The ultimate guide of what to pack for a Hawaii vacation

After many visits to all the islands of Hawaii, we’ve become Hawaii vacation packing pros. In this article, I’m sharing my best tips for what to pack for your Hawaii vacation.

Clothes to pack for a Hawaii vacation

Clothes to wear for sightseeing and activities in Hawaii

Hawaii’s weather might best be described as warm and humid. Think about what you like to wear on a hot summer day. We suggest you pack:

  • Casual shirts – T-shirts are most everyone’s go-to shirt for the daytime.

Pro-tips:

      • Moisture-wicking and quick-drying tops can help you stay drier if you get caught out in a brief rain shower and/or perspiration.
      • Sun-protective tops with a built-in ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) are ideal for a Hawaii vacation. Most tops with UPF are also moisture-wicking and quick-drying. If you don’t already have this style top, search UPF on Amazon as they have a wide range of UPF tops.
      • To help keep you cooler in the hot sun, pack and wear light-colored shirts
  • Shorts and/or skorts – Pack shorts that you are comfortable wearing. When you’re out exploring the islands, you’ll likely be popping in and out of the car to look at the scenery. You might also be walking a dirt path to view points. Shorts and skorts with a little bit of stretch in the fabric tend to be most comfortable.
  • Long, moisture-wicking, quick-drying trousers – we’ve written an article explaining why you’ll want to pack this type of pant. Do read that article, but in the meantime, we’ll suffice it to say that there are some types of tours and activities that you need to wear long trousers in order to participate.
  • Breathable, waterproof jacket can prove to be multi-functional on your Hawaii vacation. In addition to keeping you dry if it rains, there are some situations where your jacket can help you stay comfortably warm in the higher elevations where temperatures are noticeably cooler. You will likely want a sweater or jacket if you go to the following areas:
    • Waimea Canyon on Kauai
    • Haleakala summit on Maui
    • Mauna Kea on Hawaii’s Big Island
    • Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on Hawaii’s Big Island
    • Lanai City on Lanai
Beach and pool clothing
  • Swimsuits

Pro-tip: you’ll want to pack at least two swimsuits so that you’ll have a dry one to wear. 

  • Swimsuit cover-up– Most hotels and restaurants prefer that guests wear cover-ups when walking through the resort lobbies and when dining.
  • Rash guard tops

Pro-tip: Rash guards have sun protection, UPF, built into them. See our article explaining the benefits of wearing rash guards in Hawaii. They’re excellent to wear for any water sport, including snorkeling, kayaking, surfing, etc.

Clothes to wear to dinner in Hawaii

Overall Hawaii is very casual, so you probably won’t need to get “dressed up.” Very, very few restaurants require dinner jackets.

  • Resort wear – Most restaurants will describe their dress code as “resort wear.” So what does “resort wear” mean? Men might want to wear dressier shorts or khaki trousers and a short-sleeved shirt with a collar. Ladies may want to wear casual skirts, sundresses, capri pants or dressier shorts. We’ve written a couple of articles that provide examples of what the typical evening wear is for Hawaii. Check them out at these links:
  • A light sweater and/or jacket is a good piece to bring with you on a Hawaii vacation, particularly if you visit in the winter months as there might be a slight chill in the air after sunset.

Pro-tip: To save space in your luggage, wear your sweater or jacket on your flight to Hawaii. You might appreciate the added warmth if the cabin temperature is chilly.

Clothing basics for a vacation

Well these items probably go without saying, but we thought it might be helpful to list anyway.

  • Underwear
  • Socks
  • Sleepwear

Pro-tip: Most four and five-star Hawaii hotels provide bathrobes for their guests to use during their stay.

Shoes to pack for a Hawaii vacation

As we said earlier, Hawaii is a casual destination, so, you won’t need dressy shoes. In fact, most comfortable, casual shoes will work just fine. We write an article detailing the three basic types of shoes you’ll need for a Hawaii vacation. Do read that article for helpful information. As for the reader’s digest version, here are

the shoes you’ll need.

  • Comfortable walking/hiking shoe that can get wet and muddy
  • Casual sandal or slip-on shoe to go with your resort wear
  • Flip flops for the pool and to wear to the beach. Note that some people like reef shoes, we’ve brought them with us in the past, but rarely use them.

Pro-tip: Save space in your luggage by wearing your bulkiest shoe on your flight.

Toiletries you need to pack for a Hawaii vacation

Of course you’ll want to bring your toothbrush and toothpaste and other personal grooming items. Most Hawaii accommodations provide soap, shampoo, conditioner and lotion.

