Florida Agenda

By ROBERT ELIAS DEATON

All good things must come to an end, and so it is with our final installment of travel within the Hawaiian Islands. No island adventure on Hawaiian soil is complete without experiencing at least one Luau. And the one we remember most fondly is the Royal Kona Resort’s Lava Legends & Legacies – Journeys of the South Pacific Luau (75-5852 Alii Drive Kailua-Kona, HI 96740, 808-329-3111). It is a feast of tropical delicacies, song, and dance celebrating the legends and lore of Polynesia. More than that, it is an incredible sunset experience at one of the most perfect spots on all of Kailua Bay. The featured dish, of course, is the roasted whole Kalua pig, cooked in an underground imu oven.

Accompanying entrees include island fish with black bean sauce, island chicken, Lomi Lomi Salmon, and Pulehu (teriyaki) beef. The torch lighting begins on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday at 6:15 p.m. with an open bar from 5-7 p.m. Fire dancers, hula dancers, and ukulele musicians make for a perfect blend of culture, entertainment and great all-you-can-eat dining. (Well worth the price at $65.00.)

Our local guru of all things Big Island, Uncle Don Sanders, called in to say that his own personal favorite gay-owned private tour is Kapohokine Adventures (808-964-1000), on the Hilo side of the island. Kapohokine offers a variety of zip-line experiences, volcano lava tours, hiking, waterfalls, complete with a chicken barbecue on a macadamia nut farm. Some tours last as long as 12 hours, so some advanced planning is needed for this one. Uncle Don says “Personal, private, super fantastic, fascinating guides, and places you’ll never forget.” Lest you missed it—fascinating guides.

For those whose idea of fun includes a snorkel dive, remember Dolphin Discoveries (808-322- 8000). Word from the scene is that this is a mom and pop operation that will yacht you to their secret dive destinations by Zodiac boats. The tour includes snorkel gear in case you’re traveling light, with sea caves, coral reefs and pods of wonderfully charismatic dolphins.

If you have a free Wednesday evening, we highly recommend an Evening at Kahua Ranch (808-882-7954). This tour is headquartered on an historic 8,500 acre working cattle ranch located 3,200 feet above sea level in the Kohala Mountains. The ranch provides transportation for area hotels, with buffet, beer, wine, singing, line dancing and cute paniolos (Hawaiian cowboys) Closer to Kona town, Big Island Grill (75-5702 Kuakini Hwy, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740, 808-326- 1153) is a local secret that serves up huge portions at reasonable prices. With all the décor of a Hawaiian diner, this place puts the emphasis of delicious. Try the Saimin for a brothy noodle soup that doesn’t overload you with salt. For larger-thanlife appetites, there’s a always the loco moco— three kinds of meat served on a platter the size of Dodge Pickup. For more traditional fare, you can’t go wrong with kalua pig and cabbage.

For a short two-hour side trip across ancient lava flows, head north along Highway 19 north, stopping at Hapuna Beach for a swim. Continue past the Mauna Kea Beach Resort another two miles and branch off on Highway 270 into Kawaihae town (don’t blink). Stop for a bit at Café Pesto (61-36653 Hawaii 270) for our favorite Crispy Coconut Crusted Calamari served on a slaw of arugula, won bok and pickled ginger (14.95). And while you’re there, say hi to chef “Moki” Tavares.

Continue north, and you’ll discover the hidden secret of Mahukona, with its old sugar cane port, broken down pier and perfect beach-side snorkeling. A hui hou

Also Read the Previous 3 Hawaii Travel Articles at the links below:

The Big Island Hawaii’s Largest Treasure Part III

MAUI The Valley Isle. Hawaii Series Part II

HAWAII – Pick an Island, They’re All Paradise

By ROBERT ELIAS DEATON

Swaying palm trees, the sound of distant waves lapping upon pristine white or red or black sand beaches, tropical sunsets silhouetting hula dancers in flowing grass skirts. Yes, this is paradise, otherwise known as Hawaii. Of all the seven populated Hawaiian Islands, Maui has always been our favorite. Despite its lack of any gay clubs (at one time there were three including a local franchise of Hamburger Mary’s), there are several gay beaches—one white powder and the other red sand), plus rain forests, volcanic calderas, picturesque waterfalls, an historic whaling village, and some of the most beautiful vistas anywhere. And it’s not just our opinion.

