to take your new hottie to a place where other hotties may vie for his or her attention. Of course, if you're the swinging type these places offer the perfect environment for that sort of thing. Just remember you have the entire ride home to deal with any jealousies and misunderstandings that may have occurred, so behave accordingly.

2. HOW TO GET THERE – Driving can be especially tricky as one of you will almost certainly not be able to drink. It's probably not the best time to introduce him to the vocal styling you've perfected in unison with the original cast recording of Hairspray. Patience and an easy-going attitude will help, particularly if the roads are packed with other vacationers and traffic inches to a standstill. Bring along some fun travel CDs you've made for the road, and have a few travel games that both the driver and the passenger can play.

Flying these days is, at its best, a stressful event. Hours of waiting, security check-ins, long layovers (and not the fun kind) are all part of getting airborne. It's no longer an easy thing getting into the Mile High Club either, so keep the cockpits closed for the duration of the flight.

3. HOW TO BEHAVE – Vacation etiquette is a balancing act. Close quarters and a shared bathroom are just two of the logistical challenges you'll have to work out. There's the money issue – are you going to divide everything equally, or is one person going to cover lodging and the other take care of food? Communication and honesty are key factors here.

Remember to give each other space, and don't smother. Just because you came together (and came together) doesn't mean you have to stay joined at the hip. Go for a walk, get a cup of coffee or have a drink – on your own. Be honest about this too – explain when you just need some alone time, and that it's not a reflection on the other person at all.

4. HOW TO STAY SAFE – Have an escape plan if you're unsure of the guy or gal – an easy out should you have to flee: friends visiting, a second room, the ability to book a flight on a moment's notice, and a second exit from the bedroom in case the person suddenly turns psycho. These are all important safety precautions to implement in the case of an emergency.

Enlist a few friends to be “on-call” in case you need a quick ride home or just a brief visit from one of them. Always make sure there are options to ending the trip early should the going get too rough.

5. HOW TO ENJOY IT – Remember to relax – it's a vacation! Let petty comments go; they might turn into a big end-all row at this stage of the game. You can deal with serious stuff later on.

Be flexible. If their heart is set on fresh fish from the shore but the smell of seafood makes you retch, plug your nose and plow through with the promise that you'll get to pick out the next restaurant yourself.

Be respectful. You might want to cringe when he or she insists on wearing that tattered baseball hat to dinner, but bad fashion is a homo's prerogative, and it's not your place to nit-pick (not yet.) If it's really bad, keep in mind that it's just a few days. People have survived far worse for far longer.

Be fun. There are bound to be minor mishaps and difficult moments; that's what traveling is all about. Keep a sense of humor about things – laugh off a missed turn, joke about a tardy waiter, or turn the lost luggage into an impromptu shopping expedition.

Taking your first trip together can be the beginning of a shared lifetime, or at the very least a few shared stories. And while it is one of the riskier ways to do so, it is a surefire method of weeding out the committed from those who should be committed.

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