  • Mosquito repellent – We like to use mosquito repellent wipes rather than a spray in order to minimize the number of liquids we bring. We find it’s convenient to carry individually-wrapped wipes, such as these OFF wipes.
  • Anti-itch product in case the mosquito repellent didn’t work or got washed off. We’ve found that the “stick-style” anti-itch products are most convenient for travel. For example, here’s an anti-itch product by Cutter that’s packaged in a stick.

Pro-tip: Any liquid toiletry in a container that is larger than 3.4 ounces, you will have to place in your checked luggage. See the TSA checklist for more details on traveling with liquids.

Accessories to pack for a Hawaii vacation

  • Sunglasses, ideally polarized sunglasses are best in Hawaii.
  • Hat or visor
  • Camera/phone with lots of memory and battery life. Don’t forget to bring your chargers, too. Recharge often as you might be surprised at how many photos you’ll want to take. Portable chargers are useful to pack, too.
  • Binoculars for views, watching lava, bird watching and humpback whale watching (January – April)
  • If you plan to do a lot of hiking, consider bringing a collapsible-hiking pole, which can be really useful on tricky trails.
  • Small flashlight can be helpful and we’ve used them occasionally at night. They’re essential if you do any night hikes to see lava flowing.
  • Lightweight, waterproof backpack for carrying snacks, water, guidebook, mosquito repellent and other sightseeing necessities for when you  hike, go on tours, etc. A backpack can double as a beach bag or you might consider bringing reusable shopping bag that doubles as a beach bag.
  • Bring a waterproof floating case or other waterproof bag that will protect your keys, cash, cards, etc. Never swim with your rental car keys unprotected in your pocket. Never leave valuables unattended at the beach. As an example, here’s a waterproof, belted pouch that meets this criteria.
  • Guidebooks – My personal favorites are the Ultimate/Revealed island guidebooks. I prefer the paperback versions of these guidebooks, but they can also be accessed electronically, too. They’re the best guidebooks we’ve found with great descriptions and useful maps. These guidebooks are very well organized and easy to read. Though I will caution that you always need to check safety conditions, particularly around streams and the ocean before following advice from the Revealed guides. Also, be careful not to trespass. Here are links to the individual island Revealed series guidebooks.

More Hawaii packing tips for special situations

If you plan to go to higher elevations (above 10,000 ft) like Haleakala (Maui) or Mauna Kea (Big Island):

Note: if you are going on an organized tour, the tour company will usually provide a parka. So check what will be provided before you pack a heavy coat.

    • Thermal underwear
    • Windproof gloves
    • Warm, windproof jacket
    • Winter hat, headband, and/or ear muffs.
    • Long pants and shirts for layering
    • Flashlight if you plan to be there for stargazing.

If you plan to watch lava flowing on the Big Island:

Note: Depending on if the lava is flowing and where it is flowing, you might need to hike in order to see it. If you do have to hike, these are the things you’ll need to make sure you pack.

    • Hiking shoes or trail trainers for walking over uneven lava surfaces.A good hiking sandal with a closed-toe would also work. We do not advise you walk over fresh lava, however, if you should decide to take that risk, you will need a shoe with a thick sole.
    • Hiking poles
    • Long pants – like hiking pants.
    • Flashlight for finding your way in the dark. (Nighttime lava viewing is best.)
    • Gloves can be helpful in case of a fall.
    • See our advice for seeing lava activity in Hawaii.
    • Binoculars

Still more Hawaii vacation packing tips:

We hope these packing tips will help you as you prepare for your vacation to Hawaii. Please feel free to add any of your special packing tips in the comments.

70 comments
  1. Thank you for the time you put into this….very helpful…few things on your list I never thought about. Thanks again 🙂

  2. If you don’t want to carry all your baby gear with you. Paradise Baby Co. offers a baby equipment rentals island wide. Cribs, strollers, high chairs, beach gear, toys, even bikes for the older kids. FREE pick up and delivery!

    1. Aw shucks, thanks, Janet. 🙂

      I just updated the list to include that photo of honest to goodness — all the clothes I packed for a long Hawaii vacation. The 3-oz spray bottle of Febreeze was my best friend. 🙂

  3. Thank you so much for your wonderful and indespensible site!! We are headed to Oahu next Monday for a week (my English husband’s first trip to Hawaii and my second, but first time visiting Oahu) and I have studied your site religiously 🙂 I can’t wait for a great trip! Thanks for all the wonderful articles!

