Wondering what to pack for your vacation to Hawaii?
We’ve done this trip so many times, with and without kids, that I created this ultimate Hawaii packing list, a checklist for those planning a first-time Hawaii vacation.
This Hawaii packing checklist contains everything: from the Hawaii packing essentials that everyone should carry, to the details for those planning hikes, visiting national parks, snorkeling, water sports, Haleakala sunrise trip, and more!
More importantly, I will tell you what to skip and what you can conveniently buy in Hawaii. After all, you are still in USA, and have Costco, Walmart, Target, and the ubiquitous local ABC stores.
Why pack more than you need to? If you’re like me, you’re a minimalist, but at the same time, prefer the best gear and equipment for the fun at hand!
Join us as we take you through what we typically buy or pack, and we will guide to the ultimate Hawaii packing list for family, for the solo male or female traveler, or just you and your partner!
Hey, by the way! Visiting Hawaii? While you finalize your packing, don’t forget to book your tours and activities, way in advance, to avoid disappointments! Start here, and pick the islands you plan to visit. Or go directly to the best Oahu tours, the best things to do in Maui, and the best Kauai helicopter tours!
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Hawaii Information
Before we start, some basic Hawaii information that will be useful for your planning: geography and weather!
First, you should note that, but for a couple of important exceptions that we’ll talk about later, the islands of Hawaii are quite similar in terms of geography and weather.
What that means is, your Maui packing list is going to be virtually the same as your Oahu packing list or your Kauai packing list or your Big Island of Hawaii packing list!
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Hawaii Geography
The Hawaiian islands are in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, over 2000 miles from the coast of California, near the Tropic of Cancer, not far from the equator.
The combined land mass is barely larger than states like Massachusetts and Vermont.
Formed by ancient and ongoing volcanic activity around Earth’s tectonic plates, these islands violent past is expressed in the form of steep volcanic mountain ranges, coupled with tropical rainforests and beaches.
Hawaii Weather
With the geographical diversity comes climate diversity, and you’ll encounter upto 8-11 climate zones depending on where you travel within Hawaii.
But for the most part think warm and tropical, with temperatures ranging from 68 to 87 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the year. Winter ranges may be about 65-80 while summer ranges will be around 75-87.
While it can rain any time, peak rainfall season is November to March, while April to October is the least.
The good news – it usually rains at night! But even if you are caught in a daytime deluge, the rain is mostly warm and refreshing!
Climate-wise the islands can be separated into a western or leeward (sunnier) side and an eastern or windward (wetter) side.
Most of the resorts are on the west coast, the sunnier side of the islands!
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Hawaii Packing Essentials
Suitcases & Packing Cubes
My wife is the one who usually packs for our travel, and she swears by Samsonite Freeform Hardside Expandable Luggage (budget) and Tumi Alpha 3 (premium) suitcases, along with cubes for organized packing.
The Samsonite Freeform suitcases feature hard shell, expandable, 360 degree upright rolling (no stress on your arms!) and TSA combination locks.
The Tumi Alpha 3 is expandable and roomier, higher quality, but distinctly pricier!
Packing cubes are all the craze now, and my organized wife just loves them! So easy to group gear for activities like snorkeling or by person!
We usually just go with the popular and budget-friendly Veken packing cubes.
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Travel Documents and Basics
Make sure you take these with you or in your carry-on luggage: travel documents like passports (if you need them), identification cards, credit cards, printed boarding passes, smart phones, medicine, and some emergency cash.
Hawaii uses US-standard electrical outlets, so chargers for your electronic devices that work on the mainland should be fine.
Apart from that, plan for your long flight – take a good book and games for the kids.
Hawaii Essentials
If you’re like us, you’re thinking golden-sand tropical beaches, stunning-blue ocean waters and lush-green rainforest jungles! Beach time is a must.
