Honolulu Pride (parade + events) 2025

Honolulu Pride 2025 returns to Waikīkī with a full weekend of events from Friday to Sunday, October 17–19, centered on a sunset Pride Parade down Kalākaua Avenue at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 18, followed by a night-time Pride Festival at the Tom Moffatt Waikīkī Shell from 5:00 p.m. with 70+ community booths and a four-hour entertainment lineup. The official site confirms the weekend cadence, the 2025 theme Ho‘omau, and that tickets and merch go on sale August 1, while the Hawai‘i LGBT Legacy Foundation and partner calendars also list the parade-and-festival timing and locations in Waikīkī alongside opening parties, after-parties, and a Sunday drag brunch to close the weekend.

Dates, theme, and headline events

• Pride theme: Ho‘omau — honoring queer resilience, unity, and perseverance through a weekend of culture, visibility, and aloha in the heart of Waikīkī.
• Weekend dates: October 17–19, 2025; primary events on Saturday, October 18 (Parade at 4:00 p.m.; Festival at 5:00 p.m.).
• Ticketing: Festival tickets and official merch launched August 1; additional nightlife and partner events will continue to be added across the month.

Weekend schedule at a glance

• Thursday, Oct 16 (prelude): Opening night showcase at Hawai‘i Theatre Center; community entertainment to set the tone for the weekend.
• Friday, Oct 17: Official Pride opening party at Scarlet Honolulu, the island’s marquee LGBTQ+ nightclub; more community listings populate as the date nears.
• Saturday, Oct 18:
• Pride Parade at 4:00 p.m.: Sunset march on Kalākaua Avenue celebrating community organizations, nonprofits, schools, businesses, and allies.
• Pride Festival at 5:00 p.m.: Night event at Waikīkī Shell featuring national and local performers, 70+ booths, food and beverage vendors, resource fair, and ‘ohana and kūpuna zones.
• Official after-party: Hula’s Bar & Lei Stand hosts the Saturday capstone after the festival.
• Sunday, Oct 19: Rainbow Drag Brunch presented with Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines to close the weekend with humor, heels, and pancakes.

Parade route and how to watch

• Route: Starts at Magic Island (Ala Moana), proceeds along Ala Moana Blvd and Kalākaua Avenue, and finishes near Kapiʻolani Park, with spectating along Waikīkī’s beachfront corridor.
• Start time: 4:00 p.m. for better shade and cooler temps; arrive early to secure sidewalks near Duke’s Lane, Royal Hawaiian Center, or Moana Surfrider for premium views.
• How to participate: Marching groups register through the Hawai‘i LGBT Legacy Foundation via the Pride site; community, school, business, and ally entries are encouraged.

Festival details

• Venue and timing: Tom Moffatt Waikīkī Shell from 5:00 p.m. following the parade, within walking distance from the route and Kapiʻolani Park.
• What’s on: Live entertainment spanning national and local acts, a 70+ booth footprint mixing resource organizations, artisans, and vendors, plus themed food and drink.
• Zones and access: ‘Ohana and kūpuna spaces create inclusive areas for families and elders; accessibility seating and flat routes are available at major venue points.

Month-long Pride on O‘ahu

• October Pride Month: Honolulu Pride lives within a broader October slate with film screenings, art shows, drag brunches, pool parties, and cultural programming; event calendars aggregate Pride-week and Pride-month happenings across the island.
• Legacy and visibility: Pride Month aligns with LGBT History Month, National Coming Out Day (Oct 11), and Spirit Day, bringing community education and cultural events into the October mix.

Planning tips

• Book early: Waikīkī hotels fill for Pride weekend; reserve lodging and nightlife tickets soon after the August 1 ticket drop to secure preferred seating and entry windows.
• Move smart: Use rideshare to staging and venue zones; marchers should plan drop-off near Magic Island; spectators can position along Kalākaua and then walk to the Shell after the last unit passes.
• Dress and comfort: Light layers, comfortable shoes, and sunscreen; consider a compact seat pad for curbside viewing; bring hydration for the parade and a light jacket for the evening festival breeze.

Community and culture

• Presented by: Hawai‘i LGBT Legacy Foundation, producing the state’s largest annual LGBTQIA+/MVPFAFF+ celebration in partnership with local businesses, nonprofits, and sponsors.
• Inclusive spaces: Pride Festival programming explicitly includes family and elder zones, alongside resource fairs that connect attendees with health services, advocacy groups, and community organizations.

Volunteer, sponsor, and get involved

• Volunteer: Pride welcomes volunteers for parade logistics, festival operations, and community engagement; contact [email protected] via the official site.
• Sponsor and exhibit: Booths, sponsorships, and hospitality activations can be requested through the Foundation’s channels; AARP Hawai‘i and other civic partners note planned booth activations for 2025.
• Stay updated: Follow @honolulupride on Instagram and subscribe to the Pride newsletter; organizers continue to drop lineup, vendor, and timing updates through September and early October.

Sample weekend itinerary

• Friday, Oct 17: Check-in; sunset drinks in Waikīkī; Pride opening party at Scarlet Honolulu.
• Saturday, Oct 18: Brunch; secure parade viewing by 3:15 p.m.; watch the 4:00 p.m. parade; walk to the Shell for the 5:00 p.m. Festival; after-party at Hula’s.
• Sunday, Oct 19: Rainbow Drag Brunch; beach time at Queen’s or Kaimana; optional museum or shopping stroll before departure.

Verified details at a glance

• Weekend: Honolulu Pride, October 17–19, 2025.
• Parade: Saturday, Oct 18, 4:00 p.m., Kalākaua Avenue; sunset start.
• Festival: Saturday, Oct 18, 5:00 p.m., Tom Moffatt Waikīkī Shell; 70+ booths and four hours of live entertainment.
• Theme: Ho‘omau (to persevere, continue).
• Tickets & merch: On sale August 1; more event drops through fall.
• Registration: Parade and festival participation via Hawai‘i LGBT Legacy Foundation.

Mark the weekend, book the stay, and bring the glitter. Claim a viewing spot on Kalākaua for the 4:00 p.m. parade, then follow the rainbow tide to the Shell for a night of music, connection, and aloha. With Ho‘omau as its heartbeat, Honolulu Pride 2025 invites everyone to celebrate resilience, visibility, and joy on Waikīkī’s shoreline this October.