Ultimate Hawaii Packing List for Every Island (2026)
Published Feb. 2023 | Updated March 2026
Growing up in California, we visited Hawaii every year for our family vacation since it was just a five-hour flight away. Packing for Hawaii usually means half my suitcase is filled with swimwear, and the other half with loose clothing that’s comfortable in hot, humid weather.
Due to its proximity to the equator, Hawaiian weather is warm year-round. Some islands get more rain than others, though it’s typically warm and short-lived.
The summer months are the hottest, with an average high of 85° F (29.4° C). The “cool” winter months still have an average high of 78° (25.6° C), so it’s a perfect warm winter destination if you’re looking to defrost!
No matter when you visit, you’ll want to pack your swimwear and warm-weather clothing. The Hawaiian islands each have their own special features you can pack for, but you can absolutely pack the same general items for each island.
This Hawaii packing list includes clothes, island-specific items, beach essentials, camera gear, and sustainable items for a Hawaiian island getaway.
5 Essentials to Pack for Hawaii
Reef-safe sunscreen: It’s against the law to use sunscreen that is not reef-safe in Hawaii, as it causes sun bleaching to coral reefs but kills sea animals. COOLA is by far the best sunscreen I’ve ever used.
Water bottle: For long days of exploring around the island, fill up an insulated water bottle with some ice-cold water to keep you cool and hydrated throughout the day.
Turkish towel: I bring a Turkish towel with me on all my trips to coastal destinations. It’s lightweight, absorbent, and can be used as a blanket, sarong, or pillow too!
Dry bag + wet bag: Protect your items from getting wet while adventuring with a dry bag, whether you’re on a kayak tour, on a boat, or at the beach. Wet bags are for putting wet items, like swimwear, inside so they don’t get anything else wet.
Tote bags: Foldable tote bags are useful for shopping in Hawaii, as the stores don’t provide bags. They can also be used as beach bags!
Clothing for Hawaii
Hawaiian style is casual, beachy, and laid back. You will not need fancy clothes, heels, or lots of accessories. When I’m in Hawaii, I usually wear soft, lightweight shorts and tops every day.
I’ll sometimes wear dresses if we’re going out to dinner, but I always keep them beachy and somewhat casual. You can dress up if you want to, but beachy casual is what most people tend to wear.
Swimwear
For a week-long trip to Hawaii, you likely want to pack 3–4 swimsuits. This way, you’ll always have a dry one while the others are drying. Even in one day, I’ll sometimes wear two swimsuits between a morning ocean swim and an afternoon hike to a waterfall.
My favorite brands for high-quality swimwear are Vitamin A and Monday Swimwear. The pieces I have from them have lasted me for years.
For more affordable swimwear, Aerie has surprisingly good quality swimsuits. I’ve even worn them to Hawaii!
A one-piece swimsuit is perfect to wear as a body suit with shorts or flowy pants. I just don’t usually wear them for relaxing at the beach because of the funky tan lines.
Lightweight Tops
Light colors and breezy fabrics are most comfortable on hot and humid days while exploring. Since I wear my swimsuit under my clothes most days in Hawaii, I also want my tops to fit over swimwear.
My favorite spot to get cute basics is the Abercrombie A&F Essentials collection. Their clothing quality is impressive — I’ve worn my Abercrombie tops probably 100x over the last few years without them getting holes or falling apart.
The Baby Tees are my go-to for t-shirts, while the Essential Polished Body-Skimming Tee is a looser fit that’s more ideal for Hawaii.
Ultra soft and stretchy, the Spacedye Racerback Tank is perfect for hiking and adventuring. I wear them for road trips, hikes, and working out — they’re incredibly comfortable!
For nicer tops to wear at dinner or to a luau, the After Dark Energy top from Fortunate One and the Lace Trim Ruffle Tank from Abercrombie are perfect.
Flowy Shorts and Skirts
Shorts or a skirt that’s easy to pull on/off over swimwear is convenient for beach days or days of driving around the island, checking out waterfalls and swimming spots.
I love linen pull-on shorts, even though linen tends to wrinkle. They’re so comfortable that the wrinkling doesn’t bother me, but I wanted to mention it in case wrinkles are a deal-breaker for you.
The It-Knit Skort from American Eagle is the best mini skirt for travel — stretchy, built-in shorts, and comfortable.