Make sure you take a beach bag, backpack, waist belt, reusable water bottles, lip balm, reef-safe sunscreen, mosquito and bug repellent, insect bite treatment, waterproof phone case, light rain jacket, sun hat, UV protective sunglasses and binoculars.
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Beach Bag, Backpack, Fanny Pack
In Hawaii, tourists are easy targets and the prudent behavior is to leave nothing visible in your rental car. Take all valuables with you, and lock the remainder in the trunk.
A beach bag or tote bag is handy on the beach, while a backpack and / or a fanny pack (for cash, credit cards, etc.) is great on hikes and other outdoor activities.
For backpacks, since I’m the one carrying the bulk of our stuff, I prefer ones with a hip belt as well, like the Osprey Talon. You may prefer the Osprey ultralight version.
Reusable Water Bottles
I hate plastic bottles, and with opaque bladders you can’t see if it is moldy inside. We use this Hydro Flask water bottle – light, stainless steel, wide mouth (you can add ice), with double-wall vacuum insulation (greatly refreshing for hikes in summer).
You can also get it with a Flex Straw Lid!
Lip Balm, Reef-safe Sunscreen, Mosquito & Bug Repellent, Bite Treatment
The Hawaiian sun can be harsh. Avoid sunburn with sunscreen compliant with Hawaii’s 104 Reef Act.
The Sun Bum Original SPF 50 Sunscreen Spray, moisturizing with Vitamin E, is our go-to when we travel to Hawaii. Apply liberally and regularly!
We prefer picaridin-based repellents to DEET-based products, and usually buy Sawyer’s spray.
We use After Bite to relieve itching after mosquito bites, and we’ve found it very effective, especially for the kids. We never travel without it.
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Light Rain Jacket, Compact Umbrella, Sun Hat, UV Protective Sunglasses
We prefer light rain jackets when hiking, but compact, collapsible umbrellas when we are shopping or outdoors, within the city. Also pack a sun hat.
UV-protection sunglasses are also a must, and Maui Jim makes some really good ones.
Waterproof Phone Case
Partaking in any water activities or ocean tours? Keep a waterproof phone case handy to protect your smartphone from accidental water damage. A waist pack (see below) is another great option.
Waterproof Waist Pack
Keep your rental car keys, cards, and phone dry and safe while you swim or snorkel with a dry bag. We love this 2-pack AiRun Tech Pouch with waist strap. The transparent one is touch-screen friendly!
Binoculars
You can spot humpback whales (in winter), spinner dolphins and pretty Hawaiian birds from shore and on hikes. With a pair of good binoculars, you can close in on the action!
Swarovski makes some of the best spotting scopes, but they are expensive!
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Hawaii Packing List: Clothing
Beach Wear
You’re likely to spend some time on the beaches, you’re in Hawaii after all. Pack swimsuits for the whole family and flip flops for the beach.
Casual Wear
You can get by with casual wear (T-shirts, tank tops, Aloha shirts, shorts, skirts, capris, sneakers, etc.) for the bulk, if not all, of your vacation!
Hawaii is very informal, even at high-end resorts, fine dining restaurants, and traditional luaus.
If you’re booking a nice dinner in an upscale, fine dining restaurant, check their dress code, just to be sure!
On all our vacations to Hawaii, we’ve never taken formal dresses and shoes, and have never felt out of place or underdressed.
You may want to consider some sun-protective clothing if you are planning lots of time outdoors. See women’s, men’s, and kids’ UV-protective clothing on Amazon.
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Hiking Gear List
Though Hawaii has some incredible hikes, many of Hawaii’s hikes are demanding. Make sure you are well-equipped and well-prepared.
Here’s what we typically pack:
- Hiking Shoes: My preferred hiking shoes are the medium range Merrell Moab 3 Waterproof Hiking Shoe (men’s, women’s, men’s mid), great for Hawaii’s trails through mud and streams. My wife loves her high-end Salomon X Ultra 4 GTX Hiking shoes (men’s, women’s), also waterproof.
