Don’t Pack for Hawaii Until You Hear This (Free Checklist)

Are you packing for Hawaii, but not sure what you actually need?

👉 Download your FREE "What to Pack for Hawaii" checklist!

Packing for Hawaii isn’t just about swimsuits and flip flops, especially if you want to save money, avoid stress, and feel ready once you land.

👉 Hit play now to learn what to pack for Hawaii so you can spend less time shopping and more time enjoying your trip.

If you’ve ever wondered how to pack smarter for a Hawaii vacation, this episode is for you.

You’ll learn what belongs in your bag, what you can leave at home, and which overlooked items can make your trip smoother.

In this episode of Hawaii’s Best, we break down practical Hawaii packing essentials so you can feel prepared without overpacking.

👉In this episode, you will:

• Pack the right sunscreen, swimsuits, shoes, and light layers for Hawaii’s beaches, hikes, and cooler evenings.
• Avoid common packing mistakes that can lead to extra spending once you arrive.
• Bring simple extras like a reusable water bottle, shopping bags, and laundry detergent to make travel easier.

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Scroll up ⬆️ and hit play now to pack smarter for your Hawaii trip.

🤙 Resources mentioned:

• What to pack in Hawaii checklist

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🎧 Related episodes:

• First Day in Hawaii Mistakes to Avoid
• Best Island to Visit in Hawaii

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💻 Related blog posts:

• Best Beaches in Hawaii
• Best Sunscreens for Hawaii

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🤓 Chapters:

• 1:47 Hawaii Packing Essentials
• 3:39 Clothes Shoes Hydration
• 5:57 Smart Extras for Comfort
• 8:32 Bonus Items and Wrap Up

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👉 Book a Hawaii Travel Consultation

About Your Host: Bryan Murphy is the founder of Hawaii’s Best Travel & a Certified Hawaii Destination Expert through the Hawaii Tourism Authority, since 2020. An HVCB member since 2019, he helps first-time & repeat visitors plan unforgettable Hawaii vacations w/ clear, practical advice & authentic cultural insight.

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Hawaii travel podcast helps you plan a trip to Hawaii with clarity. Discover practical travel tips, island itineraries, & local insight to help you explore Oahu, Maui, Kauai, the Big Island.

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Transcript

237_Don’t Pack for Hawaii Until You Hear This

[00:00:00] Pack Smarter Intro

[00:00:00] Bryan Murphy: Packing for Hawaii isn't just swimsuits and flip flops. In this episode, you'll discover the essentials most travelers forget and how bringing the right things can save you money, stress, and time once you're in Hawaii.

[00:00:17] Bryan Murphy: Loha and welcome to Hawaii's Best. I'm Brian Murphy, Hawaii, destination expert and your guide to planning an unforgettable trip to Hawaii. Today we're talking about something that can really make or break your trip to Hawaii. We're talking all about packing smarter for Hawaii. Now, you've probably packed for plenty of vacations before, but Hawaii is a bit different.

[00:00:39] Bryan Murphy: Bring the wrong things or forget the right ones, and you might just spend your first day shopping at a b, c store the whole time, which nothing wrong with that, but. You could be enjoying the beach during that time. So you wanna pack thoughtfully and you'll feel prepared, comfortable, and even help protect the islands while you're at it.

[00:00:57] Bryan Murphy: And by the end of this episode, you'll know exactly what belongs in your bag, what you can leave at home, and if you overlook items that can really make your trip so much smoother. And also, if you want a little help in this, I've put together a free printable checklist that you can grab in the show notes below first link.

[00:01:17] Bryan Murphy: I definitely remember my first time to Hawaii with my wife almost 20 years ago, and 30 trips later, we had. I want to say like three check bags between us and a couple carry-ons, and it was just us. We didn't have kids at the time. So when we got there and we were only there for like five days, you know, I realized that first day how overpacked I was and.

[00:01:43] Bryan Murphy: How I didn't get through probably 80% of the stuff I packed.

[00:01:47] Hawaii Packing Essentials

[00:01:47] Bryan Murphy: So first we're gonna be talking about those must haves. You know, the things that you'll want in your check bag, your carry on, you know, no matter what. So first up is mineral sunscreen. This isn't just about avoiding a sunburn, even though that can be.

