The Perfect Hawaii Packing List: 31 Essential Items
When I visited Hawaii, I fell in love with these incredible Islands. This popular destination is perfect for beach lovers, spotting wildlife, hiking, adaptive surfing, and has something for everyone. So, when fellow travel blogger Haley Chavez asked if she could write a post on essential items to have on a Hawaii packing list, I absolutely agreed.
I know that you will find her suggestions helpful for preparing for your trip to this amazing destination. So keep reading to see what she has to say.
Planning a trip to Hawaii and wondering what to bring? You’re in the right place! I just got back from exploring the beautiful island of Maui, and after agonizing over exactly what I needed to pack for the trip, I now know exactly what needs to be on your Hawaii packing list.
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31 Hawaii Packing List Travel Essentials
Let’s start with the essentials!
Travel Documents
Above all, you’ll want to make sure you have the correct travel documents before going to Hawaii.
1. Passport
If you’re flying in from outside the United States, you’ll need to bring a passport.
2. Driver’s License/ Government Issued Photo ID
If you plan on renting a car to explore the islands, you’ll want to bring along your driver’s license, which also works as a good form of ID if you’re a US citizen flying in from the States.
Money and Payment Methods
3. Credit/Debit Cards
Pretty much everywhere you go in Hawaii accepts credit/debit cards. It’s always a good idea to bring at least one backup in case you lose a card or it stops working.
4. Cash
While most places in Hawaii accept credit/debit, not everywhere does! If you want to buy a pineapple or some shaved ice off the side of the road, you might need cash to pay.
It’s also a good idea to add cash to your Hawaii packing list so you can tip people! If you plan on doing any boat tours like snorkeling or a sunset cruise, it’s great to have some cash on hand to tip the hard-working crew at the end of the tour.
Essential Electronics
While not all of these electronics are essential per se, they’re really nice to have and I personally brought all of these electronics on my last trip to Hawaii.
5. Camera
Hawaii is flat-out GORGEOUS. Whether you’re exploring epic waterfalls, the jungle, crystal clear beaches, volcanoes, wildlife… Hawaii is beautiful, and it’s really nice to have a camera on you to capture all those magic moments.
My go-to travel camera is the Sony Alpha 6000. It’s a great travel camera because it’s so tiny. If I’m hiking through the rainforest and it starts to get a little drizzly out (which did happen while I was hiking on Maui), I can just tuck the camera inside my raincoat, and it won’t get wet.
It’s also nice having such a small camera because it makes packing easier, especially if you’re trying to one-bag it.
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6. Go-Pro
If you’re planning a trip to Hawaii and plan on doing any water activities like snorkeling, whale watching, swimming, etc, I recommend adding a Go-Pro to your packing list. While snorkeling the Molokini crater on Maui, I was super stoked that I had a Go-Pro to capture all the beautiful colorful fish, sea turtles, and coral.
They’re also just great compact cameras if you want to travel with a camera without the hassle.
👉🏻 Check Go Pro Prices on Amazon by Clicking Here.
7. Chargers
Don’t forget phone chargers and any other chargers you need for cameras, e-readers, etc. It can also be nice to add a power bank to your Hawaii packing list for long plane rides, or long days where you won’t be home all day to charge your devices.
8. E-Reader
Don’t get me wrong, I love a good old-fashioned book as much as the next person. However, when you’re traveling, every little bit of space in your luggage counts, and sometimes you don’t have room to pack real books. That’s where having an e-reader comes in handy!
If you’re planning on spending hours in Hawaii lounging on beaches, or by the pool at your hotel, it’s nice to have an E-reader on hand to read your favorite books.
👉🏻 Check out E-Reader Options and Prices on Amazon by Clicking Here.
Clothing to Include in your Hawaii Packing List
The type of clothing to include in your Hawaii packing list really depends on what type of trip to Hawaii you’re planning. Are you planning on mostly hitting the beaches? Are you planning on going out to some nicer dinners and looking to get more dressed up? Are you planning on exploring, and maybe getting a little dirty?
