Hawaii: The destination of the year

It has been a fabulous year for gay and lesbian travel. I have covered destinations, tour companies and hotels offering extraordinary experiences tailored for our community. There was even a quiz on travel planning.

Each December, this column looks at the very best in the travel industry and bestows the “Destination of the Year” award. This year it goes to the Aloha State — Hawaii.

On Dec. 2, same-sex marriage became legal there, making Hawaii the 15th state in the nation to recognize and offer same-sex marriage and equal marriage benefits. Considering that the Hawaiian Islands have long been a popular honeymoon and destination-wedding state for our heterosexual friends and family, it is especially symbolic that our community can finally say Hawaii is a place where we can have our relationships recognized too. And those relationships are big business. The University of Hawaii estimated an additional $217 million will be spent in the next three years on same-sex weddings.

Hawaii really isn’t the newest state to be enlightened. In fact, in many ways the culturally rich Pacific island has led the way on the issue, well before same-sex marriage was among the national dialogue.

The spirit of Aloha celebrates diversity, freedom and sexual expression. Hawaii has extraordinary natural beauty and among the best beaches and views in the world, but it is the people of Hawaii who make this destination a must-visit in 2014.

Before the arrival of our Western influence to the island, same-sex relationships were embraced in the independent island kingdom. “Aikane” was the term in Hawaiian that denoted those in same-sex relationships in the kingdom. Fast-forward about 100 years and it was the Supreme Court of Hawaii in the early ’90s that ruled that state’s refusal to grant same-sex marriage was discriminatory. It took until 2012 for civil unions to become law and this year for full marriage equality for residents and visitors to become a reality.

Properties of the Year

To celebrate the passage of the new law in Hawaii, the Sheraton Waikiki Resort held a marriage gala shortly after midnight Dec. 2, where 39 same-sex couples — including lesbians, gay men and transgender people — married. Kelly Sanders, area managing director for Starwood and the Sheraton Waikiki Resort, hosted the lavish event overlooking Diamond Head on romantic Waikiki Beach.

For those interested in getting married in Hawaii, Starwood offers one-stop wedding planning for its properties — the Sheraton, the Royal Hawaiian or the Mona Surfrider — a Westin Resort and Spa. You can get your marriage license on property at Sheraton, have a glorious spa day at the Westin and then hold the ceremony at the iconic “pink palace of the Pacific,” the Royal Hawaiian. One person at the hotel can plan all your events among the properties, which are located within a scenic walking distance to one another. Another perk is that several gay bars are close to all three Starwood hotels and the weekly Hulu’s catamaran sail departs from the beach adjacent to the Sheraton.

To get your marriage license, you simply need to bring your birth certificate or passport and a driver’s license, answer five simple questions and pay a $65 fee. Your permanent license will come in the mail six weeks later. But you can get married immediately while in Hawaii. You can complete your marriage application online at emrs.ehawaii.gov/emrs/public/home.html.

There are several Hawaiian hotels that embrace the LGBT traveler. You can choose from the Hilton Waikiki Beach, the Aston Hotel and Resorts, the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort and Spa and the Aqua Waikiki Wave. However, with the distinction of the Sheraton being the only property with an on-site marriage office and for hosting the historic wedding this month, Starwood’s Sheraton Waikiki is the Hotel Property of the Year.

After your wedding, it is time for the honeymoon. The St. Regis located in Princeville on the island of Kauai — Hawaii’s oldest island — overlooks the gorgeous Hanalei Bay. The hallmark of this hotel is the service. The staff is so well-trained that a same-sex couple having an Aloha Island Spirit massage and a Lomi Lomi massage seems like an everyday event. Visitors to the island are awed by its natural beauty and, at the St. Regis, you will be wowed by your hotel room’s view. For the hotel’s exceptional staff service to same-sex couples and for many front-line staff being native Hawaiian, the St. Regis Princeville shares the title of Hotel Property of the Year.

Jeff Guaracino is the author of “Gay and Lesbian Tourism: The Essential Guide for Marketing.”

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