Gay-Listers Guide is a series of destination glimpses through the personal experience of prominent LGBT personalities.
Latrice Royale
In this edition of Gay-Listers Guide, RuPaul’s Drag Race legend Latrice Royale of Season 4, All Stars 1 and All Stars 4 takes us to her favorite vacation spot, Honolulu, Hawaii.
How many times have you traveled to Honolulu?
Four separate times since 2014! Honolulu is the most beautiful tropical paradise in the world. I never felt more grounded than I did when I was there.
What’s your best memory there?
My best memory was taking my now-husband there for the first time and experiencing the culture and island together. And it was in Honolulu where I was able to practice my vocal skills and find my voice—sing out into the ocean and really get connected. Those were really the best memories that I have of my experiences there.
Your worst memory?
It wasn't so much a "worst memory" but it was a scary situation. We were out snorkeling, Christopher and I, and we were in Shark's Cove, which I highly recommend. It's on the north shore, for snorkeling, and it's beautiful. We had our engagement rings on and the water was cold and his had slipped off his finger and into the ocean. It was a really scary situation and he panicked and was really upset. I kept diving down to see if I could find it. I dove about twelve times and I found it! I was able to put it back on his finger, so we had a happy ending but it was scary.
What do you love most about Honolulu?
I love the sense of ease. I love how you can just breathe there. If you're into shopping, and you want to get your fill of that, there's an enormous mall that has all the labels. I mean Gucci, Prada, Louis Vuitton, Yves Saint Laurent, you name it—just all high fashion, high-end stores are there. So you can get your shopping on. The night life and night culture is wonderful. If you wanna go out to clubs, you've got clubs there. If you want to go out for dinner, there are wonderful restaurants. You can't get lost, so you can just take a drive. There's so much to do, or not, while you're there.
What do you not love?
I hate the fact that it takes so long to get there and its so very far away from me. I have to go all the way from the East Coast to the West Coast. That's "westerest!" W.E.S.T.E.R.E.S.T.
Timothy Wilcots (Latrice Royale) and husband, Christopher Hamblin, on vacation in Honolulu"
Where are your favorite places to eat there?
I love the local cuisine. Like the local mom-and-pops, or something along the side of the road while we're driving around the island. That is really what I like. You can get the true essence of the island that way. We also found a cute food truck that had really great food on it, too. All local, fresh, home-made cuisine, right there on the truck. In Shark's Cove, there's a food truck called Pupukea Grill, and it's so tasty.
And to drink ?
I don't drink much but my favorite place to drink is by the pool at the resort hotel or condo. That's my favorite place.
What do you love to do there during the day?
My favorite thing to do is to always rent a car so we have transportation because I love to drive around the entire island and find little nooks and private beaches. Things off the beaten path. It’s the best way to take in the fullness of how great this place is.
And at night?
Scarlet’s! (Scarlet Honolulu.) If you want to get your drink on . . . if you wanna go to the club . . . that's gonna be the place! The most popular. Usually when I'm in Honolulu, it’s to be at Scarlet’s, which is the biggest club there. It’s definitely for your night life party scene. Scarlet's is where you're going to get your life.
Do you have a favorite place to stay there?
My first trip there, we stayed at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort, and it was absolutely gorgeous and humongous. It's right on the ocean right as you get on to Waikiki beach. It’s right there. Its fabulous and I would definitely recommend staying there. You'll need to have some cute coin, though, because she ain't cheap. Haha.
Describe the LGBT scene in Honolulu, and what an LGBT visitor should be sure to check out.
They have a nice scene there! They have pageantry there. They're bringing in Ru girls. They have a local entertainment scene there that's pretty popular and booming. Hawaii in general is just an easy place so there isn't anything you have to watch out for or feel unsafe about being gay there. Or being whoever you are. It's just easy. Any LGBT person should feel at home whenever they visit. There's even a stretch of Waikiki beach thats highly gay-populated, so you can get your life there.
What else should we know about Honolulu?
This city has magical powers. I really believe it. I think if you're a spiritual person, it’s a great place to find your zen. There's a temple there we visit each time we go—the Byodo-In Temple in the Valley of the Temples. If you're a spiritual person and trying to find your center, it’s a great place to connect with yourself and the universe.
Anything new to plug?
I've had some things that have been simmering, cooking and waiting to happen but I have not yet gotten the clearance to make it public yet. But just know there are some very exciting new adventures coming down the pipeline for me. I look forward to sharing that when the time is right.
(This conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.)