I also love the Linen-Blend Pull-On Shorts from Abercrombie. They come in multiple colors and patterns, are lightweight, have pockets, and are flowy.
Casual Dresses
The Hawaiian islands aren’t a place you need to dress up — the laid-back island vibe extends to outfits as well. Casual dresses are ideal for going out to dinner or lounging by the pool.
If you plan on attending a luau, then you may want to pack a nicer dress for that.
Lulus is where you can get affordable, cute dresses that lean more casual. It also has inexpensive wedding dresses — it’s where I got my wedding dress when I eloped on Maui!
Fortunate One is another brand with both casual, beachy dresses and upscale dresses. It’s one of my favorite places to get dresses for travel, especially for island trips.
Sandals/Flip Flops
I love a basic flip-flop for the beach or casual daily wear in Hawaii. You don’t need anything fancy for the laid-back days, but you may want something more sturdy, like a trail shoe, for adventures and tours.
The Roxy Porto Raffia flip-flops are my go-tos, even though the soles came unglued after a few months. I used Shoe Glue, and they’ve been holding up well since!
I’ve also worn the Reef Water Vista sandals on a trip, and they were perfect for low-key days, but chaffed my feet on long days of walking 10+ miles in Europe. However, they’re perfect for Hawaii.
Hiking Outfits
My hiking outfit of choice is bike shorts with pockets and a workout top with a built-in bra.
Long pants and closed-toed shoes are a must for adventuring and rugged tours. Kualoa Ranch is a must-visit spot on Oahu, and some of their tours require long pants and closed-toed shoes.
Kauai has lots of great hikes, but they’re often muddy because of how much rain it gets, especially on the North Shore. Pack shoes you don’t mind getting dirty/stained if you’re visiting Kauai. I love my trail runners — they have great grip.
REI Co-Op has great pants and shorts for hiking. The Trailmade Pants work well for Hawaii since they repel water and protect your skin from the sun.
Warm Clothes
If you plan to visit Haleakala National Park on Maui, it’s much colder than the rest of the island — sometimes it even gets snow! Bring a packable warm coat and wear long pants for taking in the views at the peak.
The Big Island is known for its volcanoes, so pack warm clothes and grippy trail shoes for the cold temps if you plan to hike
Of all the islands, Kauai is the wettest. Bring a lightweight raincoat (this one packs into its own pocket!) for those rainy days.
What to Pack For the Beach in Hawaii
Reef-safe sunscreen: It’s against the law to use sunscreen that is not reef-safe in Hawaii, as it causes sun bleaching to coral reefs but kills sea animals. COOLA is by far the best sunscreen I’ve ever used. It’s natural, reef-safe, goes on like a moisturizer, and comes in pleasant scents, though I usually opt for the unscented ones.
Sun hat: I bring a wide-brimmed sun hat that covers both my neck and shoulders for extra sun protection on my face and neck. There are some high-quality sun hats out there, like this one from Lack of Colours, but I like my cheap sun hat, so I don’t feel bad about it getting lost or bent in my suitcase.
Sunglasses: My favorite sunglasses are simple, cheap acrylic tortoise shells with brown lenses. I usually bring 1–2 pairs, and if one pair gets lost or crunched in my beach bag, it’s not a huge loss. They’re surprisingly sturdy, though!
Tote bag: A nice beach tote is useful for days at the beach or by the pool to carry a change of clothes, your Turkish towel, water bottle, and sunscreen.
Sandals: I like the Roxy Porto Raffia flip-flops for a casual beach day sandal.
Water shoes: For snorkeling, boat trips, or even just swimming at the beach, water shoes can protect your feet from the sharp reefs.
Cover-up: If you want to enjoy the beach without baking in the sun, a cover-up is a great item to bring. Not all beaches have shade to sit in, and I like to occasionally wear a lightweight, long-sleeve shirt over my bikini to protect my shoulders, back, and arms from the sun.
Beach towel: Most hotels or rentals provide beach towels for you, but double-check the list of included amenities. Even if towels are provided, I still bring a Turkish towel since it’s lightweight, absorbent, and takes up very little space in my luggage.
Cooler: This is completely optional, but if you want to pack some cold drinks and food for a beach day, consider bringing a flat-pack cooler.
