What to pack on your Hawaii vacation trip

What to pack for your Hawaii vacation trip and what not to pack! Regardless of how much you've traveled in the past and where you've been there is one good rule to follow when coming to Hawai'i, leave as much as you can at home. Seriously, bring only what you'll need during your stay and nothing more. For starters, schlepping around three or four suitcases is NOT what you want to be doing after getting off a long plane ride. Next, consider that dress clothes and anything else formal really has no use in Hawai'i (unless you are staying in a very exclusive resort). Hawai'i is one of the most casual islands in the chain, and there might be one or two restaurants on most islands (excluding Oahu) that requires a tie. Chances are a pair of shorts and a nice Aloha shirt are all you'll need for even some fine dining.

As far as clothing goes, that's usually a few pairs of shorts, several T-shirts, sandals or flip-flops, and a good visor or hat, anything made of a cotton blend is usually good. A light jacket and a long pair of pants might also be nice for those visits to higher elevations around the islands. Don't bring your winter coat to Hawai'i unless you feel you absolutely need it for visiting the summits of Haleakala or Maui or Mauna Kea on the Big Island at sunrise or sunset. Since we advise against visiting Mauna Kea during the coldest months of the year, a lighter jacket should suffice for your spring or summertime day-visit. Haleakala however can be visited year round, so plan accordingly if you're heading to Maui.

With the motto, 'less is more' in mind, here are a few other items to bring. Sunblock (the UV on Hawai'i is typically 14+ in the spring, summer, and fall), a backpack (for any hikes) and a water bottle, slippers (flip flops, shower shoes, zoris), mask, snorkel, and fins (or rent locally instead), two bathing suits (one to wear while the other dries) and a cover-up, camera and film (or digital cards), lightweight raincoat or poncho (for mountain/rain forest hiking), bug spray with DEET (for any forest hikes), flashlight (if the sun goes down before your hike ends or for night walks on the beach and lava viewing at HVNP), hiking boots, hiking rods, and most importantly a list of all your troubles to leave behind.