What To Pack For Hawaii

Ready to head out on your trip to Hawaii, but have no idea what to pack? My ultimate Hawaii packing list is here to help!

I’ve gotten so many e-mails from friends, family and readers recently saying “Hey Kait! My husband/mom/cousin and I are finally coming to Hawaii! What should I pack?!” Packing for Hawaii can be overwhelming!

In any case, if there is anyone out there hoping to visit, planning a Hawaii vacation or just daydreaming, I figured it was high time I put together a Hawaii packing list for the beautiful Hawaiian islands. In my ten years in Hawaii, we’ve visited every island and hiked many a mountain, so I hope you find this guide on what to pack for Hawaii helpful.

What To Pack For Hawaii: Ultimate Hawaii Packing List

I cannot emphasize enough that Hawaii, overall, is a very casual and laid-back atmosphere. Leave your pumps and night club attire at home. Certainly I find an event for them now and then, but for your 7-10 day vacation, you’ll be fine without it. Ready to pack? Let’s get going!

Hawaii Packing List

For The Beach: A big beach bag (I recommend using it as your carry-on on the plane so you have to stuff fewer things in your suitcase, a quality sun hat (the rays here are relentless!), a colorful swimsuit and a cover-up. I always recommend packing 3 different swimsuits and 1-2 cover-ups. These swim coverups are less than $20 and look SO CUTE! Plus, the quality for the price is unbeatable.

For sight-seeing: Think flowy and comfortable. I’m a big fan of maxi dresses and flip flops or jean shorts and linen tanks/shirts. Rainbow flip flops are my favorite because they can be taken from the beach to dinner and beyond! They also have great support if you plan on doing a good bit of walking.

For a nice dinner: Again, think flowy and comfortable! The last thing you want against potentially sun-burned skin is something tight and itchy. I usually pair a flowy top with white jeans (year round over here, no shame!) and my favorite pair of wedges. Pack one or two outfits you can interchange for new looks 🙂

For hiking: You truly cannot go wrong here by rocking workout apparel. In fact, this is my uniform most days. I don’t like to hike in nice sunglasses, so I usually wear a hat. Be sure to pack sneakers you don’t mind getting a little muddy! If you’re here on vacation and enjoy fitness, pack a few extra workout outfits since the weather is always sure to provide the perfect temps for an outdoor sweat sesh.

Miscellaneous: Quality sunscreen (yes we have it here, but it’s easier to just bring it along so you aren’t spending vacation money on a necessity like sunscreen). Just a note – it’s important to be aware of what type of sunscreen you are using. Be sure to check out my Ultimate Guide to Reef Safe Sunscreen before you arrive since it’s important to protect Hawaiian reefs and ecosystems.

Also make sure to pack your camera, a good pair of sunglasses (polarized if you’ve got them!), a fun clutch to carry your I.D. and some lipgloss at dinner (I love these splash-proof pouches, because they’re waterproof!) and a long sleeved top or pashmina for chillier nights. If you’ve been in the sun, you will get cold here. It sounds crazy, but trust me.

Have you been to Hawaii? What was your favorite part?

If you liked this post, you might enjoy: Hiking Hawaii: Where To Go + What To Bring or Ultimate Activity Guide To Oahu