Hawaii Packing List: Everything You Need for an Epic Vacation!

Hawaii Packing List

We just got back from a trip to Hawaii and had the best time!

Sunshine, beautiful beaches and a fun food scene all made our tip on the islands memorable. If you're traveling to the Hawaiian islands and curious about what to pack, then keep reading!

Here's a packing guide for Hawaii including outfit ideas, must-have items and things you can leave at home.

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What to Wear in Hawaii

For Hawaii, think casual! Packing for Hawaii is extremely easy because people on the islands dress very laidback. We even saw some people walking around barefoot.

Sundress

I think sundresses are such a cute girly way to look dressed up.. without actually getting uncomfortably fancy. Throw on a breezy sundress over your bikini, or wear it during the day as you sightsee around Hawaii.

Denim Shorts

One or two pairs of jean cutoffs will come in handy. They look great with just a white bikini or one piece and they're what you find most local wearing day in and day out!

wearing linen shirt, linen shorts, water shoes, long sleeve swimsuit & black rec shorts

Cute Tops

If you like to dress up and want to look a bit more put together for dinner, pack a couple cute tops. I like anything floral or fruit printed or with puff sleeves and square necklines for the summertime.

Shorts

Originally I was going to pack one pair of linen trousers, because I saw other Hawaii packing guides recommend them, saying restaurants and stores blasted the air conditioning to extreme levels.

I ended up taking them out at the last minute (overweight luggage problems) and didn't miss them! I found Hawaii to be hot, hot and more hot and if there was strong AC from a store or restaurant, it was a relief.

So I'm so glad I packed a mix of shorts!

I brought a couple pairs of lightweight quick dry shorts that I could wear on hikes or beach days, and two pairs of slightly dressier shorts (in silk and linen) for dinner.

That was perfect – I definitely don't think you need to bring jeans, trousers or long pants of any kind, unless you want to.

Button Down Shirts

The #1 thing I wore the most?

Button down shirts!

I packed a couple linen shirts and wore them practically every day. In thin cotton or linen, they're lightweight and can shield you from the strong Hawaiian sun.

Button downs also make great beach cover ups over your swimsuit or just as an extra light layer if you're indoors in air conditioning. We often went from the beach to a hike, or vice versa, so I wanted to protect my skin but at the same time, not overheat!

You can also bring a spring jacket, cardigan, or loose knit sweater if you prefer to be more covered up.

Lightweight Rain Jacket

If you're visiting Hawaii during the wet season, there's typically a short afternoon burst of rain. It comes and goes quickly, but it's really annoying if you get stuck in a downpour!

Pack a lightweight rain jacket that you can throw in your day bag.

I have this one from Arc'teryx that's really come in handy over the years! It was a little expensive but the quality is un-matched as it's made from Gore-Tex. Plus it crumples down to practically nothing.

wearing linen shirt, tevas, french terry tee & lightweight joggers

Hiking Clothes

Hawaii is pretty famous for it's scenic mountains and going on a morning or evening hike is one of the most popular things to do on the islands.

Don't worry if you're not a hiker – I loathe hiking and we still squeezed in a couple during our time on Oahu! There's all sorts of hike options too. Some are paved paths, others are steps and some are a bit more adventurous.

I'd pack athletic wear or comfy workout clothes that you don't mind getting dirty.

Some of Hawaii's most popular hikes involve muddy paths through the woods in order to reach a waterfall, so bring long pants instead of bike shorts and pack a couple pairs!

Clothes in Hawaii

You're on an island! This is the trip to bring all your cute one pieces and bikinis because you'll get a ton of wear out of them.

Bikini

Bikinis are great for Hawaii because they're so easy to wear. But it can be a little tricky finding a flattering suit!

Personally, I like a high-waisted bottom. It elongates your legs and provides a little bit of extra coverage. I recommend packing a swimsuit for every day of your trip. You'll definitely use them all in a place like Hawaii!

Here are some of my favorite options:

wearing sun hat, bikini, skirt, & reversible bikini

One Pieces

For water sports and activities, I prefer wearing a one piece.

There's nothing worse than going to surf for the afternoon and spending the day instead finding your missing bikini tops, ha!

And the best part is there are really cute one piece swimsuits now. You don't have to look frumpy or dowdy!

Cover Ups

A cover up is always nice to have when you'll be spending a lot of time in your bikini and going from the beach to a food truck to a coffee shop, etc.