[00:02:04] Bryan Murphy: Pretty painful and can definitely hamper your trip. But Hawaii has laws in place to protect its reaps. So sunscreens with oxybenzone or octinoxate are banned statewide. Now in the county of Maui, which includes Maui, Molokai, and Lana, only mineral sunscreens are allowed for sale in use. So, you know, don't just grab a bottle because it says reef safe.

[00:02:30] Bryan Murphy: On the front you, you want to make sure you flip it over and check the active ingredients. If it's zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, you're pretty much good to go. And honestly, not only is this better for the ocean, which is why this is in place, but it also saves you from having to pay resort prices for their sunscreen when you realize yours isn't allowed.

[00:02:53] Bryan Murphy: Next up is probably really obvious, but swimsuits. I don't know how many swimsuits that we have bought on vacation. One 'cause we've, we've forgotten before or one of our kids has forgotten. And two, we didn't try it hunt before we, we went and we grabbed the wrong size. Or maybe the size is too big or too small.

[00:03:14] Bryan Murphy: So check your swimsuits. You'll probably be in the water most days, be it at the pool or beach. So pack a lease two. That way you'll have always have, you know, a dry one ready to go. It can be frustrating when you pull out a damp suit thinking that'll be dry in the morning. The weather in Hawaii can be more humid, so it might take some things a little bit longer to dry.

[00:03:35] Bryan Murphy: So having those two swimsuits is a good idea. All right.

[00:03:39] Clothes Shoes Hydration

[00:03:39] Bryan Murphy: Next up is bringing some lightweight shirts and or tank tops. Hawaii is warm. It's humid, and cotton can feel heavy sometimes after a while. So quick dry fabrics or anything, you know, designed for hot weather will feel just so much brother and and breathable.

[00:03:56] Bryan Murphy: So when you're packing, have that in mind. You also need a couple pairs of shorts. You know, obviously those are great for beach days. Hikes just hanging out. Even going to the restaurant. Hawaii isn't too formal, you know? A nice pair of shorts and aloha shirt for guys is pretty much okay. Yeah. Most places that you're going to eat at, so if you're planning something active, maybe have some athletic shorts, maybe you, you like to wear jeans?

[00:04:22] Bryan Murphy: I probably brought my first time visiting Hawaii. I, I probably bought two or three pairs of jeans and I don't think I warm once so they can be hot, they can be bulky for Hawaii, but maybe a pair of. I don't know guys, you know, dockers or, or that type of Chino type of pant. If you want to dress up a little bit now for your feet, you want to definitely bring some flip flops.

[00:04:46] Bryan Murphy: Sandals definitely are essential or, or you might hear locals refer to flip flops or sandals as flippers, and you'll probably be slipping them on and off a lot, especially since it's custom to leaf shoes at the door when entering someone's home. So if you're visiting someone in Hawaii, having some flip flops is good just to be able to slip on and off when needed.

[00:05:06] Bryan Murphy: And a quick tip is, you know, don't hike. In flip flops, trails can be muddy, rocky, unpredictable, dangerous. So bring a pair of sturdy shoes if you plan to hit the trails and do a little exploring that way. And finally on, the essential things to bring is a reusable water bottle. Staying hydrated is huge, and you'll find that there are refill stations at airports, parks.

[00:05:31] Bryan Murphy: Many of the hotels resorts have them. So it's a, it's a simple way to cut down on plastic waste, and if you have an insulated bottle, metal would be best rather than plastic. But that just keeps, you know, drinks cold for hours, which is great and refreshing, especially after exploring a hike. Or during a hike or at, you know, at the beach or pool.

[00:05:54] Bryan Murphy: It's just good having that ready and available.

[00:05:57] Smart Extras for Comfort

[00:05:57] Bryan Murphy: Alright, now we're gonna talk about some just smart extras that aren't always, uh, you know, top of mind when packing, but once you have them, you'll wonder how you've never traveled without 'em. One of those first things for us is a rash guard or a swim shirt.

