Hawaii Wardrobe: Packing Guide

Here’s the truth about packing for Hawaii – you could literally pack a bunch of swimsuits and coverups and call it good. It’s the one place that no one is expecting you to go to fancy dinners, you don’t need the standard “momiform”, and you get to show a bit of your personality and have fun!

I recently went to Hawaii and every time I go anywhere I want to make sure that I have everything I think I’m possibly going to need. I went to Hawaii last year and left ALL my swimsuits at home.

Not a few.

ALL.

So I’ve had some epic mess-ups when it comes to packing for trips.

But over the years I have grown and can pack like a pro! (the forgetting swimsuit things was a one-off!) And the thing that helps me the most is my packing list!

To get all my most recent purchases, keep reading!

LEOPARD PRINT SLIDES | WORKOUT SHOES | BIRKENSTOCKS | FLIP FLOPS

SWIMSUITS: BLACK LEOPARD | LEOPARD | PINK | PINK CUTOUT | PINK STRIPED

DRESSING FOR THE WEATHER

Going to Hawaii in the winter (December – March) can be tricky for packing. Plan for higher wind and a little chill. A light sweater and a rain jacket are a good idea.

If you’re planning to climb to some higher elevations or going on any of the land excursions, you WILL need a fleece jacket or something similar.

SHOES

Waterproof hiking shoes are ideal Hawaii and I actually end up packing a few pairs. There are some excursions that require a closed-toe shoe and if you’re only wanting to pack 1 pair, the Keens are perfect for that!

I also found some Birk dupes at Walmart as well as dupes for my wood-heeled clogs you guys love so much! Both of these are perfect for dinner or sightseeing!

Or if you’re looking for some sneakers that are inexpensive, cute, and can be worn everywhere, I recently picked up these white tennis shoes as well! And at $24.00 – these are the perfect price!

MY HAWAII SHOE PICKS

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WARDROBE STAPLES

BIRKENSTOCKS | SLIDES | FLIPFLOPS | SHORTS | STRIPED SWIMSUIT | SUNGLASSES | SIMPLE SWIMSUIT | TANK TOP

One thing you want to make sure you have are pieces that do double and triple duty. These shorts are so comfortable and affordable that I actually bought them in the white color above but in standard denim as well!

The other pieces of clothing that get a lot of wear on vacations are swimsuit coverups and dresses! I bought this swimsuit coverup in 3 different colors and these leopard pants that I wore with my black suit.

Here are some of the other clothes I packed that you guys loved!

MY HAWAII WARDROBE

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As you can see, my vacation clothes are scarce because I love to be in the sun – I just don’t love the effects of that exposure so I make sure I slather on the sunscreen! I obviously love my CC Cream that is 50 SPF, but I also use this Elta SPF 50 if I don’t want to wear makeup (sometimes I still double up!) And you can’t sit by the pool without a good book! This one was my pick this trip – totally worth the read!

MY SUNSCREEN PICKS

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If you want to learn more about my sunscreen picks and find one that might be right for you, you can read my blog post on them HERE!

POOLSIDE ESSENTIALS

When it comes to laying poolside, I have a survival kit/bag I bring with me. It’s got snacks, reading materials, sunscreen…all the things!

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I have a few purses/bags that travel with me because they’re big, they hold everything I need, they pack down well (if needed), and cleaning them isn’t a nightmare! My all-time favorite is this carryall and this leopard print mesh one, but any of my favorites below fit the bill as well!

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SWIMSUITS

Last but not least are my swimsuit picks this season – I think this season’s picks are sooo good! I recently picked this leopard print (see above) that I love and a few others from Sommersalt! I obviously have loved all my pink pinks this year as well. I’ve listed all of my purchases below:

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Ultimately, you want to make sure you pack light but with enough swimsuits for every single day, enough clothing options for each day with a few pieces that do double duty. Protect your skin, make sure you have your poolside go bag, and the right footwear that does a little bit of everything!

xx Tara

Missing something from my list? Tell me below!