    1. There are some services that will provide/deliver baby equipment and stuff, Search for those.
      Hawaii’s sun is so strong, son make sure the baby is protected.

  4. I am going to Hawaii in March in spring break time this year. What to you feel is best place to eat dinner with my boyfriend were 25yrs old. he loves chicken? i am also going with a big family ages 2yrs old to 50yrs old is there a restaurant you recommend? this list you provided has been very useful and i will definetly bring this to the attention to my rest of the group going with us to Hawaii Oahu i am so excited!

    1. Diana — there’s so many good restaurants in Oahu. There’s probably more restaurants in Honolulu alone than all of the rest of Hawaii. I believe I’ve seen chicken on just about every menu in Hawaii, so you shouldn’t have any trouble finding chicken dishes.

      Check out each of the links listed here: https://www.govisithawaii.com/oahu-where-to-eat/ to get some ideas. That should help guide you to restaurants that sound good to you.

  5. Great list. Thanks! Very helpful.
    I’m puzzled about one thing though – why would you have to throw your sneakers away if they got muddy? Couldn’t you just wash them?

    1. Chad – I don’t throw away things easily, but these shoes had to go. They were muddy and they had gotten wet from having to cross a stream. It wasn’t as if the soles alone got muddy — the entire shoe had hit the mud. Not wanting to get the interior of our rental car dirty from the shoes, I put them in the trunk where they soured within a couple of days. So, there were several reasons for tossing these, but I would have tossed them just on the mud alone as I didn’t want to spare the vacation time and effort to try to clean them.

  6. 1st time for me visiting hawaii. was to go w/ a friend but he bailed on me. i have no idea “where” which island, accomadations.
    i prefer private,looking for small cottage to rent, close to beach. cook on my own.
    glad i found your site thank you HELP. i want to make this simple, fun and enjoyable w/out mistakes.
    kk

  7. My wife and I are off to the big island in 3 weeks and are wondering how great is the helicopter tour in Hilo with the doors off… By the way I purchased the, Hawaii Big Island Revealed, guide book you recommended and it’s a great guide book.

  8. I think we’re gonna try the “doors off” tour. Thank you so much for the wealth of information. We have found your down to earth advise to be very helpful.

  9. I was wondering if you had any information about the Kazamura Cave tours. I was reading some information about a tour off of a local residents property, on tripadvisor, and apparently it gets a lot of good reviews. Is this tour something you would recommend?

  10. I am honeymooning on Oahu and Maui in June this year, and really appreciate this detailed list as well as all of your other tips. My fiance and I have never been to Hawaii, so thank you for the great packing suggestions!

  11. thanks a lot! this was very direct and to the point about what to pack for hawaii, not to mention detailed!

    just what my fiance needed for figuring out what to pack for our wedding and honeymoon.. although he will need to add his tux and accessories, and my ring to the list!

    thank you!

  12. Oh, I’m going to Hawaii tomorrow and I am so excited! 🙂 The sights, tips, and suggestions are helpful, useful, and wonderful. :0 Well, g’day, and wish me a good seven-days at Hawaii! 😉

    (By the way, it could also be “7-days”)

  13. The packing and preparation can stress you out a bit, but it’s the key to a fun and safe vacation. It will save you tons of headaches, and money as well.

  14. Wow, those are all the clothes you brought for 17 days? Did you stay somewhere with a washer/dryer? I tend to over pack, but I’m not sure I can get by with only a few items. Thanks!

    1. Jenn – yes we did stay in a condo with a washer and dryer for the last portion of that trip. I don’t remember us doing much laundry, though.

      You can always hand wash a few items in your room – like hiking clothes that might get sweaty — and air dry them in your room or discreetly (out of plain view) and securely (anchor them down if it’s windy) dry them on your lanai (balcony).

      Downey and Febreeze both make spray clothing refreshers that’s the next best thing to doing laundry.

      1. OK, I’m going to try this! Well, at least get my stuff down to something more manageable. Thank you!

        1. You can do it, Jenn! 🙂

          Good luck and please let us know how it ends up working out for you.

