If you’re going to Hawaii soon for a vacation or work and need help with a Hawaii packing list, you’ve come to the right place.
I’m here to help! I’m Julia, a former travel speech-language pathologist who worked in Hawaii on and off for 7 years. Since leaving, I go back for vacations frequently to visit.
I’ve lived in Hawaii year-round and have packing for your Hawaii trip down to a science. Here are some tips I have to help you bring what you need (and not what you don’t) to Hawaii.
Learn More About Hawaii Travel Here: The Ultimate Hawaii Travel Guide
While Hawaii is known for the sun, it does experience rainy and dry seasons, as well as daily weather changes. In this post, I’ll discuss some extra items to bring during the rainy season that you may leave behind in the dry time of year.
Hawaii Packing List Summary:
- ID/Credit Cards
- Itinerary
- Swimwear
- Dry pouch for your phone
- Reef safe sunscreen
- Sun protection: hat, sunglasses, SPF shirts
- Underwear/socks
- Shorts & Tank Tops
- Sundresses/aloha wear
- Beach cover-up
- Sandals
- Sleepwear
- Athletic wear for hikes or excursions
- A backpack if you plan to hike
- Sneakers or trail runners for hiking
- 1 hoodie or light sweater for colder nights if you’re there between October and April
- 1 pair of jeans if you’re there in the winter
What If I Forget Something?
Don’t worry. If you forget something from your Hawaii packing list, there are plenty of places to buy all the essentials for a beach vacation. From locally owned shops to Ala Moana Center in Honolulu, to Costco, Target, and Walmart, you can purchase anything you left behind.
Travel Information and Identification
The most important things to pack are your ID and information about where you are staying and your itinerary. You won’t get far at the airport without your ID (or your passport if you’re coming from abroad).
To stay organized for a trip, I keep all my hotel registration, excursion bookings, and flight information in one place. That may be a physical printed folder or a “Note” in your iPhone. But don’t leave home without knowing your itinerary and the crucial details about where to go.
Beach Gear For Hawaii
If you’re visiting Hawaii, chances are that you’re going to be spending time in the water. Whether it’s on a boat, board, or soaking in the sun on the sand.
Board shorts and bikinis are the unofficial uniform of the islands and can be worn on the beaches and in many establishments, provided a cover-up is worn.
Here are things you’ll want to take with you to the beach
- Reef-safe sunscreen
- Sunglasses with a polarized lens
- Waterproof phone case -for those underwater pictures
- Dry bag – great for boats and the beach
- Hat
- SPF Shirt
- Sandles/Flip flops
- Beach Bag
- Aloe Vera Gel
- Reusable Water Bottle
For ladies, the bathing suit style in Hawaii tends to be smaller, more Brazilian. You will not be out of place wearing a cheeky or thong bikini.
Here are some swimsuit brands you may enjoy. I recommend bringing at least 3 bathing suits.
- Cupshe: Affordable, well-made, stylish bathing suits in fun patterns
- Old Navy: Comfortable, affordable, and sizes from XS – 4X
- Acacia: Blends Hawaiian and California influences to create minimalistic, elevated designs
- Benoa: A Hawaii-founded brand rooted in island culture.
- Seafolly: Chic Australian designs with elegant yet sporty fits
Toiletries
If you forget any of the basics, no worries, you can pick them up easily across the islands.
Definitely don’t forget to pack a first-aid kit with bandages for blisters or scrapes that you may get while you’re out enjoying nature.
- Shampoo/Conditioner/Soaps/Face Soap/Razors
- Toothpaste/Toothbrush/Floss
- Hair Brush
- Deodorant
- Contact Lenses/Glasses
- Makeup
- Medications as prescribed
- First Aid Kit
- If you’re on a medication that needs to be refrigerated, I recommend this travel cooler medicine bag.
Gear & Technology
You may want to unplug from home in Hawaii. I concur. Here are some basics you may want to bring. Photography enthusiasts will have more gear to add to this list.
- Phone and chargers
- Cords/Cables/Chargers
- Camera
- GoPro for crisp underwater shots
- Waterproof phone case. Not as good for underwater photography as a GoPro, but it does capture underwater shots.
- For photography pros: underwater housing for your camera.
- Snorkel/Dive gear if you want to use your own gear versus rent gear
- Day pack for hiking/exucursion
What Clothes Should I Pack For Hawaii?
