• Casual wear for daytime sightseeing. For example, shorts and T-shirts are fine for day time wear.
• For dinners, you really don’t need to get dressed up for the vast majority of restaurants. Most places will say “resort wear” is their dress code. So what does resort wear mean? Men can wear dress-shorts or khaki trousers and a collared shirt. Ladies can wear sarongs, casual skirts, sun dresses, capri pants, dressier shorts, etc. For nicer restaurants and luaus, we suggest making reservations about a week or so before you leave the mainland. When you call to make the reservations, ask what the dress code is. That way there is never a doubt.


• Bring two swim suits per person so that you will always have a dry suit to wear.
• Bring a swim suit cover-up, such as a sarong as most resorts request that you modestly cover up while in lobbies and common areas other than the pool and beach.
• For the pool and beach, you will need flip flops and reef shoes.
• Sunglasses, ideally polarized sunglasses are best in Hawaii.
• Bring sunscreen, with an SPF that is higher than what you would normally wear on the mainland. We can’t emphasize enough how important it is to wear a high SPF sunscreen in Hawaii. The sun’s rays are exceptionally strong there.
• Hat and/or visor
• Bring your guidebook. Our personal favorites are the “Revealed Guides“.
• Bring a map of the island(s) that you will be visiting. The free maps you get from the rental car company are somewhat hard to navigate by because the island is sectioned off into multiple pages.
• Bring print outs of directions, confirmations, and online advice from great sites like Go Visit Hawaii.
• Camera with lots of memory or film and battery life. If you have a battery charger, bring it too. You might be surprised at how many photos you’ll want to take.
• Binoculars for views, watching lava, bird watching, stargazing, and whale watching (January – April).
• Beach bag that packs flat and/or lightweight back pack for carrying snacks, water, guidebook, and other sightseeing necessities for when you hike, go on tours, etc.
• A small first aid kit with bandages and antibiotic ointment.
• Travel-sized wet wipes to have with you in your car when you are on the go.
• Bring a waterproof jacket in case it rains. We also like to pick up a package of disposable rain ponchos to keep in the rental car as back up for when we forget to bring our jackets.
• Consider bringing a small stash of snacks to get you through emergency situations.
• Don’t forget to bring your manners – so make sure you read these Hawaii vacation etiquette tips.

If you plan to hike:

• Mosquito repellant – the pre-moistened towelettes can be convenient for packing and carrying with you.
• Benadryl stick in case the mosquito repellant didn’t work.
• Hiking shoes or sneakers that you wouldn’t mind throwing away if they get muddy. Unless you plan to hike many miles and technical trails, a good hiking sandal works well.
• Collapsible hiking poles can be useful, but not essential. You can always stuff this in your luggage.
• Lightweight back pack with water bladder or a fanny pack that conveniently holds water bottles.
• Quick dry clothing
• Zip-off pants can be useful if hiking in cooler areas.
• Bring some energy bars to have on hand.

If you plan to go to higher elevations like Haleakala or Mauna Kea:

Note: if you are going on an organized tour, the tour company will usually provide a parka.
So check what will be provided before you pack a heavy coat.

• Thermal underwear
• Windproof gloves
• Windproof jacket
• Winter weather hat, headband, and/or ear muffs. Note if you plan to go on a guided tour of Haleakala or to Mauna Kea, the tour company will most likely provide a parka and gloves.
• Long pants and shirts for layering.
• Flashlight if you plan to be there for star gazing.
• If you plan on staying in the Upcountry like Lanai City on Lanai, Volcano on the Big Island, or Kula on Maui for examples, you’ll want to bring long pants and a sweater for evenings. Even the Volcano area on the Big Island can get chilly at night.

If you plan to watch lava flowing on the Big Island:

• Hiking shoes for walking over uneven lava surfaces.
• Hiking poles
• Long pants – like hiking pants.
• Flashlight for finding your way in the dark. (Night time lava viewing is best.)
• Gloves can be helpful in case of a fall.

If you plan to do water sports including snorkeling, kayaking, etc.

• Bring a waterproof floating case or other waterproof bag that will protect your keys, cash, cards, etc.
• Reef shoes can be helpful, especially if you plan to spend a lot of time in the ocean.

  We hope these packing tips will help you as you prepare for your vacation to Hawaii.

  
  
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