The Ultimate Hawaii Packing List: 22 Must-Have Essentials For Your Trip

This post is all about The Ultimate Hawaii Packing List: 22 Must-Have Essentials For Your Trip

Whether it’s your first time or you’ve been here before, it can be challenging to figure out exactly what to pack for Hawaii! I remember my first trip; I had so many regrets about things I forgot at home and stuff I had to buy (that was extremely expensive there).

Well, have no fear—I’ve put together the ultimate Hawaii packing list, including essential clothing, what not to wear, things I regretted forgetting and pricey items I had to buy. From water essentials to must-have electronics, here’s everything you need to know!

This post is all about The Ultimate Hawaii Packing List: 22 Must-Have Essentials For Your Trip

Things To Know Before Packing For Hawaii

Casual Vibes: Hawaii has an extremely laid-back casual vibe, even in fancy restaurants, no need for high heels
Sunscreen Laws: Non-Reef Safe sunscreen is banned in Hawaii, so be sure to pack the right kind
Respect nature: Even if you visit a one-of-a-kind beach, don’t take anything like lava rocks or sand, it’s illegal, and legend says you’ll be cursed with years of bad luck.

If you’re looking for more Hawaii travel inspiration check out my:

10 Life Changing Things To in Oahu

The 8 Best Things To Do in Maui, Hawaii

10 Epic Things to Do in Big Island Hawaii You'll Absolutely Love (Free & Must-See)

Clothing & Footwear

1. Lightweight, Breathable clothing

When wondering what to pack for Hawaii, you’ll want to leave those jeans at home! For your Hawaii packing list, include linen, cotton, and good moisture-wicking materials.

Opt for moisture-wicking materials for comfort, even at night, like Hawaii, a thin linen shirt at night or a nice cotton shirt for the daytime.

Here are some of my favorites!

2. Comfortable Shoes

If you want to know what to wear when traveling to Hawaii, I have traveled the WORLD with these shoes, and they are so comfortable yet chic. There will be much walking and hiking in Hawaii, so prioritize fashionable yet comfy sneakers!

I have done so many hikes in these sneakers, and they have a good grip, but if you’re going on a 5+ hour hike, I recommend getting actual hiking shoes.

3. Bathing Suit

If there’s one thing you should NOT forget for your Hawaii packing list, it’s a bathing suit, pack at least 3! I opted for really fun one-piece sets for exploring waterfalls, snorkeling, or any boat activities and a fun two-piece set for getting a tan on the beach.

4. Beach Cover Ups

Whether you’re done tanning by the beach and headed to eat or just finished waterfall exploring and heading home, don’t forget to add beach coverups to your list of what to pack for Hawaii!

Here are my favorite ones I bring to every island trip.

I love these because they’re super easy to put on and elevate every Hawaii outfit.

5. Easy Dresses

You’ll probably spend most of your time at the resort, on the beach, or walking around, so an easy dress or two-piece set is the way to go!

Opt for a maxi dress for resort dinners, and for excursions, such as waterfall excursions or horseback riding, wear a more casual dress that’s easy to change into or out of.

In Hawaii, you can go as bold as you’d like for the prints. Think bright colors, prints, and even crochet!

6. Hiking Outfit

You’ll most likely be hiking in Hawaii, and if you aren’t, you definitely should consider adding that to your list! Pack a couple of hiking outfits for your Hawaii packing list, here are some of my favorites!

7. Watershoes

Watershoes are definitely a Hawaii packing essential. Whether you’re snorkeling in an ocean full of sea urchin or hiking a wet waterfall, this one the #1 thing I regretted not bringing on my trip. This pair is my favorite because it doubles as both hiking and water shoes!

8. Flip Flops

If there’s one thing you NEED to add to your Hawaii packing list, it’s a good pair of flipflops. Whether you’re walking around on the beach, the resort, or even in town, a good pair of flipflops is a must! Don’t worry if you forget these, you can grab them at any store like ABC, but they’ll be pricier.

