What to Wear in Hawaii

If planning what to wear in Hawaii is still giving you trouble, here’s a handy list of items for that natural island look.

You can never go wrong wearing a T-shirt. When in doubt about what to wear in Hawaii, pick a sporty T-shirt for men and women. In Hawaii, it’s perfectly okay to forgo sleeves, too, both for women and men.

If you’re going to a business meeting, you might want to don pants or capris, but for daily island life, shorts are more in keeping with Hawaii style. A pair of board shorts, made of easy-to-dry fabric, can also transition easily from surf to street. This goes equally for women and men.

For those afternoons spent shopping or wandering around Honolulu or Waikiki, a pretty floral dress is always in fashion.

If you end up on the beach or doing a water activity like snorkeling or swimming with the dolphins, chances are you’re going to be in a swimsuit. Once you get out of the water, though, it’s acceptable to keep your swimsuit on and don a cover-up. Just make sure it’s cute and covers all the important bits, and you’ll fit right in.

For evenings at the luau or dinner in a nice restaurant, a maxi dress hits just the right note in terms of beach chic and is a great choice for what to wear in Hawaii.

In Hawaii, a pair of cute, flat sandals can make the outfit.

Because everyone in Hawaii has at least a few pairs, you should definitely plan on wearing flip-flops. This applies to women and men.

It’s a little cliche, but when considering what to wear in Hawaii, the guys will never go wrong with a Hawaiian shirt. Just make sure it’s more of a modern, fitted style.  The boxy versions should stay in the back of your closet.

Planning on hiking up Diamond Head to catch the awesome views? You’ll want to wear a pair of sturdy hiking boots. No open toed shoes allowed for guys or gals.

– Original reporting by Mai Pham

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