Hawaii Packing List
By the NanoPack team · Updated on · Checked against official sources
What to pack for Hawaii: light, breathable clothes for hot, humid days, plenty of quick-dry swimwear, and a mineral, reef-safe sunscreen, because Hawaii bans the sale of sunscreens with oxybenzone and octinoxate to protect the reefs. Add water shoes for sharp lava and rocky snorkel entries, and a light rain layer for the windward side. If you are heading up Haleakala or Mauna Kea, pack a warm layer too, because the summits can drop close to freezing. Dress is casual almost everywhere, and both cash and cards are handy.
Hawaii essentials at a glance
- Mineral, reef-safe sunscreen SPF 30+
- Quick-dry swimwear and a rash guard
- Water shoes for lava and reef
- A light rain layer for the windward side
- A warm fleece for the volcano summits
- Light, casual, breathable clothes
- A dry bag and a reusable water bottle
- Insect repellent for the rainforest
Hawaii looks like one climate in the brochures and turns out to be several. A single day can carry you from a hot, sunny beach to a cool, dripping rainforest to a summit where it is bitterly cold, and the water asks for reef-safe sunscreen and shoes that survive lava rock. Pack light and casual for the warmth, then add the few protective pieces the islands quietly demand: sun cover, a rain layer, and, for the volcanoes, real warmth.
Sun and reef protection
- Mineral, reef-safe sunscreen SPF 30+ · Hawaii bans the sale of oxybenzone and octinoxate
- SPF lip balm
- A wide-brim hat and sunglasses
- A rash guard or UV shirt for snorkeling
- After-sun and aloe
Beach and water
- Quick-dry swimwear ×2 to 3
- Water shoes · lava rock and reef are sharp underfoot
- Snorkel and mask · or rent on site
- A dry bag
- A quick-dry beach towel
- A reusable water bottle
Clothing for three climates
- Light, breathable tops, shorts and dresses
- A light rain jacket · the windward side is wet
- A warm fleece or layer · for the summits and cool evenings
- One aloha-casual outfit for dinner
- Comfortable sandals
- Sneakers with grip for muddy trails
Hikes and activities
- A packable day backpack
- Insect repellent · for the rainforest trails
- A headlamp · for sunrise summits and lava-tube walks
- Motion-sickness remedy for boat tours
- Trekking poles if you hike a lot
Tech and documents
- ID and cards
- Phone and charger
- A power bank
- A waterproof phone pouch
- A camera for the landscapes
- Offline maps · coverage is patchy on the coasts and in the hills
Health and extras
- Any medication and basic first-aid
- Hand sanitizer
- A reusable shopping bag
- Cash for farmers' markets and food trucks
What not to pack
- Chemical sunscreen with oxybenzone or octinoxate · Hawaii has banned the sale of these since 2021; bring a mineral one
- Only flip-flops for the water · lava rock and reef cut bare feet; pack water shoes
- A heavy winter coat · you need one warm fleece for the summits, not a parka
- A suitcase of dressy clothes · Hawaii is casual; aloha attire is about as formal as it gets
Packing tips and mistakes to avoid
Reef-safe sunscreen is the law
Hawaii has banned the sale of sunscreens containing oxybenzone and octinoxate statewide since 2021, and Maui County allows only mineral sunscreen, because those chemicals bleach and kill coral. Bring a mineral, zinc-based sunscreen, which protects your skin and is allowed on every island.
You are packing for three climates in one day
A morning on a hot beach, an afternoon in a dripping rainforest and a sunset on a cold summit is a normal Hawaii day. Light clothes handle the heat, a packable rain jacket handles the windward showers, and one warm fleece handles the heights and the evenings.
The summits are genuinely cold
Sunrise on Haleakala and the top of Mauna Kea sit above 3,000 metres and can drop close to freezing with strong wind. If a summit is on your list, pack a fleece, a hat and gloves, not just a light windbreaker.
Bring water shoes for the lava
Many of Hawaii's best entries are sharp lava rock or reef rather than soft sand. Water shoes save your feet, stay on in the surf, and double as trail shoes for wet, rocky hikes.
The things people forget
- A warm fleece for the volcano summits, they get near freezing
- Water shoes for the sharp lava and reef
- A mineral reef-safe sunscreen, chemical ones are banned from sale
- Cash for food trucks and farmers' markets
What people wish they had packed
- A rash guard for long snorkel sessions
- A dry bag for the boat and beach
- Motion-sickness remedy for the catamaran tours
- A headlamp for the sunrise summit hike
Frequently asked questions
What should you pack for Hawaii?
Light, breathable clothes and plenty of quick-dry swimwear, a mineral reef-safe sunscreen, water shoes for lava and reef, a light rain jacket for the windward side, and one warm fleece if you plan to visit a volcano summit. Add a rash guard, a dry bag, insect repellent and cash for markets.
Is reef-safe sunscreen required in Hawaii?
Hawaii has banned the sale of sunscreens containing oxybenzone and octinoxate statewide since 2021, and Maui County permits only mineral sunscreen. Bring a reef-safe mineral sunscreen to protect both your skin and the reefs.
Do you need warm clothes in Hawaii?
For the beaches, no. But sunrise on Haleakala and the summit of Mauna Kea rise above 3,000 metres and can approach freezing, so if a volcano is on your itinerary, pack a warm fleece, a hat and gloves.
Do you need water shoes in Hawaii?
They are well worth packing. Many snorkel and swim entries are sharp lava rock or reef rather than sand, and water shoes make those entries comfortable, grip wet rock, and stay put in the swell.