Pack and Play: Can’t Miss Items for Your Perfect Summer 2025 Hawaii Packing List

The time for a dreamy, sun-drenched island summer is right around the corner, so you’re due to start thinking about where you’re going and what’s going with you!

Beautiful Hawaii is, of course, a perennial favorite for everyone, with beautiful beaches, water as clear as Swarovski crystal, and a foodie scene that’s unique and delicious. The weather is warm, the skies clear, and the vibes immaculate. Planning a trip here sets you up perfectly for the ultimate summer escape, whether you’re taking the whole family for an island vacation or enjoying a solo excursion at a luxury hotel.

The only thing that can mar your beachy bliss is being inadequately equipped. There’s nothing like laying out your towel on the sand only to find you’ve missed sunscreen; little derails a mountain hike like forgetting your water bottle! I am a traveler who loves to be prepared at all times, and that means making lists for everything so the specter of forgetfulness doesn’t cause an unpleasant blip on my roadmap to summer sweetness. But I know list making isn’t everyone’s jam. It’s often the last thing you want to do when you’re already trying to figure out which is the cheapest Hawaiian island, or where to stay in Kauai.

That’s why I’ve put together a little list of essentials that you can tuck in with your bikinis and sand shoes, freeing up valuable time for you to spend on deciding whether you want to go to Maui or Kauai.

Sun Protection Items to Pack for Your Hawaii Trip

Best SPF Options

Nothing is more important on any sunny vacation than protecting your skin–what’s the point of enjoying a beautiful waterfall hike in Oahu if you end up with a sunburn? That being said, Hawaii is one of several states that has strict rules on sunscreen, in an effort to protect the delicate coral reefs. Raw Elements has a face and body mineral sunscreen that is gentle, effective, reef-friendly and sustainably packaged. Don’t forget that your lips need protecting, too–All Good has an excellent SPF 15 Original Lip Balm for this.

Additional Protection

Sunscreen needs backup, just in case. Prolonged sun exposure can lead to overheating and headaches, so it’s best to have a good sun hat and a pair of UV rated sunglasses for extra protection. Coolibar’s Nate Chlorine-Resistant Bucket Hat is a simple gender-neutral option that comes in multiple sizes and has a UPF of 50; a steal at $40 on Amazon. And your eyeballs will love these stylish aviator sunglasses with polarized lenses to block harmful UV rays.

Carrying Solutions

Your Main Bag

My go-to tip for all travels is to ditch the collapsible tote bag for a good-sized drawstring backpack. These can pack flat or fold up small, have a surprising capacity, and allow you to walk around with your hands free; that means you can take pictures, corral your kids, or whatever else might be a little more complicated while wrestling with a shoulder bag. This $25 RiseFit model comes in tons of cute patterns, is waterproof, and has extra pockets inside and out for your small belongings. It’s fabulous for the beach, grocery runs, and as an extra carry-on for your souvenirs and gifts.

Phone Safety

We all have our phones close at hand these days, for snapping photos of our most pricelessly memorable moments, keeping connected to friends and family, or staying on top of our schedules–even at the beach or on a dreamy Hawaiian cruise in the glorious Pacific Ocean, which means we need to take extra steps to keep our little electronic helpers safe and dry. The $25 Pelican Marine Floating Pouch has a secure wrist strap, but if it gets away from you in the water somehow, it does float so you can retrieve it quickly. And it’s got a clear front, so you can use your phone while keeping it safely sealed up.

Keeping Things Dry

Your phone isn’t the only thing that needs protecting from the elements. A small dry bag will help keep your wallet, keys, and other small items safe and dry. Yeti is a great name in leak resistant drink tumblers, but did you know they also made dry bags? This little 1L Gear Case will hold all your tinier bits and bobs safe in your big bag, and it’s only $40.

Pack Essentials for a Hawaii Beach Trip

Stay Hydrated

For a day lounging in the sun at a gorgeous Hawaiian resort, enjoying one of its lovely long hikes, or just being out and about when it’s warm, you need to keep hydrated. A good water bottle is one that is insulated, lightweight, and has a handle you can easily attach a carabiner to so you can sling it onto your bag strap.

Water Shoes

I am a big believer in keeping my feet protected at the beach–even at the best family resort beaches, sand can be uncomfortably hot, thoughtless people can litter broken glass, there might be sticks and rocks and shells to accidentally step on. Flip-flops are not great for actual foot safety, water shoes are a much better alternative. Options like these Simari Aqua Socks come in a wide array of colors to appeal to all tastes, come well-rated and won’t break your bank.

Bug Repellent

Even the most beautiful tropical resorts in Hawaii have one unfortunate flaw: mosquitoes! For keeping the stinging beasts away, I like Off! Clean Feel Gel Repellent for being inexpensive–usually $10 or less–non-sticky, non-smelly, and readily available. The high level of effectiveness is a bonus!

Turkish Towel

Never mind your $5 drugstore beach towel; plump for a lightweight, sand-repellant, quick-drying Turkish towel! Made from high quality cotton, they’re so soft, they absorb water quickly, and they last for ages and ages… a much better alternative to cheap terry cloth. These Bazaar Anatolia towels come in lots of different colors and patterns, so there’s something for everyone.

Battery Bank

When you’re on the go, your phone is going to run out of juice. Anker’s PowerCore 10k battery bank is high capacity, doesn’t take up too much space in your bag, and comes from a trusted name in charging accessories.

A Winning Wardrobe

Keep It Simple: The Capsule Concept

The ideal Hawaiian vacation wardrobe is one that’s comfortable and casual, but with the option to be dressed up a little for a nice dinner out. Additionally, it will be a “capsule” wardrobe, with pieces that can be mixed and matched to create multiple outfits; this keeps your suitcase light (more room for souvenirs!) and your stress levels low.

Ladies, think flowy boho dresses and super cute separates in lightweight fabrics. And you’ll need a pretty swimsuit for beach time! This ruffly two piece is adorable, but if you like more coverage, this floral one-piece is gorgeous, too.

Simple t-shirts and loose linen shorts go a long way for the men, but throw a simple light button-down or two and a pair of nice trousers into your suitcase as well for nights out. When you want to hit the beach, Fair Harbor’s got some amazing chafe-free trunks for you.

And since you can’t live in water shoes all the time, don’t forget to grab some Olukai sandals or slip-ons in colors that go well with your capsule wardrobe items.

The Most Essential of Essentials: Travel Documents

Whether you’re a domestic or international traveler to Hawaii, you must carry valid ID with you to enter the state, so you’ll want to be sure to have everything on hand and easily accessible while you travel.

A good hip pack is sturdy and roomy, a great choice of personal item for all genders. In it, you’ll want to carry a few things, starting with a wallet of some kind. A really good idea is to carry a passport wallet with an AirTag slot–that’s useful for keeping track of your most precious form of ID even when you’re not traveling!
You should also always have a blue or black ink pen in your bag, because you’ll need to fill out a Customs Declaration Form and, if you’re not an American citizen, an Immigration Form.

As a US state, Hawaii uses the US Dollar as currency. While there are ATMs at the various Hawaiian airports, you might want to exchange some currency ahead of your departure in order to avoid the bank fees and possibly unfavorable exchange rates. It is useful to have cash on hand upon arrival for transportation, and also just in case your credit card doesn’t work for some reason.

Stress Free Fun in the Hawaiian Sun

When you have your essentials on hand, anything that goes awry can be managed. And you surely can’t go wrong with our list of favorites; they’re carefully selected to help make your Hawaiian getaway the island escape of your wildest dreams. Have fun, stay safe, and enjoy your time frolicking on some of the best beaches the world has to offer–worry free.