Waterproof phone Pouch: I use a waterproof phone pouch for underwater photos/videos instead of a GoPro or underwater camera. It’s ideal for snorkeling or just peace of mind during boat trips, beach days, or pool days.
Sustainable Items
Tote bags: Stores do not provide bags, so you must bring your own. These Baggu bags fold up into a tiny storage pouch and are perfect for travel! I use them regularly.
Reusable utensils: These reusable utensils can be helpful when visiting food trucks and roadside stands, as it reduces single-use utensils (even if they are made of sugar cane or wood).
To-go containers: Most hotels and resorts have mini fridges in the room. Bringing your own to-go containers reduces the use of single-use containers when you visit the food trucks in Oahu or Kauai.
Refillable water bottle: If you haven’t gotten yourself a nice, insulated, refillable water bottle yet, I highly recommend Owala. It lets you tip to sip or use the built-in straw — best of both worlds!
Electronics & Camera Gear
Waterproof phone pouch: Skip the clunky underwater cameras and instead, pop your phone into a waterproof phone pouch for all your snorkeling shots. Just be sure to test the pouch according to directions before you use it with your phone.
Disposable camera: Bringing a disposable camera along can be a fun way to capture film photos without the cost of a high-end film camera and film. I like to bring one with me on a trip to capture photos with a nostalgic look.
Disposable camera pics in Oahu!
Headphones: For blocking out sound on the plane or listening to music at the beach, noise-canceling AirPods are comfortable, small enough for travel, and block out noise well.
Universal adapter: Traveling from a different country? Bring a universal adapter to quickly charge multiple devices at the same time, no matter what plugs your electronics have.
Power Bank: I carry an Anker Power Bank for long days of exploring to quickly charge my phone on-the-go so I never have to search for outlets at cafes or navigate a new place with a dead phone.
Canon R5: My Canon R5 camera comes with me on all my trips. It’s a professional camera and is worth the investment if you’re looking to shoot high-res, professional images.
28-70mm f/2 RF lens: I started out with the 15–35mm f/2.8 and quickly realized it was way too wide. After I got the 28–70mm, I never looked back. It’s the ideal focal length for the types of travel photos I take.
Canon Rebel T7: If you aren’t ready for a professional camera but still want to shoot quality digital photos, the Canon Rebel series is a good place to start.
Personal Care to Pack for Hawaii
Shampoo and conditioner bars: The bars from Ethique are my regular shampoo and conditioner, but they’re also amazing for carry-on travel since you don’t have to store them in your liquids bag.
After-sun gel: Even with diligent sunscreen application, the strong Hawaiian sun may still burn you. The Sun Bum After Sun Gel is a lifesaver — we slather it on in the evenings if we have any sign of a sunburn.
Medicine: I pack a mini pharmacy with me on trips in a travel pill case. It’s usually filled with Tylenol, Dramamine, Tums, anti-diarrheal, and melatonin.
Medical devices: Be sure to pack any necessary medical devices like contact lenses, glasses, a CPAP machine, an inhaler, etc.
Bug repellent: The gorgeous, lush landscapes across the islands attract mosquitoes. Bring bug repellent to stay as bite-free as possible on your trip.
Earplugs: Any unfamiliar sounds at night wake me up when I travel, so wax earplugs that block out the noise and feel comfortable in my ears help me get solid sleep on trips.
Hair ties + clips: On extra humid days, the feeling of hair sticking to my neck or back is unbearable. Most days, I keep my hair up with a claw clip or a thick hair tie (these hair ties are seriously the best!).
Deodorant: I tried every natural deodorant out there for years before I finally got tired of sweating and, well, smelling. Secret Clinical Strength keeps me dry during hot days of exploring, and I smell fresh all day long.
Tinted moisturizer: Heavy foundation feels awful in humid climates and will probably wash off through sweating or swimming anyway. Opt for a tinted moisturizer instead, or go without!
Waterproof mascara: My very straight eyelashes need to be curled and only stay up with a waterproof mascara. The CoverGirl Exhibitionist Waterproof Mascara is my all-time favorite (and I’ve tried dozens) — it keeps my lashes curled and doesn’t streak down my face when wet.
Liquid blush/bronzer: If you want to do a full face of makeup, a liquid blush and bronzer tend to hold up better than a powder in heat and humidity. I love the Rare Beauty ones.
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