      2. hi Sheila ,
        I am travelliing to hawaii on Spring break which is from March 15 to March 22nd . me my husband and one 7rs old daughter and a 6 month baby. Plase advice which are the specific items i need to carry during spring seasons

  15. Hello! Your list is great and it will certainly help all of us pack for our trip to Hawaii coming up. It will be myself, my husband and our two grown kids – 23 yr old son and 21 yr old daughter (who thinks she needs a couple suitcases!) We are visiting three islands – Oahu, Kauai, and Maui – we will be gone Dec. 29 – Jan. 10. We will be gone 12 nights. Coming from MN in the winter time, we won’t have a problem with having jeans and a heavy coat available!
    My question to you is how many shirts/shorts/t-shirts/dresses, etc. did each of you bring? You mention the type of clothes, but not how many of each. If you could provide that information, I should would appreciate it! 🙂
    Thank you!

    1. Mary – there’s no set number of shirts, shorts, dresses, etc. to bring. We pack differently for each trip based on the level and type of activities we have in our plans. For example, if one day we plan to do mostly beach and ocean activities, we may not pack shirts and shorts for that day. If we plan to do a lot of hiking, we might plan to bring more moisture wicking t-shirts and shorts. If we aim to sight seeing, we might be able to re-wear shorts and/or shirts another day — especially if we bring a fabric refresher like Downey or Febreeze.

      Because we tend to only wear our “nice” shirts, shorts and dresses for a few hours around dinner time, we usually re-wear those clothes on another evening during our stay. If we’re moving islands or resorts, it’s easier to re-wear those items without worrying if anyone would notice us re-wearing the same clothing.

      Take a look at your vacation plans and then use that to guide you to the number of shirts, shorts, dresses, etc. to pack.

      1. Is there a place to get a inexpensive beach chair there in maui, instead of sitting on the sand for hrs.

  16. We will be going Honolulu & staying in Waikiki beach area from 4/18-26. I am packing sleeveless shirts, spring sweaters, light jacket, shorts, Capri pants , jean, skirts, dress, thong sandle, & a sneaker. It will be in low 80f. Wouldn’t it be too hot to wear polo shirts? I tend to over pack. If you could give me advice on what not to pack I would very much appreciated.

    1. Unless you need the jeans for atv riding, horseback riding, etc., I wouldn’t bring jeans. Jeans would be too hot! You might want to wear jeans on the flights to and from Hawaii only.

      Please don’t get hung up on polo shirts. There’s nothing magical about them. I tend to wear both short-sleeved and elbow-length shirts in Hawaii with no problems.

  17. Bringing firearms to Hawaii: A warning.

    If you are planning to bring firearms to Hawaii, please be aware that the gun laws in Hawaii are strict and the penalties are severe. Their laws are among the strictest in the U.S.A.

    It is important that prior to traveling to Hawaii, you check with the Hawaiian authorities regarding local firearms laws and regulations and licensing requirements. While in Hawaii you must be fully knowledgeable and compliant of Hawaiian firearms laws and regulations.

    Firearms in Hawaii are subject to the laws of Hawaii, not the state of Texas or any other state. In the State of Hawaii, a firearms violation, however minor, can be considered a FELONY CRIMINAL OFFENSE subject to time in prison under Hawaii State law.

    The conceal – carry licenses and permits issued by other states are not recognized by the Hawaiian authorities and local conceal – carry permits are issued only on rare occasions to certain local law enforcement and security personnel. Under some circumstances (such as having a criminal record) some individuals may not be allowed to possess any firearms at all in Hawaii.

    Considering that the gun laws in Hawaii are strict and the penalties are severe, for your protection from falling into a legal trap over a misunderstanding or lack of knowledge of Hawaiian gun laws and regulations, you are urged to seriously and carefully consider the wisdom of bringing guns and/or ammunition of any kind into Hawaii.

  18. I am packing for our trip to Maui in August. I m unaware of what else to bring, All I have so far is 6 tees, 2 shorts, 3 swimming trunks, 3 boxers, 1 pair of socks, track pants and a sweat shirt(because of the sunrise tour), a video camera, earbuds, a charger and a towel. We are going for 1 week and booked a condo at The Palms at Wailea. Is this enough for the time we’ll be there?

    1. If you feel that’s all you need after you read the entire article, that could be enough for you.

  19. We will be visiting Oahu, Maui, and the Big Island (Volcano area) over 2 weeks. We do plan on doing some snorkeling may 2-3 times at our leisure. Do you recommend bringing our own snorkel and mask? We have brought them in the past on other trips.

    1. If you have a mask that fit you well and you have the room in your luggage, bring it. We used to just rent masks or use the ones that are provided on snorkeling tours until about a year ago. After having some issues with loaner masks leaking and not fitting well, we invested in our own. We’re still able to find room in our carry-on only luggage for the masks.

