What to Pack for Hawaii: An Ultimate Packing List 

If you’ve ever visited Hawaii, you know that once you experience its breathtaking beauty, vibrant culture, and serene beaches, you’ll be dreaming of your next trip back before you even leave. The allure of Hawaii is undeniable, and preparing for your trip is key to making the most of every moment. Picture yourself in light, breathable fabrics perfect for the warm breeze, packing comfortable activewear for those stunning hikes, and, of course, plenty of swimsuits to soak up the island sunshine.

To help you make the most of your Hawaiian adventure, I’ve crafted the ultimate “What to Pack for Hawaii” guide. This comprehensive packing list covers all the essentials you’ll need, from must-have items to those you can leave at home, ensuring a seamless and enjoyable experience in the Hawaiian islands. endless hikes, and all the bathing suits to bask in that Hawaiian sun. Before any trip, knowing what to pack is crucial so I’ve created this “What to Pack for Hawaii: a Packing List” of things I highly recommend bringing (and not bringing) to the Hawaiian islands.

What to Bring to Hawaii

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For traveling to Hawaii, since the weather is always humid you should plan on bringing lighter clothing. You’ll want to pack for the beach and casual dinners mostly. However, there are tons of beautiful hikes in Hawaii so make sure to pack plenty of When traveling to Hawaii, you’ll want to pack smartly for its warm, humid climate. Lightweight, breathable clothing is essential, as it keeps you comfortable whether you’re lounging on the beach or exploring local shops and casual dining spots. Beachwear is a must, along with relaxed outfits for evenings out.

Hawaii’s stunning landscapes also offer countless hiking opportunities, so be sure to bring plenty of activewear. Since many trails can be muddy, don’t expect to reuse your hiking gear—packing extra sets will come in handy! To stay organized, consider bringing a wet bag for any damp or muddy clothing, making repacking a breeze. as well. Furthermore, the hikes can be pretty muddy so don’t count on re-using any activewear! A great rule of thumb is to bring a wet bag for all your clothing items that are too wet to re-pack.

Best Clothing to Pack for Hawaii

I’ve crafted this packing list specifically for a 5-night stay in Hawaii. If your trip is longer or shorter, feel free to adjust the number of items accordingly. One key tip: leave your fancy clothes at home. Hawaii’s charm lies in its outdoor adventures and laid-back vibe, so you’ll mostly be wearing casual, comfortable outfits. Save the dressier attire for just a few dinner outings or special evenings.

• 5-6 swimsuits: If you overpack anything in your suitcase let it be this. Being that Hawaii is full of beautiful beaches, ocean activities, and multiple waterfalls you’ll always want to have bathing suits handy! I always find great-fitting suits at Summersalt.
• 2-3 swim cover-ups: I always like mine to be flowy so I’m the most comfortable. Linking my favorites here and here.
• 2-3 flowy dresses: These really come in handy when the temperatures are high in the spring/summer. I always love to pack different styles of white dresses because they are easy to mix and match. Consider a maxi dress, a mini dress that doubles as a cover-up, and a chic wrap dress.
• 2-3 sundresses/rompers
• 2 pairs of denim shorts: my favorite shorts are the curve love shorts from Abercrombie they’re great for all sizes. I also love my AGOLDE they’re so classic and never go out of style. Furthermore, they don’t dig into your thighs as most jean shorts do.
• 2 pairs of linen shorts: for the warm and humid days you’ll want to pack lightweight shorts. I love this pair that comes in multiple colors and keeps me nice and cool during those hot Hawaiian days!
• 1-2 blouses (a white button-down is so versatile! And an easy way to spruce up a denim short look)
• 3-4 activewear shorts + tops: I love getting mine from Lululemon because they last forever.
• 3-4 tank tops/tees: I always find the best basics at either Free People & Abercrombie. It’s nice to have some neutral tees and tanks handy during your stay.

For easy and affordable basics check out: Abercrombie and Free People. Bathing suits are always so hard to find but I’ve found that Summersalt and Revolve have the best-fitting swimsuits. Finally, I’ve found amazing Lululemon dupes on my Amazon shop that are just as good for a fraction of the price, check it out here!

Accessories to Pack for Hawaii

• 2 pairs of flat sandals or flip-flops (check out my favorite flip-flops that I’ve had for years and even hiked in)
• Chic flat sandals for dinner
• Teva Water Sandals. These come in clutch for waterfall hikes!
• Raffia Tote Beach Bag
• 1-2 pairs of sneakers: they will most likely get muddy so that’s why I recommend bringing two.
• 1 pair of water shoes: I love these Columbia Water Shoes because they are as cute as you’re gonna get with water shoes.
• A wide-brim sun hat: I own this one from Lack of Color is a favorite since it goes with everything! Or this classic Brixton Hat that is so affordable!
• A visor (this visor is great because it’s machine washable and has a large brim to protect that face from the sun!) or a baseball cap for hiking.
• 2-3 sunglasses
• A Raffia Tote for the beach/pool.
• Simple jewelry

Outdoor Gear to Pack for Hawaii

• snorkeling masks
  • snorkeling is a huge part of Hawaii so buy your own snorkeling mask before you go (we purchased ours from Target for $28). So you don’t have to worry about high rental costs and germs!
• water shoes
  • if you buy anything for Hawaii, it should be water shoes. We utilized these shoes almost every day for our hikes and rocky water adventures. These Teva Sandals are incredible but if you are on a budget check these ones out from Amazon.
• waterproof phone case
  • For all the snorkeling in Hawaii, it’s best to capture those moments in the underwater world. This pack comes with two cases that work very well!

Miscellaneous Items to Bring to Hawaii

• Sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen
  • I cannot recommend this enough! My husband and I went through two bottles alone. Sunscreen is more expensive on the Hawaiian islands so it’s best to pack reef-safe sunscreen in your checked luggage.
  • This GOOP FACE SUNSCREEN BRUSH is perfect for traveling because it adds SPF to your face all while not messing up your makeup. It’s my new holy grail product so add it to your packing list immediately!
  • Finally, my daily moisturizer with SPF is incredible for traveling + every day.
• Lotion
  • Being in the sun all day will really dry out your skin. Plan on moisturizing daily.
• Bug spray
  • Since Hawaii is high in humidity, the mosquitos are no joke. My best travel tip is to use bug spray at night and during your hiking adventures!
• Packing cubes
  • I love these cubes from Amazon and I never travel without them. It’s the perfect way to organize your clothing for vacation and you can easily pop them into a drawer when you’re checking into your hotel.
• Rain Coat
  • although most times the rain comes and goes if you want to be extra prepared bring a light raincoat or poncho.
• Water Bottle
• A trash bag
  • Because of the treacherous and sometimes muddy hikes, your shoes/clothes will most definitely get dirty. It’s best to pack a trash bag to throw your muddy clothes and shoes at the end of the trip.

CHECK OUT MORE OF MY HAWAII GUIDES FOR FREE RESOURCES TO HELP PLAN YOUR TRIP!

What Not to Bring to Hawaii

When you get to Hawaii you’ll instantly notice the laid-back feel so there is no need to bring the following items to Hawaii and you can leave them off your Hawaii packing list:

• High heels
• Winter jackets
• Bulky sweaters
• Expensive dresses and jewelry

I hope you enjoyed this Ultimate Hawaii Packing List. So since you now know what to bring to Hawaii, it’s time to start planning your trip! And don’t forget to check out the “32 Travel Essentials: to pack for your next trip“!

Aloha,

Courtney

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