[00:06:10] Bryan Murphy: I always swim in a rash guard now, especially in Hawaii, so I don't have to keep reapplying sunscreen. So having a, that sun shirt, it gives you that extra sun protection. It dries quickly and it's just great and versatile if you're out surfing, snorkeling, or just hanging out at the pool. And most rash guards do have a UPF of 50, which blocks almost most of the harmful UV rays.

[00:06:36] Bryan Murphy: Next up is water shoes. They're not the most glamorous thing you'll pack, but. They're definitely worth it, especially on a lot of beaches. They can be rocky. The shorelines, lava rock and just slipping around barefoot is no fun. So having water, shoes to protect you from any cuts, sea urchins, and even hot sand, plus they're just light to pack, is kind of a no-brainer, quick drying and just easy to throw in the day bag, you know, your beach bag for the day.

[00:07:04] Bryan Murphy: Another item, or definitely would be sunhats or a cap. The Hawaiian sun is intense and even on breezy or partly cloudy days, a hat keeps your face shaded, reduces glare. It means you don't have to pile on as much sunscreen. So whether you're hiking, lounging on the sand, wandering through town, a good hat.

[00:07:22] Bryan Murphy: Is the way to go and it can pack relatively flat for women. Uh, my wife has, I don't know how many sunhats and I don't know how many baseball caps I have, so we pack probably three. Each and uh, they don't take up too much space in the check bag. And finally, a light sweater or jacket. This one actually surprises a lot of people.

[00:07:44] Bryan Murphy: And yeah, obviously Hawaii is tropical, but evenings and higher elevation, especially on the big island of Hawaii, they can be chilly. So if you're doing a Halakah sunrise on the island of Maui, or stargazing on Mona on Hawaii Island. It's cold, and even in towns like Waimea, cool off at night. So have a, you know, a light layer won't take up much space in your bag, but it'll make you a lot more comfortable when temperatures can dip.

[00:08:12] Bryan Murphy: Alright, so before I wrap up with a couple, you know, last bonus items, I put together a free printable checklist that covers everything we've talked about, plus I've included 29 more items that can make your trip even easier. And to grab that is gonna be the first link in the show notes below, and you'll be able to grab it right there.

[00:08:32] Bonus Items and Wrap Up

[00:08:32] Bryan Murphy: So bonus items to bring would be a couple reusable shopping bags. Plastic checkout bags are banned across Hawaii, so having a foldable tote. Bag in your suitcase is definitely gonna come in handy. So all those A, b, C store trips and just going to farmer's markets, you want to have that. Just ready and available.

[00:08:52] Bryan Murphy: And it's also great for, you know, a day bag down to the beach or pool Without it, you'll probably find yourself spending money on bags. If you're out shopping, you're gonna have to probably buy a bag just to carry your items. And the second bonus tip is bring some laundry detergent. I, I know it sounds kind of random, but it's definitely a lifesaver.

[00:09:12] Bryan Murphy: This is something we started doing probably about. 10 years ago and just having a small bag of detergent, powder, or even better detergent sheets, unless you wash your clothes in the sink or use the hotel machines, or maybe you're staying in a condo, that means you can pack a little bit lighter. Not bring as many clothes, but you could still have some fresh clothes if you're staying a week or two in Hawaii, which is especially handy if you're traveling with kits.

[00:09:37] Bryan Murphy: But, uh, just one tip on that, if you're flying with powder in your carry-on, keep it under 12 ounces. So TSA doesn't get mad or flag you for extra screening. Better yet, just keep that in your check bag. Alright, so there you go. That's just kind of the tip of the iceberg of what to bring to Hawaii if you want to make packing even easier.

[00:09:59] Bryan Murphy: Like I mentioned, I put together a free printable checklist with all of today's items, plus 29 more items. You'll be glad you didn't overlook, so you can grab that in the first link in the show notes. Mahala for listening to today's episode, and until next time, as always, live with aloha.

[00:10:19] Bryan Murphy: Mahalo for listening to Hawaii's Best. If you found today's episode helpful, make sure to hit follow on your podcast app so you don't miss future episodes. You can find all links and resources mentioned today in the show notes below. Hawaii's Best is produced by Shore Break Media Group, edited by Easy podcast solutions and with music by our friends stick figures.