The Essential Hawaii Packing List

Remember, if you forget something, don’t fret. Hawaii is a shopper’s paradise, so you can pick up whatever you need and then some, while there.

For those days working on your tan, or just to shade your eyes while you’re walking around Waikiki beach, you’ll need your sunnies. These large-framed polarized Ray-Ban Aviators are a classic.

The temperatures are so nice most of the time in Hawaii that you can easily forget how strong the sun’s rays are. Protect your skin from sunburn and lobster-skin faux pas with a good sunscreen. This cooling one from French manufacturer La Roche-Posay is just the ticket, an essential when planning what to pack for Honolulu.

Sure, the most fashionable bikinis will be on display in shops all over Hawaii, but you’ll want to don a swimsuit the minute you arrive in sunny Honolulu. Bikinis and board shorts pack pretty small, so bring a few.

Don’t let it all hang out in Hawaii. Bring a stylish cover-up that takes you from beach or pool to street in style.

Use it to shade your face while lounging on the beach. Use it to protect you from sunburn while shopping. A packable straw hat—one you can fold and throw in your beach bag with a bottle of water—is essential for your Hawaii packing list.

If you’re not a yogi, you can skip this one, but it’s a beautiful thing to be able to practice yoga at sunrise on the beach in Hawaii.

Hawaii is totally laid-back. Bring several comfortable T-shirts that don’t wrinkle and dry easily.

The ideal shorts to pack for Hawaii are shorts that dry easily and look good both at the beach and in the city.

While away from the beach, the dress code in Hawaii is cute and casual. Bring a dress or two made of light, gauzy, non-wrinkle fabric.

A Hawaii essential, flip-flops are practically part of the uniform around the islands. You can never go wrong with a pair of Havaianas, something you’ll definitely want to add to your Hawaii packing list.



– Original reporting by Mai Pham

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• 10 Best Things To Do in Honolulu
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• 10 Best Beaches in Honolulu
• 10 Best Spots for Cheap Eats in Honolulu
• 10 Best Restaurants in Honolulu
• 10 Great Places to Try Hawaiian Food in Honolulu
• What to Wear in Hawaii

Editor’s note: This story was originally published in 2018. It has been updated to reflect the most current information.