Even the Hawaiians have a saying: Maui no ka oi—Maui is the best.

Any visit to this island of valleys and flowers begins at the Kahului Airport where the minute you deplane, you will know that you’re in a very special place. The air around you is filled with the fragrance of this tropical paradise. The smiles you receive will be genuine, and the absence of worries and time immediately obvious. Set your watch to Maui time, which is six hours behind Eastern Standard Time in the real world. But that is unfair to even say that since once you step on the soil of this special place, the only thing you’ll experience is eternal nirvana.

Most tourists head immediately to one of two places. Wailea on the South shore or Lahaina on the West. The South has its champions for its beautiful golf courses, shopping and luxury hotels including the Grand Wailea Resort (3850 Wailea Alanui Drive), where you’ll find the grandest gardens in all of the Hawaiian Islands, spread over 40 acres of lush. Prices for rooms and suites are grand as well ranging from $489- $1,300 a night. And worth every penny. If that is too rich for your blood, go and visit the place at the very least and pretend you’re a guest. It’s that special.

Nest door, in the beach village of Makena, is the area’s closest gay stretch of sand known as Little Beach. It’s a mile past the Maui Prince Hotel (5400 Makena Alanui), at Makena State Park. Public parking is free, and so is the beauty.

Head toward the ocean and hang a right, follow people climbing over a small lava hill and prepare for nude sunbathing, hanky-panky in the brambles, and water so clear that you can see the fish joining you for a swim.

On the West side of the island, our favorite hotel is the Westin Maui Resort and Spa (2365 Kaanapali Pkwy). Priced from $359 a night, it’s directly on the ocean with great gym facilities and close to the whaling village of Lahaina, where you’ll find one of Maui’s best restaurants:

David Paul’s Island Grill (900 Front Street). For the more adventurous, you can drive completely around the West Maui Mountains (an extinct volcano), past the Ritz Carlton hotel and the oldest one-room churches on the island.

Continue heading north and you’ll discover Ho‘okipa Beach Park (Hana Highway & Hookipa Park) just past the surfing village of Paia. Windsurfing and kite surfing is world-class here, so look but don’t touch unless you’re extremely experienced.

Continue to travel East for another 52 miles and you’ll arrive in Hana, 59 bridges and 620 curves later. This tiny village has long been considered the last Hawaiian frontier. Its colorful Hasegawa’s General Store (5165 Hana Hwy) and its five-star Travaasa Hana Hotel (5031 Hana Hwy) are adjacent to Hana’s Red Sand Beach—a little climbing is required to reach this slice of heaven. Hana is also the home of the gorgeous Blue Pool and Waterfall, O’heo Gulch Pools, plus the Grave of Charles Lindbergh in nearby Kipahulu. Pa`a ka waha.

Robert Elias Deaton is a world-traveling epicure who enjoys the finer things in life.

READ PART 1 HERE: HAWAII – Pick an Island, They’re All Paradise

By ROBERT ELIAS DEATON

Swaying palm trees, the sound of distant waves lapping upon pristine white or red or black sand beaches, tropical sunsets silhouetting hula dancers in flowing grass skirts. Yes, this is paradise, otherwise known as Hawaii.

Often referred to as the ultimate in vacation destinations, Hawaii is more diverse than any state in the union—and the only state comprised entirely of islands numbering in the hundreds. Of these, seven are inhabited, and each has a charm unique to its position in the island chain.

The most populated and gay famous is Oahu (The Gathering Place), the home of Waikiki beach, Honolulu, high-rise condos, and the only royal palace on U.S. soil.  ’Iolani Palace, built in 1879 for King Kal?kaua, isn’t grand by international palace standards. It is, however, unique as the only example of Hawaiian Renaissance architecture. Located at 364 S King Street, the palace is in downtown Honolulu and is open to the public.