There are all things to consider when coming up with your ultimate Hawaii packing list. To keep things simple, I’ve included a little bit of everything, assuming you’re going to hike a little, lounge on the beaches some, and maybe go to a nicer dinner or two, starting with the basics.
9. 2-3 Sundresses
The weather in Hawaii is warm and tropical, and it’s nice to have a few lightweight sundresses to slip into. Especially after a day of lounging by the pool, or hanging out at the beach.
Sundresses can also be dressed up and worn out for a nice dinner, luau, or just for watching the sunset. In lieu of a third sundress, you can also bring along a nice swimsuit coverup.
10. 2-3 Pairs of Shorts
Shorts are a super important item on any Hawaii packing list. I don’t recommend bringing along three pairs of denim shorts, but rather maybe a pair of linen shorts, a pair of light flowy shorts, and then maybe one pair of denim shorts.
11. 1 Pair of Linen Pants and a Top
On my most recent trip to Maui, I LIVED in linen. Amazon has tons of linen sets available right now, including long pants and tank tops, tee shirts, and flowy long sleeves.
👉🏻 Check styles and sizes of the linen clothing available on Amazon by clicking here.
12. 3-4 Tank Tops
It’s a good idea to add 3-4 different tank tops to your packing list. You can include a mix of dressy, casual, and athletic tank tops.
13. 7 Pairs of Undergarments
Even if you’re spending all your time in your bathing suit, it’s nice to have a week or so worth of undergarments when you’re packing for any trip. Hawaii is pretty hot so it’s nice to have breathable materials for underwear like cotton.
14. Breathable Socks
If you plan on wearing anything other than flip-flops on your trip to Hawaii (totally not mandatory), be sure to bring along breathable socks. Merino wool is super nice for socks because it is moisture-wicking, odor-resistant, and thermoregulating.
15. Lightweight Rain Jacket or Rain Poncho
Even if you’re visiting Hawaii in the summer, you’re in the tropics after all, and you never know when it might rain. It’s always a good idea to bring a lightweight rain jacket with you on a trip to Hawaii, no matter the time of year.
If you’re traveling in the fall or winter, it’s an especially good idea to pack a lightweight rain jacket! When I visited Oahu in September, it rained almost every day.
However, there were hardly any other tourists, flights and hotels were cheap, and I had an amazing trip. September is an amazing time for surfers to visit Hawaii, along with anyone else traveling on a budget!
👉🏻 Check out this rain poncho designed for wheelchair users on Amazon by clicking here.
Beach and Water Gear to Bring to Hawaii
16. Water Bottle
It’s all too easy to get dehydrated under the hot Hawaiian sun, so be sure to bring along a refillable water bottle. My go-to is my 32 oz Hydroflask. However, if you’re trying to save space in your suitcase, you can also opt for a more packable water bottle like this one.
17. Reef Safe Sun Screen
One of the most important items you can include on any Hawaiian packing list is some high-quality reef-safe sunscreen. I didn’t even know what reef-safe sunscreen truly meant until my first trip to Hawaii.
Essentially, the ONLY sunscreens that are truly safe for the coral environments have the active ingredients of non-nano titanium dioxide and non-nano zinc.
If the sunscreen has any other active ingredients listed, that means that it is absolutely not reef-safe. If you don’t own any reef-safe sunscreen, here’s a guide to some of the best reef-safe sunscreens on the market.
18. Sunglasses
The sun is super intense in Hawaii, so be sure not to forget your sunglasses. Polarized sunglasses are the best for protecting your eyes.
19. Lightweight Beach Towel
While some hotels have beach towels available for guests to use, not all do, which is why when I pack for Hawaii I always bring along a lightweight beach towel of my own.
My favorite is my Sand Cloud towel. It’s very lightweight and works great as a fashionable beach towel.
Microfiber towels also work pretty well as beach towels, and they’re even better for drying off than Turkish towels like the Sand Cloud. They just don’t repel sand as well.
👉🏻 Check Prices and Availability for the Sand Cloud Towel on Amazon by Clicking Here.