There are so many cute, affordable cover ups now or shop the ones below!

I also love an oversized men's button down shirt and a beach-y crochet dress.

Rash Guard

Lately, I've been loving long sleeve swimsuits and rash guards. They're sleek, stylish and they protect you from sun exposure!

I definitely recommend trying out a rash guard or sun shirt if you've never tried one before.

These are specifically made with technical fabrics that dry faster and include SPF protection, so they're great for kayaking, snorkeling, swimming, etc.

I wore this colorful rash guard swimsuit when we went snorkeling and it really came in handy. It's so easy to get distracted by the colorful fish and coral reefs that you don't realize you're spending a lot of time in the water face down.

And let's face it, it's hard to put sunscreen on the neck, back and shoulders and easy to forget to reapply when you're having fun!

Plus rash guards come in so many prints and price points! You don't have to splurge and investing in one long sleeve piece will protect you from sun aging down the line.

Snorkel Set

There are so many fantastic beaches in Hawaii with vibrant coral reef systems and colorful marine life. And let's face it – the opportunity to swim with turtles and dolphins is magical!

Some of the more touristy beaches like Hanauma Bay will rent snorkel gear. If you take a tour to swim with dolphins in the wild, or this incredible cage shark diving tour, they'll definitely provide gear too.

But personally, I think it's gross sharing snorkel sets and that was before the pandemic hit. Can you imagine sharing a mouth piece now?

No, thank you.

It's also much more cost effective.

In Mexico, in Hawaii, in most touristy beach destinations, it costs ~$20 dollars to rent snorkel gear – just for the afternoon. That's basically the price of a basic snorkel set that you can keep and re-use forever.

Do yourself a favor and just buy your own before your travel!

Buy affordable snorkel gear on Amazon.

Footwear

Comfortable Sandals

When you're in Hawaii, you're on island time. Pack sandals or flip flops so you can relax!

For comfort, try Birkenstocks or Olukai, a local Hawaiian brand. Both are known for making high quality sandals that are extremely comfortable! I have an in-depth review of my Olukai strappy black sandals here.

For something that balances comfort and style, try Everlane sandals.

I've also linked cute sandals below, that are great for going out to dinner or light walking days!

Sneakers

A good pair of sneakers will come in handy for walking around day to day, especially if you plan to go sightseeing!

I also recommend sneakers for going hiking, as most of the popular hikes in Hawaii do get pretty muddy. Try brining an older pair of closed toe shoes that you won't mind getting ruined.

I also love a classic white sneaker. They're comfortable, great to walk in for sightseeing and match pretty much every outfit! White sneakers go with denim shorts, a floral sundress – you name it.

Water Shoes

Water adventures are abundant in Hawaii. Honestly you probably won't enjoy Hawaii if you don't like the water?

Whether it's snorkeling, kayaking or cliff jumping, a sturdy pair of water shoes really comes in handy.

They're also great for muddy hikes where you plan to hike first thing in the morning, get all sweaty, and then cool off in the beach!

I like these Speedos which have a thick protective sole if you like a fully covered option. For a more open water shoe, Teva makes lots of colorful styles.

I wore these fun rainbow Tevas for the entire trip and they were super comfortable, with a cushioned foot bed. I also thought the soles had really great traction and even wore them hiking.

A lot of the beaches in Hawaii (especially the ones great for snorkeling) will have sharp pebbles or be slippery and sharp. So wearing a good pair of water shoes will prevent your feet from getting cut up!

Read more: The Best Water Shoes for Women

Accessories

Sunglasses

Protect your eyes and style up your outfit with cute sunglasses.

I love this pair of oversized, lightweight sunnies from Southern Tide. The best part is they float, so if you get dunked in the pool and they fall off, they'll rise right to the top of the water so you can find them easily!

Ray Ban also makes great classic sunglasses with built in sun protection. I'm always partial to Celine sunglasses on the designer front – they look the best!

And if you hate spending too much on sunglasses (I'll admit they do get scratched, crushed and lost easily), look on Amazon. They have so many cute affordable pairs!

Reusable Water Bottle

I've been making a big effort to try and bring along my reusable water bottle on trips. It's good for the environment and easy to use!

I find that traveling can make you really dehydrated so I always make an effort to drink more water.

We used these hydroflasks throughout our entire time in Hawaii and it was so refreshing to come back to the car after a hot, sweaty hike and still find crisp cold water!