The Royal Hawaiian Hotel (2346 Kalakaua Ave) has a long history of celebrity guests, its pink façade welcoming heads-of-state, financiers, and movie stars. But despite repeated restorations, the hotel is no longer the Queen of Waikiki Beach, though a visit to the lobby is always a pleasant journey back in time. For the height of luxury accommodations, there is none finer than the Halekulani Hotel (2199 Kalia Road) which has been ranked among the top five-star hotels in the world since its opening in 1997. With Hawaii’s acceptance of civil unions in January of this year, the hotel has become the favored spot for beach-front ceremonies and receptions.

The gay beach in Hawaii is a few blocks away from Halekulani (toward Diamond Head volcano) on Queen’s Surf Beach near Kapiolani Park. Before you get too excited, the name derives from Hawaii’s last royal, Queen Liliuokalani. Her beach house and pier were once positioned at the exact spot where current day lesbians and homosexuals paddle board and sun. On weekends, the adjacent park area becomes Sunset on the Beach, with movies shown under the stars. Too much fun.

Right around the corner, you’ll also find Hula’s Bar and Lei Stand Waikiki (134 Kapahulu Ave), the Hawaiian version of Stonewall. It’s been a fixture on the Honolulu gay scene since Adam and Eve did their thing, or perhaps longer some say.

Our dear friend Jack Law (otherwise known as Da Kine or Big Daddy) is the owner of the joint, which is located on the second floor of the Waikiki Grand Hotel (a good inexpensive choice if you want to say close to the action). At dusk, the bar’s sliding glass windows glide open and transform this gem into a visual postcard of people watching, sunsets and passing catamarans. The drinks are strong, the music is upbeat, and the clientele a mixture of cute, rugged, muscled locals with a few paunchy tourists advertising themselves by their sunburn.

If you’re in a hiking mood, from Hula’s follow Kalakaua Ave. along the beach toward Diamond Head until it turns into Diamond Head Road.  Four blocks ahead watch for the turn-off on your right to Beach Road. This takes you to Diamond Head Lighthouse, which was completed in 1917 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. It’s a great spot of soak up the sun. You might even meet some new friends, since this is a hot gay rendezvous point.

An extra bonus: on the way home, you’ll pass right by Hula’s again. It’s the perfect time to visit Jack, and tell him Guy Magazine says Howzit?

By ROBERT ELIAS DEATON

Mention the word “cruise,” and we all know where your mind goes. Lingering stares across a room, a hint of a smile upon your lips. There is, of course, another kind of cruising that’s a little more expensive (or on second thought, maybe not). It’s the type of cruising where you pack your bags, get on a ship, and eat and play to your heart’s content while you move magically from port to port without mussing your hair (well, again, on second thought, a little muss can be fun).

To help you plan your next cruise, or perhaps your first, GUY MAGAZINE serves up the best in cruising for Summer and Fall, 2012.

ITALY, GREEK ISLANDS & ISTANBUL

Sail aboard the Celebrity Equinox with 2,700 gay men and lesbian women departing from Civitavecchia, the port just west of Rome, Italy, in this cruise organized by Atlantis Events, the grand poo-pah of gay and lesbian travel. Leaving August 24 and returning September 3, this 11-day vacation is nothing short of an once-in-a-lifetime event with pit stops in Mykonos and Santorini, Greece; Kusadasi, and Istanbul, Turkey; the island of Malta; plus the Sicilian capital of Palermo. With lots of flesh and hard bodies, Atlantis cruises are quickly sold out. There are, however, often last minute cancellations as well. (www.atlantisevents.com)

