Thank God Alan Light never leaves home without his camera. His photos from the gay beaches of Waikiki taken in the late ’80s and early ’90s are pretty darn hot. (They also serve as a reminder to always wear sunscreen!)
“I started taking Waikiki, Hawaii beach photos in early 1987, and have continued to do so every time I am there,” Light tells Queerty. “I have never been able to just relax and lay in the sun for hours–it’s too boring. So I started walking up and down the beach with my camera.”
Related: PHOTOS: These Vintage Gay Pride Photos Are Absolutely Everything
“Looking back on the photos today you notice how swimsuit styles have changed,” he continues. “Back in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s many guys wore tiny speedos and thongs. Very few do today.”
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And ain’t that a shame!
Grab your SPF 45 and scroll down for pictures from the gay beaches of Waikiki. And see more of Alan’s photos on his Flickr page…
Billy Budd
The Speedo and the very short shorts are GOD’s gifts to gay men. HE designed them for us.
Bob LaBlah
Here’s some thing I have always wondered about. Why is it ok to wear a thong on the beach but not a jockstrap? With either one you are not nude and ones ass is hanging out regardless of which is being worn.
Billy Budd
@Bob LaBlah: The jockstrap shows and exposes the hole. It is neither hygienic nor decent. The thong protects the hole. LOL
John Kuehnle
Don’t own one and likely never will.
John Lewis
Ummmm…. Mnice pics but most of the suits weren’t speedos
avesraggiana
@Billy Budd: EEEEEEK!!!!!! You talked about THE HOLE!!! EEEEEEEK!!!!!!
*Running off in manner of Phoebe, and equally horrified and titillated fan girl*
avesraggiana
So how did we get to this point, where we’ve all been coerced into sporting these board-shorts-style, pantaloon-like swimming trunks, favoured by chopstick-legged white fratboys; grizzled, potbellied Joe-Shlubs; pasty-coloured, shapeless Daddies that I DON’T wanna F**K; NBA players; short, fat Filipino teenage wannabe gangbangers; and Mexican gangbangers alike, that flatter absolutely no one?
Stache
Speedos only work if you have less the 6% body fat and a small waist. The rest need to wear board shorts or similar.
Bob LaBlah
@Stache: “Speedos only work if you have less the 6% body fat and a small waist.”
I felt the same way when I lived in NYC and went to Bally’s. I tried to tell several guys I knew that they were too large boned to be wearing those Andrew Christian jock straps that was becoming the new “must have” gay-locker room item. Those jock straps look good on those they were designed for but horrific on those who didn’t think before they bought them. A designer jock strap or thong was not meant for beer bellies and pancaked asses. I moved back home in 2013 but still laugh many a day thinking back to that locker room and steam room freak show.
Bauhaus
I find snugly fit board shorts sexier than speedos.
Bob LaBlah
@Billy Budd: Thanks. I never thought about that but when you stop to think about the spaghetti strap thong………….on second thought maybe it best I let this one go (if you get my drift). Thanks again for the info.
GLF
Y’all do realize that board shorts are a choice you don’t have to make, right? There are many manufacturers who sell trunks with a trimmer design, and yes, even Speedo is still in business. All the guys I know wear square cut or brief-cut swimwear, at least when we’re among family. Who the hell in the gay community is wearing straight boy board shorts? I mean, if you want to wear that, go right ahead, but don’t bitch and act like there’s nothing else available.
Chevelter
Check out the link to the photographer’s flickr page – 974 more photos, from 1987 through 2016
https://www.flickr.com/photos/alan-light/sets/72157610513389124
nature boy
most of the shots published in this story are NOT from Waikiki’s gay beaches…. they are from Waikiki’s STRAIGHT beaches.
Chevelter
@nature boy: Nature boy is correct. Only a tiny section of Waikiki Beach is the “gay beach” – Queens Beach area. These shots are of guys from all over the entire beach area, not just the gay area, which is fine with me though.
tcountry627
7th picture looks like gay porn star/legend Tony Davis. He’s on the right. HOT!!!!!!!!!!
Bob LaBlah
I wonder would it do any good to tell Queerty that there seems to be a virus in the software that posts the same comment twenty times? I notice they seem to be coming from links but its happening on nearly every link that posts a comment.
Frederick M. Weisinger
Big deal similar Bondi beach & other beaches. To day men wear pantaloons ,girls cigarette paper size cover. Loved nude beaches.
Brian
Men should wear Speedos at all beaches, not just “gay” beaches. They’re the most functional type of swimwear as they reduce drag.
American men have a strange aversion to them for some reason. Maybe it’s feminism which has body-shamed American men.
Jay Smith
If you got the body they never go out of style!!!!
OutInTheOC
Reminds me of 1000 steps in Laguana Beach……same looks and style…..different beach…..man, those were the days. Thanks for the memories!
dantheman91
i wonder how many of them are dead