It was May of 2015 and there I was, enjoying the beautiful beaches of Maui. Lying on my beach towel, eyes closed, listening to the waves crash along the shoreline.
Flash forward to February 2018. It’s cold and raining and I’m sitting inside my house next to a tiny space heater listening to it crackle in a way that can’t be good. Oh, to be back on the beach.
Since I can’t be there, I thought I’d start off this new travel blog reminiscing about the seven days I spent in Hawaii three years ago. And where better to start than one of my favorite parts of travel: packing. I know that probably sounds strange to a lot of people. Packing can be one of the most stressful parts of traveling. Don’t forget this and that! Don’t over-pack! What are airline guidelines for luggage?!
But I’m one of the weirdos who enjoys packing for trips. In fact, I started packing my suitcase for Hawaii weeks in advance.
I know the idea of packing is daunting for some, so I thought I’d share a few tips and include my personal Hawaii packing list.
NOTE- I packed a checked bag! If you are taking only a carry-on, some items on my list will not work for you.
Tip One- Make a list
Because I’m a planner (and avid list maker), I developed my ultimate Hawaii packing list sometime in April of 2015, at least a month before my trip. Creating my list early gave me plenty of time to add items I forgot originally and delete items I realized I didn’t need.
I like to organize my lists by sections: Clothing Items, Shoes, Toiletries, Other, Carry-On, Items to Purchase and Recommendations.
I tend to do a lot of research when I travel to new places, and will find a good many tips on what to pack. I list all of the suggestions under the Recommendations section. Then, when I am ready to finalize my list, I can choose to include these suggestions or not.
I always type my lists but use check boxes as my bullet points so that when I am ready to pack, I can print my list and check items off as I pack them. This helps ensure I don’t forget anything important.
Bonus Tip- Use Google Docs I have started keeping all of my packing lists on my Google Drive account. It’s easy to go in and add/delete/change items, and you can access it from virtually anywhere. There are apps you can get for your smart phone or tablet. As long as there is internet access, you’re good to go.
Tip Two- Do your research
Before I go anywhere, I always check the weather conditions of my intended destination. Does it rain a lot? Does it get really cold at night? Is it muggy or humid?
As for Hawaii in May, it’s not incredibly humid but it is very hot during the day. It also gets quite cold at night, especially if you are near the ocean. I learned this the hard way.
It’s also important to understand the cultures and traditions of your destination. Are there dress codes for certain places you plan to visit? We didn’t go anywhere with strict dress codes in Hawaii, but you always want to check.
Tip Three- Don’t Overpack
This can be a tough one for a lot of people, me included. I always want to make sure I have everything I might possibly need and in doing that, I would sometimes end up with a heavy suitcase that I had to lug around. You will be charged extra at the airport if your luggage weighs over a certain amount. And, you always want to have space to bring home souvenirs.
Here’s a look at my personal packing list for a 7 day Hawaii vacation:
Clothes
- 2 Swimsuits
- 2 Swimsuit Cover-ups
- 3 pairs of shorts
- 1 pair of capris
75 shirts- 1 sundress
- 1 pair of pjs
- 2 camis
- 10 pairs of underwear
- 2 bras
- 3 pairs of socks
I always find it best to pack 2 swimsuits when traveling to the beach. This way you always have one that’s dry (no one likes to put on a wet swimsuit). Bonus TIP– If you plan to do any activities such as snorkeling or surfing, I highly recommend not wearing bikini bottoms that tie together on the sides. Unless you don’t mind losing them. This may or may not have happened to me. (It did.)
Since we were gone 7 days, I opted to pack 4 bottoms and 7 tops in addition to what I wore over on the plane. I packed one shirt for every day of my trip, which worked out fine. Looking back now, I probably should have packed 5 shirts max and re-wore a few of them. I usually wear pants/shorts multiple times before washing them (unless they get excessively dirty) so 4 bottoms worked well for me. Bonus Tip- If you are traveling for more than a week, I would still pack for only one week and wash your clothes when necessary.
I took one sundress to wear on the night of our luau since I wanted to look a little nicer.
Shoes
- 1 pair of tennis shoes
1 pair of flats- 1 pair of sandals
- 2 pairs of flip flops
- Water shoes
We did a bit of hiking on our trip, so I wanted to be sure I had one pair of tennis shoes. I also took one pair of nice flats, one pair of nicer sandals, one pair of flip flops for walking around and shopping, and one pair of beach flip flops. I also took water shoes, though I now realize I should have left them at home because I did not ever wear them.
If I were going back today, I would leave the flats at home as well. I didn’t wear them that often and I had nice sandals that would have worked fine in their place.
Toiletries
- Deodorant
- Face Wash
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Body Wash
- Moisturizer
- Toothpaste
- Toothbrush
- Shaving Cream
- Razor
- Flat Iron
- Brush
- Makeup
- Makeup Removers
- Contact Solution
- Q-Tips
I know most hotels have complimentary shampoo, conditioner and soap, but I prefer my own when possible. Instead of taking large bottles, I bought travel sized containers from Walmart and filled them up with my favorite shampoo and conditioner. I also bought a travel sized body wash and shaving cream. Bonus Tip– Check all of your bottles before you leave. I got to Hawaii and realized my shaving cream was missing the nozzle so consequently would not spray.
I already had small containers of toothpaste (I get one every time I go to the dentist). My regular moisturizer, deodorant and toothbrush all fit in my toiletry bag (and I was checking my bag) so I didn’t worry with travel sizes. Bonus Tip– For extra precaution, I put potentially leaky bottles in a Ziplock bag while traveling. (I have recently purchased a TSA approved toiletry bag that I plan to use on my next trip. Updates to come on that.)