- Trekking Poles: Great for hikes that involve climbing, both going uphill and downhill, and on trails that are wet, muddy and slippery! Improve your footing with this collapsible, high-end Black Diamond Trail Cork Trekking Poles, available for men and women.
- Headlamp: Planning a sunrise or sunset hike? Hiking in the dark is no fun, especially on many of Hawaii’s rainforest or ridge hikes. We love these two headlamps: the budget Black Diamond Spot 400 Headlamp and the premium Petzl Actik Core Headlamp, with many features.
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Snorkeling & Other Water Activities Gear List
Though you can rent snorkeling gear or use the ones that come with tours, we invested in our own snorkel gear, mainly due to Covid-19 (why take the risk?).
- Snorkeling Gear Set: We love our Cressi Light Weight Premium Travel Snorkel Set for All Family, compact and easy to pack, great fitting, and very clear underwater. The Zenoplige Mask Fins Snorkel Set is a great budget option.
- Underwater Camera: Want to capture Hawaii’s incredible underwater seascape and marine life? Your best budget option is the Fujifilm QuickSnap Waterproof Disposable Camera, reasonably cheap with good underwater photos! If you want high-end photos and video, you must invest in the premium GoPro HERO12 – Waterproof Action Camera, (waterproof to 33 feet)!
- Inflatable Life Jackets: If you’re planning paddle boarding, canoeing, kayaking and other water sports, and prefer your own life jacket, consider one of these two US Coast Guard approved options: the Onyx M-16 Series Belt Back Manual Inflatable Life Jacket or the Onyx A/M-24 Automatic/Manual Inflatable Life Jacket.
- Water Shoes: Some of Hawaii’s beaches have sharp lava rocks or coral reefs, good water shoes will protect your feet (but please do not walk on the reef!). We use the Merrell Hydro Moc rubber shoes (men’s, women’s), great for slippery rocks. If you prefer sandals, we recommend the Keen Newport H2 Closed Toe Water Sandals (men’s, women’s).
- Dry Bag: A waterproof dry bag is great for storing your towel, change of clothes and other valuables when you’re out on a snorkeling tour or diving session.
- Rash Guard: If you sunburn easily or have sensitive skin, you may want to invest in a good rash guard.
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Packing List Items to Skip
We find beach towels way too bulky to carry. Borrow your hotel’s towels or pick up a sand-resistant beach towel from a local store.
We don’t take inflatable surf boards or boogie boards, much easier to rent real ones locally, and they tend to work a lot better.
Skip formal clothes and dress shoes, unless you have a special occasion that requires them.
Special Tours / Exceptional Situations
With such a wide range of climate zones, you may encounter exceptional situations or tours where you may need some extra items.
Haleakala Sunrise
Planning to watch the sunrise from Haleakala Summit while visiting Haleakala National Park on Maui? The summit (at 10,000 feet) can be really cold early in the morning.
We needed winter jackets, gloves and ski caps, and still felt cold! If you’re taking a tour, check with them on what they provide – many give you winter jackets, blankets, etc.
Else your best option is to layer up, and dress warm!
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
At the higher elevations of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park in the Big Island of Hawaii, you can sometimes expect freezing temperatures and even snow!
The summit of Mauna Loa in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is at nearly 14,000 feet, so check the weather if you’re headed there!
Backpacking Hikes and Camping
Planning a multi-day hike like the Kalalau Trail hike in Kauai or the Sliding Sands Trail hike on Maui?
Equipment here tends to be personal preference, so create a checklist for your camping gear!
Local Stores
Don’t worry about last minute shopping or if you do forget something, you are not heading to the wilderness or a different country!
Hawaii has all the local US chains like Costco, Walmart and Target. You have convenient local stores and grocery stores all over.
The local ABC stores are convenient and commonplace, and you’ll find the bulk of what you need. They are also a great place to pick up souvenirs to take home for friends and family.
Pricing is substantially higher than mainland US, since everything has to be shipped to Hawaii.
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