Beach & Water Essentials For Your Hawaii Packing List

9. Snorkel Gear

If you’re wondering what to pack for Hawaii’s beaches, I love bringing my own snorkel gear. It’s much more sanitary and many beaches don’t have rentals, especially the hidden ones with amazing marine life.

Add it to your Hawaii packing list, and you can snorkel anywhere and everywhere.

10. Travel Towel

I love bringing travel towels because they’re easy to pack, lightweight, and absorbent. Especially if you decide to go to another beach, have lunch afterward, or take the bus, you won’t want to bring a huge hotel towel. These two are my favorite travel towels!

11. Sunscreen & Aloe Vera

If there’s one thing you need to know about Hawaii, the sun is STRONG. Make sure to lather on sunscreen and bring some aloe vera just in case. In Hawaii, it’s illegal not to use reef-safe mineral sunscreen. Here are some of my favorites that are super easy to apply and never leave a white cast!

Add face and body sunscreen to your Hawaii packing list.

12. Waterproof Phone Case

A waterproof phone case is essential for your Hawaii packing list, especially if you plan to snorkel, swim with manta rays, or spend a day on the boat.

For some of the best memories, make sure you grab a waterproof phone case before your trip. Sure, you can buy them there, but chances are they’ll be much more expensive. Add it to your Hawaii packing list to save time and money.

13. Beach Bag & Accessories

A cute Hawaii outfit isn’t complete without a beach bag and accessories! I loved this one and this one from Amazon, they were perfect for the beach because it was so easy to get sand out of them.

For accessories, I opted for cute hair clips that could dress up my outfit while also being practical for tying up my hair. You can buy these on Amazon or in Hawaii, but they’ll be much pricier!

14. Bug Spray

If you plan to hike a lot or visit islands like Kauai, Maui, or the Big Island, I recommend adding bug spray to your Hawaii packing list.

The islands have several mosquito species that can carry diseases like dengue fever, so make sure to wear insect repellent or grab a mosquito repellent bracelet in areas like rainforests and wetlands.

Tech & Accessories For Hawaii

15. Go Pro

If you ask me, a GoPro is something you’d never regret putting on your Hawaii packing list. Whether you’re snorkeling with manta rays at night, going whale watching, cliff jumping, or even going scuba diving, you’d want to get those crystal-clear water shots!

16. Noise-Cancelling Headphones

I will preach about these headphones to my grave. They are the absolute best noise-canceling travel headphones, and they are a must for your Hawaii packing list, especially for long flights. Their battery life lasts 30 hours, perfect for a roundtrip flight!

17. Travel Pillows

This is essential for a long flight to Hawaii, especially if you’re coming from the East Coast or internationally! Here’s my favorite one: it’s saved me from a 24-hour flight to Australia before and will be a game-changer for you.

18. Plane Phone Mount

This little gadget is one of the most innovative inventions and will save your NECK for so many hours. Just prop up your phone case to watch all the movies and shows you love. Not only is it an essential traveler for Hawaii, but it is also an essential traveler for any flight!

19. Compact Camera With Flash

This is my favorite camera with a flash. It shoots in 4k, has an image stabilizer, and is the perfect camera for vlogging and a must for your Hawaii packing list. It also has amazing flash for night time photos and fits into any purse or even a jean pocket!

20. Packing Cubes

This is essential for your Hawaii packing list and, honestly, anywhere else you decide to go! They’re an amazing way to be organized and bring more travel essentials, and plus, you can have separate bags for laundry and dirty shoes, which is essential for the island life.

21. Hiking Bookbag

You’ll most likely be doing a lot of hiking in Hawaii and definitely want to be prepared. A travel essential for Hawaii is a good hiking backpack. This is one of my favorites because it's water-repellent, and there are reflective strips on the front that enhance visibility in low light or nighttime conditions!

Plus, it’s super small and compact, making it easy to bring everywhere.

22. Portable Charger

From using Google Maps to taking lots of cute photos and videos, you’ll be using your phone ALOT in Hawaii. A good portable charger is a packing essential for Hawaii so make sure to include one in your bag so you can get home safely!