HAWAII

This 15-day cruise is organized by one of our favorite gay travel agencies, Manhattan’s Pied Piper Travel, aboard the luxurious Celebrity Century. Although totally refurbished in 2006, this 1,808-passenger ship has an old-world charm. Expect more baby-boomers on this cruise line, where elegance and refinement dictate dress code and behavior. Sugar Daddy alert! There is no denying the sundrenched lure of Maui, the Big Island and Oahu, however, so grab your number 50 lotion for this cruise that departs on April 5 from San Diego, returning April 20. (www.piedpipertravel.com)

BAHAMAS

While the Bahamas are our closest island cruise destination, when left in the hands of Source Events, the place becomes a totally different experience altogether. Source is the official producer of the Miami Beach Pride Cruise, departing on April 16 for fourdays aboard the Norwegian Sky. The ship has a capacity of 2,000 with Source Events promising a Tropical Fantasy Costume Party, a trio of tea dances, an exclusive gay movie screening, and assorted treats (or was that “tricks”—we’ll check and get back to you). Pride or not, this is a mixed cruise, so no nude sunbathing by the pool. (www.sourceevents.com)

PRAGUE AND THE DANUBE RIVER

While it may seem strange to start a cruise of the Danube in the Czech Republic’s capital Prague, through which the Danube does not flow, it was a natural choice for Brand G Vacations, who put this package together. Ever since porn director William Higgins left Hollywood and made Prague his homebase, the place has become a very gay-friendly destination. You’ll definitely want to check out these cobbled streets and back-rooms before hopping on a bus and making a mad dash over to Nuremberg, Germany (with a pee break in Carlsbad). Once there, you’ll board the Amadeus Waterways’ MS AmaCerto. No, you’re not on the Danube yet, but rather on the Main- Danube Canal which eventually runs into the River. Once you eventually hit the Big D (which by the way is no longer Blue as Strauss once claimed), get set for a leisurely float down the river to Vienna, where you’ll spend two days riding bikes and waltzing, if that’s your thing. It all begins on August 21 for 10 days, with the boat dropping you eventually in Budapest, Hungary. (www. brandgvacations.com)

Ahoy.

RORY BARBAROSSA

Four Hawaii same-sex couples entered into civil unions early on New Year’s Day as a new statewide law took effect. The couples–Monica Montgomery and Donna Gedge,  Saralyn Batt and Isajah Morales, Gary Bradley and Paul Perry, and Bonnie Limatoc-DePonte and Lydia Pontin–became the first to legally wed as Hawaii began to legally recognize same-sex civil unions.

The law allows both same-sex and opposite-sex couples to join in civil unions. These unions possess the same rights and responsibilities that come with traditional marriages. With Hawaii and Delaware marching down the aisle to recognition on Jan. 1, there are now five states that recognize same-sex civil unions. Six states and the District of Columbia give outright same-sex marriage licenses: Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, and Washington, D.C.

California does not recognize new same-sex marriages. In May 2008, the state’s Supreme Court ruled that gay couples have the right to marry in California. Later that year, opponents of same-sex marriage secured passage of Proposition 8, a state constitutional amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman.  A federal judge ruled in 2010 that Proposition 8 violated the U.S. Constitution. Enforcement of that ruling was stayed pending appeal.

The passage of the laws in both Hawaii and Delaware were not without debate and compromise. Lawmakers in both states made it plain that “it is not the legislature’s intent to revise the definition or eligibility requirements of marriage.”

Calling it “a prime example of exercising civic courage,” Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie, a Democrat, signed the state’s civil unions bill into law last February. “It is about doing what is right, no matter how difficult, no matter how much opposition,” Abercrombie added.

Gov. Jack Markell, a Democrat, signed the Delaware law in May saying boldly, “Th is bill

is about a new energy and excitement. It’s about a moment in our history that came about because people came together to work for it, because it became clear that Delaware’s LGBT community is in fact part of every Delaware community. The greater good is served when we speak out and fight hard when we see that bias, prejudice or even outdated laws attempt to lessen any one of us.”

Two Steps Forward, One and a Half Steps Back

By BOB KESCKEMETY

Perhaps no state more than California expresses the confusion over the topic of marriage equality in the United States.