20. 3-4 Swimsuits
You really can’t bring too many swimsuits to Hawaii. I recommend having at least one swimsuit that’s a little more on the athletic side so that you can safely wear it for any more vigorous water activities and trust that it won’t come off.
21. Water Shoes
Water shoes aren’t entirely necessary to pack, but they’re also not a bad thing to have. Personally, I haven’t brought water shoes with me on any of my trips to Hawaii.
However, one of my good friends just returned this week from a trip to Hawaii and while exploring one of the beaches, he stepped on an urchin, which definitely put a damper on his trip. While urchin spines might still be able to penetrate through water shoes, they might help prevent it in some cases.
Urchins aside, some of the rocks and reefs are super sharp at many of the beaches in Hawaii, and water shoes will help protect your feet.
22. Sandals
No matter what your plans are for your Hawaii trip, definitely pack some sandals! I like Tevas because they’re cute enough to wear out, but they’re also very functional and great for things like shorter waterfall hikes.
👉🏻 Check out sizes and colors of Tevas Scandals on Amazon by clicking here.
23. Sun Hat with Chin Strap
Be sure not to forget a sun hat while you pack for your Hawaii trip. I highly recommend bringing a sun hat with a chin strap so you don’t lose your hat.
This is convenient for swimming, windy beach days, and pretty much necessary if you plan on going on any boat excursions like snorkeling, whale watching, and sunset cruises.
24. Rash Guard
Another Hawaii trip beach essential item is a rash guard. The water in Hawaii is pretty warm, so you won’t need a wetsuit if you plan on boogie boarding or surfing.
However, if your skin isn’t used to surfing without a wetsuit, you might develop a surf rash from the friction of the board rubbing against your skin.
A rash guard will not only prevent surf rash, but it’ll also protect your skin from the sun- and you won’t have to use as much sunscreen!
Hiking Gear
There are so many amazing hikes on the Hawaiian Islands, and if you plan on exploring any of them, be sure to bring along the right gear. Here is what I recommend.
25. Hiking Pants, Shorts, and Tops
Unless you’re hiking somewhere cold, you can get away with bringing either hiking shorts or hiking pants to Hawaii. Same with a long-sleeved top vs a tee shirt.
However, some of the jungle trails on the islands can get a little buggy, in which case it’s nice to have longer pants and tops to keep from being bitten! Additionally, some hikes in Haleakala National Park can be quite chilly due to the higher elevation.
26. Warm Clothes and a Waterproof Poncho
If you’re visiting Maui and plan on watching the sunrise at Haleakala, I highly recommend bringing not just warm clothes, but also waterproof clothes or a poncho.
At sunrise, it’s very cold up in Haleakala National Park. But what I wasn’t expecting was that we would literally be in the middle of a cloud, so it was also very wet! Even though I had packed clothes that were warm enough, they weren’t waterproof, and I got completely soaked. So did all my friends.
We were so envious of everyone with their ponchos keeping them dry, so I definitely recommend bringing one for the Haleakala sunrise.
27. Hiking Shoes or Tevas
If you’re only doing some shorter, easier waterfall hikes then you can probably get away with just Tevas, but if you’re planning on hiking much longer then I recommend packing a pair of hiking shoes.
Hiking shoes are a pretty bulky item to bring along, but there are so many incredible hikes on the islands it’s worth bringing a pair to do some exploring.
Other Travel Items to Have on Your Hawaii Packing List
28. Waterproof Phone Pouch
If you’re going on boats, to the beach, and exploring waterfalls, it’s nice to have a waterproof phone pouch to keep your phone safe from the water. This also comes in handy if you want to go swimming and don’t care to leave your valuables unattended on the beach.
29. Drybag
One of my favorite things to bring to Hawaii is a dry bag. I take it hiking if there’s going to be any swimming involved, and I always take it on any boat excursions. It’s perfect for protecting your valuables and beach towels from getting splashed on the boat.
I have this Earthpak drybag, and it’s lasted me years.
30. Bug Spray
There are a lot of mosquitoes on the Hawaiian Islands, and it’s worth adding bug spray to your Hawaii packing list. While you can definitely buy it there, it’s nice to bring some because it’ll be a lot more expensive to purchase once you’re on the island.