You can buy travel-sized packs of Q-Tips in little plastic containers at Walmart that are super handy. I keep one in my makeup bag at all times.
I did not pack a hair dryer for two reasons. One, most hotels have hair dryers nowadays (both of ours did). Two, I didn’t dry my hair very often anyway. I did pack my straightener because, on the few occasions I did dry my hair, it had to be tamed.
I bought a bag from Initials that’s perfect for travel-sized toiletries. It even has a hook so I can hang it up each time I carry it to the bathroom and I don’t have to worry about it being in anyone’s way.
Other
- Hair bows
- Contact Case
- Glasses
- Jewelry
- Cinch bag for hiking
- Bag for dirty clothes
- Beach Bag
- Sunscreen
- Drink holder for beach
- Beach Towel
- Band-Aids
- Medicines (ibuprofen, midol, etc.)
- Wipes
- Bug Spray
- Waterproof case
- Nail Clippers
I put most of my Other items in my Thirty-One Cosmetic Bag. Band-Aids and pain meds always come in handy and I never leave home without my nail clippers. It is important to note that you cannot have nail clippers in carry-on luggage!
Jewelry is not a huge necessity at the beach, but I wanted to take a few things for nights out.
As far as bags go, I packed one cinch bag for hiking and one bag for the beach. My drink holder, in case you were wondering, is one I got at a friend’s bachelorette weekend a few years ago. It sticks in the sand and holds your drinks steady (and keeps them mostly sand-free). Worth it.
I bought a waterproof case for my phone, keys, etc. from Academy Sports to carry to the beach. I wanted something to protect my phone from the ocean without having to purchase a Life-Proof case. The bag was only $10 and seemed to keep everything dry, but I didn’t actually carry it in the water.
I took a beach towel on my trip, but now I wish I hadn’t. Both hotels we stayed at let you check out towels to use at the pool and the beach. It’s true that they weren’t as long as a beach towel, but we were allowed to check out two per person. I used my personal towel twice and since I didn’t have the opportunity to wash it, it smelled horrendous by the time we left (I even tried to let it air dry on the balcony). You may want to check with your hotel before you leave, and if they have a towel check-out, leave the beach towel at home. You may also consider investing in a microfiber towel that dries quickly. I’ve never used a large microfiber towel, but I’ve heard good things.
Also, bug spray and sunscreen are a must! Put sunscreen on every day, even if it’s cloudy!!
Carry On
- Jacket
- Phone & Charger
- Camera & Charger
- Extra SD card
- iPad
- Book
Notebook/Pen- Sunglasses
- Water bottle
- Snacks
- Travel Guide
- Itinerary/Reservation Numbers
- Driver’s License
I wanted to include all of my electronics in my carry-on. That way, if my checked bag went missing, I wouldn’t lose my most expensive items.
I packed a book to read on the beach and a small notebook with a pen in case I needed to write something down (I didn’t and you can easily use the Note feature on your phone to jot down something quickly).
You want to pack items such as sunglasses and, if you get cold a lot like I do, a jacket in your carry-on for easy accessibility. The jacket for the plane and the sunglasses for when you touch down in Hawaii.
I carried a water bottle for two main reasons: water is expensive at the airport and I wanted it for hiking. You can’t carry liquids through security (over 3.4 oz) but you can carry your empty bottle and fill it up once you get past security. You’re also allowed to bring snacks as long as they are packaged. I took a small bag of Chex Mix, Kind Bars and veggie chips. Bonus Tip– I would not recommend bringing any snacks containing peanuts (or at least don’t make that your only snack). If any passenger on your flight is allergic, you may not be allowed to eat the snack. This happened on one of our flights.
Tip Four- Always carry ID and reservation numbers
You always want to make sure you have your travel itinerary, reservation numbers and either your driver’s license or passport. For one thing, you can’t get through airport security without an ID. You also don’t want to get to Hawaii and have none of your reservation numbers. This is easier nowadays thanks to smart phones, but sometimes phones stop working. It’s always good to have a paper backup of your most important documents.
Tip Five- Strategically order items in your suitcase.
When it’s time to actually start placing items in your suitcase, you want to make sure to maximize your space.
I almost always put shoes on the bottom of my suitcase. They are oftentimes the bulkiest items I’m packing and it’s easier to place them in first and fit everything else around them. Bonus Tip (From Martha Stewart)- If you’re worried about your shoes getting squished and losing their shape, you can put tissues or toilet paper in the toes. Many people also use shoe bags for their nicer shoes, but I don’t personally own any.
I also always put my toiletry bag in a separate section of my suitcase (as far from my clothes as possible).
The suitcase I took on this particular trip has a separate zipped off section.
I purchased packing cubes recently for my next big vacation to Italy. Fingers crossed that they make my packing even more efficient.
Bonus Tip– If you’re thinking of taking aloe gel, wait to buy it until you get there. Courtney brought some in her suitcase and it exploded all over her other bathroom items. Luckily, she had them all in Ziplock bags so it didn’t get on her clothes, but she had to throw the aloe away and buy more anyway. It’s super easy to find, and not very expensive, at any ABC store. (ABC stores are literally on every corner in Oahu.)
Tip Six- Pick the Right Carry-On
Remember that carry-on bags can’t exceed 45 inches (of combined width, length and height).
On this trip, I took my Thirty-One Suite Success Tote. THIS WAS A MISTAKE! Don’t get me wrong, I love this bag. But it was hard to carry through the airport and was super heavy. It would be fine as just a laptop bag, but not to put everything in like I did.
Since, I have purchased a Vera Bradley On A Roll Work Bag and I love it. It’s the perfect size for my carry-on items, and it ROLLS!
So there you have it. A few tips and ideas from an amateur traveler.
Aloha!
~Mallory
Our McTravels 