The status of same-sex marriage in California is unique among the 50 U.S. states, in that the state formerly granted marriage licenses to same-sex couples, but has discontinued doing so. The period of granting such licenses began on June 16, 2008, due to a ruling by the Supreme Court of California based on an equal protection argument and ended November 5, 2008, due to the passage of Proposition 8, an amendment to the California Constitution that limited marriages to those between one man and one woman. Before the passage of Proposition 8, California was only the second state to allow same-sex marriage. Marriages performed prior to the passage of Prop 8 remain legally recognized and retain full state-level marriage rights.

On August 4, 2010, federal judge Vaughn R. Walker, a conservative judge appointed to the federal bench by President H.W. Bush, declared the ban unconstitutional but temporarily stayed his ruling. On August 6, 2010, both sides submitted legal briefs to Judge Walker arguing for or against a long-term stay of the ruling. On August 12, 2010, Judge Walker had scheduled to lift his stay. On August 16, 2010, 9th Circuit Court of Appeals granted the motion to stay, ordered expedited briefing on the merits of the appeal, and directed the parties to brief the issue of why the appeal should not be dismissed for lack of standing. On August 17, 2010, the same Ninth Circuit panel ordered appeals calendared for oral argument during the week of December 6, 2010, in San Francisco. The Ninth Circuit has now requested the California Supreme Court to rule on an issue related to whether the Ninth Circuit has jurisdiction to hear the case.

Same-sex marriage remains a contentious issue within the state, with samesex marriage supporters trying to get another ballot initiative in the 2012 election to return the state to granting marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

Currently, five states (Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont) and the District of Columbia do allow same sex unions.. However, the U.S. government does not recognize these marriages on a federal level. The states of New York, New Jersey, Maryland, and Rhode Island do not permit same-sex marriages, but do recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states.

California, Oregon, Nevada, Washington, Illinois, Colorado, Wisconsin, Maryland and Maine have bans on same-sex marriage but permit, on a state-by-state basis, certain rights such as limited rights or civil union rights. Thirty-one states have constitutional bans on same-sex marriage and/or civil unions of any kind, including Florida.

This year, there has been some movement along the lines of marriage equality:

RHODE ISLAND – The Rhode Island State House Judiciary Committee recently held hearings on a bill to permit same-sex marriage in that state.

The hearings on the bill included public statements: 137 people spoke in favor of the bill, 60 against. The next step is for the committee of vote on the bill which expected to pass which would then be passed on to the entire State House for discussion and vote.

HAWAII – The governor of Hawaii is expected to sign into law this week a civil unions law granting its residents full rights and privileges of marriage without actually using the term “marriage”. This bill will take effect January 1, 2012. In 1997, Hawaii was the first state to offer Reciprocal Beneficiaries which permitted same-sex couples access to a limited number of rights and benefits on a state level.

ILLINOIS – The governor of Illinois has signed a civil union law which will take effect June 1, 2011 giving its residents the full rights of marriage. Though there has been a momentum toward same-sex civil unions, there has also been movement against:

IOWA – Republican members of the Iowa House have proposed an amendment to the state’s constitution to say that “marriage between one man and one woman shall be the only legal union valid or recognized in this state.” Iowa already permits same-sex marriage. With a 60-40 Republican majority in the House, the amendment is considered certain to pass. However, it faces long odds in the Democratic-controlled Senate, where the leadership has consistently said they will never allow it to come up for a vote.

INDIANA – Republican lawmakers in Indiana have resumed pushing for a constitutional amendment that would shore up an existing state law banning gay marriage. A GOP-ruled House committee voted 8-4 along party lines recently to advance the proposal, which now moves to the full House for consideration. The amendment states that only marriage between one man and one woman is valid in Indiana, and prohibits civil unions by stating that a legal status “substantially similar” to marriage for unmarried people is not valid.

Bob Kecskemety is the News
Editor of the Florida Agenda.
Bob can be readed at
editor@FloridaAgenda.com