It also depends on which island you visit, and what time of year you visit. For example, I’ve found Oahu to be a lot more buggy than Maui.
31. Reusable Shopping Bags
If you’re staying somewhere with a kitchen, it’s not a bad idea to bring along a reusable shopping bag. I have this great little packable shopping bag, which hardly takes up any space in my backpack and I take it everywhere I go.
Tips for Sustainable Travel in Hawaii
➡️ Use Reef Safe Sunscreen
The coral reefs are precious, and one drop of chemical sunscreen is enough to bleach an entire swimming pool’s worth of coral reefs. My go-to reef-safe sunscreen is babyganics. It’s affordable and comes in travel sizes.
Order your Babyganics Reef-Safe Sunscreen on Amazon by clicking here.
➡️ Limit Waste
By bringing your own shopping bag, reusable utensils, and a reusable water bottle, you’ll be playing a huge part in limiting waste on the islands. This will help protect this incredible place for future generations.
➡️ Shop Local
Whenever possible, try to shop and stay local! This maximizes your positive impact on the Hawaiian economy.
➡️ Leave No Trace
LNT, or leave no trace really applies when traveling to all places, but it especially applies when traveling to Hawaii. Be sure not to leave any trash behind on the beaches, and also leave everything as you find it.
Furthermore, don’t take things like shells or volcanic rocks, and be sure not to touch and disturb any wildlife, whether on land or in the ocean.
Hawaii Packing List FAQs
How many bathing suits do I need for a week in Hawaii?
I recommend bringing at least 3 or 4 pairs of bathing suits for a week in Hawaii. They don’t take up much space in your luggage, so why not bring more than a few?
I usually like to bring a mix of athletic swimsuits, one-pieces, and bikinis, as it’s nice to have different suits for different types of activities. Plus, more often than not your bathing suit might end up doubling as underwear for the day, so it doesn’t hurt to bring along several suits.
What should I wear to dinner in Hawaii?
It’s nice to dress up for dinner in Hawaii, but you don’t have to be overly fancy. For women, a nice sundress with cute sandals is plenty or a nice linen set. For men, a pair of nice, lightweight pants and a linen shirt works well.
What is appropriate to wear to a luau?
If you’re attending a luau, it’s good practice to dress up just a little. For men, a nice Hawaiian shirt and some tan slacks or shorts with flip-flops work nicely. If you don’t have a Hawaiian shirt, a white polo or button-down will work.
For women, a nice floral dress and sandals is perfect. It isn’t really appropriate to wear a T-shirt to a luau.
Do I need water shoes for Hawaii?
Whether or not you bring water shoes to Hawaii is a matter of personal preference. Personally, I don’t bring water shoes to Hawaii. But I’m pretty accustomed to walking around barefoot.
If you’re not somebody who often walks around barefoot, and plans on doing some beach and maybe waterfall exploration, I recommend bringing some water shoes.
Do you wear jeans in Hawaii?
Typically, you don’t really wear jeans in Hawaii. Denim takes a long time to dry and is pretty heavy, which doesn’t bode well with the warm weather and humidity in Hawaii.
Since it’s so hot out, it’s nice to wear more lightweight and breathable materials like linen and cotton.
With that said, some people definitely still rock jeans in Hawaii, and if you love wearing jeans, it won’t be too hot at night to wear them if you desire.
The Ultimate Hawaii Packing List: Final Thoughts
That’s a wrap on this guide on what to bring to Hawaii! Overall, you’ll want to pack comfortable and lightweight clothing, plenty of bathing suits, and all the equipment you’ll need for whatever excursions you have planned for your trip to Hawaii. Have a great trip!
About the Author
Contributed by Haley Chavez, founder of Gathering Waves. Haley has spent years surfing and traveling all over California, Portugal, and Central America. Gathering Waves is a surfing blog dedicated to helping surfers of all levels plan surf trips around the world, while having a positive impact on the local surf communities. Social Media: @gatheringwavesblog (Instagram)