  20. Hi Sheila, thank you so much for all the hard work you’ve put into this website! I was wondering if deodrant and wipes would be considered liquids/aerosols/gels that we would need to put in our quart size bagggies for our carry on? We are trying to minimize what we bring. Thank you!

    1. Hi Jessica – if the deodorant is a “solid” it would not have to go in the quart-sized baggie for carry on. If it’s a gel or aerosol, it would need to go in the baggie. I don’t believe pre-moistened wipes are considered a liquid and therefore wouldn’t need to go in the baggie — at least that’s been my understanding and practice.

  21. Hilo, September weather….what type of clothing??? Cooler? Warmer? I’m in The Midwest and a first timer to Hawaii! We will be in Hilo for 11 days. Thanks 🙂

  22. Do you have any experience with renting motorcycles? We have 2days with a motorcycle on the big island. I’m wondering if you know what to pack for that? I have a long sleeve, light hoodie and was planning a riding jacket?? We do have rain gear packed as well. Thanks

  23. Thanks for the list! My first time. We are heading to waikiki on Wednesday and staying a week! My biggest fear is the jelly fish.
    Any advice?
    We want to do the shark cage diving and snorkeling.
    I am a heavier, thicker young lady so being in a rash guard that will be stuck to me is dreadful.

    Thanks for the advice.

    1. perhaps you’re concerned about the box jelly fish that tend to come to Oahu’s south shores once a month… if so, enjoy looking at the beach, but take a dip in the hotel pool instead of the ocean. You could also go to a beach that’s not south facing.

  24. Thanks for all of the info. My husband and I will be first time visitors this summer. Any suggestions for not so active elderly visitors?

    1. There’s lots of wonder sightseeing to be done on all the islands. If you don’t want to do the driving, you can find tour companies.

      Going to a luau is fun, especially for first time visitors.

      Catamaran tours are nice — for snorkeling or a sunset cruise.

      Walking around a botanical garden is a lovely way to spend a good bit of a day. (Make sure you wear mosquito repellant.)

      Helicopter tours are a thrilling way to see the islands.

  25. Great packing tips, thanks!
    We will be going to Kona the end of July besides going to a luau and under water submarine ND a dinner cruise what other activities or point to of it Teresa are in Kona?

  26. Thank you for providing such wonderful information. I’m travelling to Hawaii from Sydney Australia in September next year for the first time and unless I pack everything but the kitchen sink I was feeling quite anxious of how much to pack.

    I love the idea of febreeze to go, that’s an awesome idea and makes me rethink my planning. (yes I’m in the planing and budgeting stage now as I’m not a last minute person.

    With your suggestions, I think I will be able to pack a lot less than I was planning.

  27. Sheila,

    When I first started dreaming about moving to Hawaii, I came here several times, however only now, three years later, I’m finally moving to Oahu on the 29th – what a way to celebrate the new year! So I came back here as I’m doing all my final prep and planning and your posts are invaluable to me now. Just ordered the Thinksport sunscreen you recommended, and a few rashguard tops, from Amazon – to be delivered to my mailing address that I set up already. That way they’ll be waiting for me when I arrive. Once I get there I’m going to look for some good hiking sandals, and some options for dinner wear based on Andy’s article about attire!

    Mahalo

    Alan

    1. Aloha Alan- Nice to hear from you. How exciting that you’re moving to Oahu!

      We LOVE our rashguards and ThinkSport.

      Sending you our best wishes for your move!

  28. I like to pack a hometown t-shirt or two to wear. They are great conversation starters. Then buy souvenir shirts to show off back home.

    I pack a collapsible duffle with a day’s worth of clothing, etc for my carry on. It’s folded in my suitcase for the vacation, then filled with souvenirs as a carry on again for the trip home. Also, inside the duffle, I have a small tote with snacks and activity misc that stay at or under my plane seat when the duffle is in the overhead bin.

  29. I would like to know what’s the weather like in November The first week my partner an I are going for my birthday and what should we pack

  30. I am going for 21 nights to celebrate my retirement. I’m only 60, do you think I can do laundry between hotels? Staying at Marriott’s and Hyatt in Maui. Also what should I do in Maui besides Hana trail?

  31. Serious question, why does one need long pants for the volcano(I assume the hiking trails for volcano are slightly different that other hiking trails)? In case you slip you won’t scrape yourself? Or are there a lot of pointy rocky edges or thorny plants sticking out everywhere? Both? Thanks.

    1. Yes, to protect your legs if you fall on the hardened lava fields. Some lava can be jagged. Some can even be almost like chards of glass.

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