The Way To Go Travel: What to pack for Hawaii

I’ve been to Hawaii numerous times. I’ve also been to all the islands, so I’ve become a a pro for packing for a Hawaii vacations. I wanted to share my best tips for packing for your perfect Hawaii vacation.....

The Basics

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 casual skirts, sun dresses, capri pants, dressier shorts, etc. For nicer restaurants, I like to make my dinner reservations about a week or so before I leave the mainland. So when I call to make the reservations, I ask what the dress code is. That way there is never a doubt.
Hawaii is generally warm year-round, but sometimes you might encounter a short cold spell when visiting in the winter months. Bring a light jacket or sweater. You’ll probably want to have a sweater or jacket just for the plane ride over. If you are staying in any of the uplands/upcountry areas like, Koele, Lanai City, Kula, Volcano and Waimea, you’ll definitely want to bring a light sweater.
Bring two swim suits per person so that you will always have a dry suit to wear.
Bring a swim suit cover-up 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. If you plan to spend a lot of time in the ocean, you might want to bring reef shoes.
Sunglasses
Bring sunscreen, with an SPF that is higher than what you would normally wear on the mainland. I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to wear a high SPF sunscreen in Hawaii. The sun’s rays are exceptionally strong there. Remember that if the container is larger than 3.4 oz you will have to check your luggage. Whether you check the sunscreen in your luggage or carry it onboard the aircraft with you, always put it in a zip-lock container in case it leaks in transit.
Lip balm with SPF 15, 30 or higher
Hat and/or visor
Bring your guidebook.
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. If you have a portable GPS navigation systems, bring it.
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. to keep in the rental car as back up for when I forget to bring my jacket.
Consider bringing a small stash of snacks to get you through emergency situations.