The vibe in Hawaii is laid-back. You don’t need to overthink your wardrobe. I recommend bringing light/flowy clothes. For women, I love linen and linen-blend fabrics.
Essentials
- Underwear
- Sleepwear
- Short/tees/tanks
- Sundresses
- Beach cover ups
- Elevated aloha/resort wear for restaurants
- Athletic wear is planning to exercise/hike
Men wear board shorts paired with a T-shirt or tank top to most places. For dinner in more fine establishments, you can pack aloha/resort wear (khakis, aloha shirts, and other button-downs).
During the day, a woman may want to wear a bathing suit around town with a cover-up, a sarong, or shorts. At night, a sundress or other aloha/resort wear.
If you plan to exercise or do hikes, bring your athletic clothing as needed.
Don’t overpack. A few T-shirts, shorts, and dresses will go a long way. I pack as many lightweight, wrinkle-free items as possible.
For women’s travel clothes I like:
- Columbia quick dry, moisture-wicking dresses. They are lightweight, dry quickly, and are wrinkle-resistant.
- Patagonia Dresses are light and airy and perfect for the beach.
- I also like to wear dresses and shirts with built-in bras to save space when packing. Uniqlo has my favorite bra tops.
Hawaii Aloha Wear
Aloha wear is the Hawaii version of resort wear, featuring unique tropical looks by local designers. The clothes have vibrant colors and patterns that embody the spirit of the islands.
Aloha wear an elevated look, often considered semi-formal or business casual, and you can dress it up or down.
For men, aloha wear typically consists of an aloha button-down shirt paired with nice pants or shorts. If you’re eating at a fine-dining restaurant, such as Halekulani’s La Mer, you may need to pack closed-toed shoes.
For women, aloha wear can be anything from a floor-length maxi dress to a short romper.
If you want to elevate your looks with local designers, here are some shops to check out before or during your visit:
What to Pack for the Rainy Season?
The rainy season in Hawaii typically runs from October to April. If you go during any of those months, it can be rainy, windy, and chilly in the evenings.
In addition to the above-mentioned things on this list, I recommend packing:
- A light jacket or sweater
- A pair of jeans or pants for colder nights
- Umbrella
- Sneakers to keep your feet dry if you weren’t already planning to take them
What Not to Pack for Hawaii?
Keep it simple. You only need a little stuff to enjoy your time in Hawaii. Less is more.
Plus, if you’re anything like me, you’ll want to buy plenty of clothes from local designers while you’re there and have new, fun clothes to wear.
In addition to packing light, Hawaii has strict agricultural regulations. You need to declare anything “living,” such as plants, vegetables, etc., when entering the state, and they may need to be inspected and may not be allowed in.
In general, I don’t recommend bringing any raw fruits or vegetables or living plants with you to avoid this process. If you have them with you, eat them on the plane before you get off.
Hawaii is also rabies-free, so you will likely have to leave your pet behind. To keep the state rabies-free, Hawaii has strict rules for bringing animals, which you can read about here.
What to Pack for Your Hawaii Travel Nursing Assignment
If you’re like me and went to Hawaii to work a travel nursing job, then this last piece is for you.
For every job I’ve worked in Hawaii as a traveling healthcare professional, I’ve only taken 2 checked bags with me.
Believe me when I say less is more. Once you’re working on the islands, you won’t think about the things you left on the mainland.
Since Hawaii is such a large vacation destination, it is very easy to find apartments and rentals that come “fully furnished/all-inclusive” with furniture and home goods, including towels, kitchenware, etc, so you likely won’t need to bring any of that stuff from home.
Even if you do not find a rental with full furniture and home goods, you can always buy what you need once you get to the islands.
I recommend looking for units on Furnished Finder or via word of mouth from your coworkers.
You can find more tips and a guide on Hawaii Travel Nursing here.
In addition to the things I mentioned above in this post, I recommend bringing the following things for work:
- Enough scrubs for a week’s worth of work (or work uniform as stated in the contract)
- Work Shoes
- Clip Board
- Work essentials (pens, markers, etc.)
- Copy of work licenses and all of your I9 documents (or at least have copies on your phone)
- Computer, tablet
- Anything else from home that you can fit in your bags
Conclusions on Your Hawaii Packing List
Hawaii is a tropical paradise filled with sun, water, and adventure. Less is more; you’ll find yourself wearing the same simple bathing suits and cover-ups day in and out. Don’t forget your beach gear to protect yourself from the sun and enjoy your time.