Explore Honolulu with Gay Travel Influencers Michael & Matt

Aloha, gay Honolulu!

Michael and Matt go to Oahu.

The happy, smart, and sexy duo are no strangers to readers of Out's sister publication Out Traveler, who were introduced to the married world travelers and their meet-cute in the Spring 2022 print edition of Out Traveler. The social media savvy Schueller came out on his YouTube channel in a viral video that inspired Lindsay to come out himself and record a video reply, albeit a year later and 1,300 miles away. The rest is history, as they say.

The pair married in 2018, and when they’re not posting about their travels and life together on social media, Schueller works as a nurse and Lindsay is a practicing dentist.

We recently caught up with Michael and Matt to ask for travel tips on some of their favorite destinations.

Where do you recommend to eat?

The seafood is unmatched in Hawaii, and yet some of the best food you can get in Honolulu is often from the simplest of places. Heading to Waikiki, the first place we ate at was a convenience store by the beach. Surprisingly, even though the poké bowls are quite cheap, they are far more delicious and satisfying than many from the surrounding upscale restaurants. For more traditional Hawaiian grub, make a stop at Uncle Bo’s Pupu Bar & Grill, Ono Seafood, and Momosan Waikiki. We had an incredible experience for cocktails and small bites at the Spanish tapa restaurant, Blind Ox. We also cannot forget to mention the highly popular Marukame Udon Waikiki and Gen Korean BBQ House, but make sure to eat there with plenty of time on your hands as wait times for a table can be very long.

Where are the best places to stay?

The Royal Hawaiian along Waikiki Beach is a 5-star luxury hotel painted in pastel pink. Staying at this iconic location in the middle of everything may lend itself to crowded touristy days, but as a beachfront resort to one of the world’s most famous beaches, there’s good reason for its popularity. Not too far off the beach is the Waikiki Marriott Resort & Spa, a slightly more affordable and less crowded option that’s still close to all that Honolulu has to offer. One of the most brilliant aspects of traveling to Honolulu is the huge array of apartment and condo rentals available. Grabbing an Airbnb or VRBO can offer a highly accessible and private getaway for a much lower price point.

What’s the LGBTQ+ culture like there?

Honolulu is one of our favorite places to go simply because of the tight-knit LGBTQ+ community there. In the spirit of Aloha, the community is easy-going, friendly, warm, and welcoming. There are many gay beaches, bars, and clubs in the area, and we found it fairly easy to make local friends in comparison to other places we’ve traveled. On our first day in Honolulu, we went to Kaimana’s Beach, a gay beach just down the way from Waikiki. We met a new friend there and for the rest of the week, he showed us around the island! Nowhere else have I been shown such hospitality.

Where should you grab a drink?

To start the evening with a happy hour drink, head to Lulu’s for beachside cocktails. Just around the corner, Hula’s is a very popular gay bar that many end their night at. We loved spending our evenings here, listening to Kylie Mynogue, Spice Girls, and all our pop favorites, it’s a fun and quintessentially cute place to meet others. Other popular locations include Tapas, Bacchus Waikiki, and Wang Chung’s for Karaoke!

What are the must-dos while visiting?

A great beach day might be all you need to perfect your time in Hawaii, and there are plenty of beaches to choose from on Oahu. Polo Beach is known to locals as not only an LGBTQ-friendly location but also a popular clothing-optional stretch of pristine golden sand on Oahu’s Northern coast. Lanikai and Sherwood are two of the most famous beaches on the island. Parking can be difficult, so make sure to head there earlier in the day to get a good spot. For those looking for an outdoor adventure, hike to Ka’ena Point, the westernmost edge of Oahu. Known for its remote coastal lava-crusted shoreline, Ka’ena Point’s rugged hiking trails lead to incredibly beautiful vistas providing Oahu’s largest Laysan albatross sanctuary. The hike in total is three miles to the edge, and three miles back from the starting point on the North Shore. We watched the sunset as albatrosses flew overhead, and it truly was a sight I’ll never forget.

What are the top Instagrammable spots?

Some of the best Instagrammable spots are often in between Honolulu and the beaches around the island. Along the North Shore heading back from Lanikai and Sherman beaches, cliffs surrounded by jungle create an unbelievable backdrop. The scene has been used for movies like Jurassic Park. We were stunned as we drove around the bends back to the city. We stopped at Halona Cove to find a crater-like beach surrounded by steep and rocky cliffs. Many were taking advantage of the last hours of sunlight snorkeling in the turquoise waters, but we recognized this as one of the top photography spots on the island. For another fun Instagram moment, head to Banan Beach Shack, grab a brightly colored frozen treat, and take your selfie with Waikiki’s waves and sand behind you.

What’s your favorite memory from there?

On our last day in Honolulu, some of our friends we had met during our time there on the island booked us a day cruise on a catamaran. Departing from Waikiki Beach, we sailed around the bay sipping plenty of cocktails. It was absolutely beautiful to see the city from this different perspective. Once we arrived back, we grabbed a bite to eat and continued the fun with one last night out. Walking in my flip-flops from the catamaran to the nearby bars for a night out perfectly encapsulated the laid-back spirit of Hawaii.

Learn more about Michael and Matt

Most recently we asked Michael and Matt about LGBTQ+ travel to Playa del Carmen and Quintana Roo in Mexico.

Be sure to follow Michael and Matt at their blog (www.michaelandmatt.com), Instagram (@michaelandmatt), YouTube (@michaelandmatt), and TikTok (@michaelandmatt1).