Packing for Hawaii How to Make the Most of What's in Your
Suitcase
Making vacation plans for Hawaii probably has you searching all
your favorite stores for the best tropical inspired clothing of
the season, however packing for a Hawaiian vacation requires
more than simply picking out tropical themed clothing. In fact,
to properly pack for Hawaii you need to consider not only the
weather, but the activities you will be participating in while
you are there. This is where pre-planning comes into the
picture. If you pre-plan activities you will have a better idea
of what your vacation will entail and what you should pack than
if you wait and decide when you arrive in Hawaii. Deciding to
plan activities when you arrive in the islands will mean that
you will over-pack and have a difficult time managing your bags
not to mention deciding what to wear because you have too many
options. Plan ahead, and follow these tips for packing for
Hawaii.
Make a List
You have heard time and time again that making a list is the
most productive way to accomplish anything because you keep
track of what you need done as well as what has been done. The
same goes with packing for Hawaii. You may have saved past lists
from other vacations, and this is great because you can review
the list for items you will need to pack for Hawaii. For
example, the toiletries, medicines, and personal care items you
need will be the same for most all vacations, just make sure
sunscreen makes it onto the list. Once you have those items
taken care of, then you should consider what you will be doing
in Hawaii. Since the majority of Hawaii's most amazing
attractions from the beach to the gardens and canyons are
outside, you will want to make sure you pack adequate
comfortable clothing that will keep you cool in the warm
climate, and that is also comfortable for walking, cycling and
other physical activities.
Casual clothing like shorts, lightweight pants, skirts, tank
tops, cotton polo shirts and the like are suitable for Hawaii
because they are cool, comfortable and lightweight. Another tip
for your clothing is to make sure it fits. If you pack ultra
tight clothing or clothing that is simply too small you will be
uncomfortable throughout the trip and if you sweat, which is
very possible under the Hawaiian sun, you could end up with a
bad rash. So, focus on comfortable, lightweight, fitting clothes
for your daytime attire. If you plan on visiting the volcanoes
or are cold natured you should include some light sweaters or
jackets just in case it is cool.
You will also be visiting the beach, swimming pools, and
waterfalls while you are in Hawaii, maybe even on a daily basis.
Because of this, you also need to pack several bathing suits so
that you can wash one a day and wear a different one. Nobody
wants to wear wet bathing suits, or dirty bathing suits, so pack
at least two. A cover up for women is essential as well, and men
might choose to pack extra t-shirts if they need to cover up.
The sun is strong in Hawaii so be sure to pack several strengths
of sunscreen even if you are planning on getting a great tan.
The first few days apply a higher strength SPF and then after
you have a base tan you can tone down the level of sunscreen you
are using. The point of this is that if you avoid sunscreen you
will more than likely get burned your first day out, which will
ruin the rest of the week for tanning, be very painful, and
negatively impact your vacation. By using sunscreen you will get
a great tan, avoid the sunburn, and truly enjoy your Hawaiian
vacation. Also, since the sun is bright you will want to make
sure you pack sunglasses and a hat. Squinting is no way to enjoy
your vacation, and a great pair of shades will help you relax
and enjoy your beautiful Hawaiian vacation.
Consider the nightlife in Hawaii. Will you be attending a luau,
an upscale restaurant, dances or parties? These are all
considerations and will require different modes of dress. It is
a lot easier to shop for your clothing before your vacation than
spend precious vacation hours shopping in overpriced stores. If
you need formal wear for several occasions, be sure to pack it
properly to avoid wrinkles. You will be relieved to have just
what you need to wear to every nightly function you attend.
Remember, however, the islands are more laid back and the word
"formal" is not taken in the same way as "formal" might be
understood on the mainland. As a result, semi-formal will most
likely work for the majority of Hawaiian events.
Shoes, what a difficult thing to pack! Everyone wants to pack a
different pair of shoes for every outfit, and this simply will
not work when trying to fill a small suitcase. As a result,
choose one pair of shoes for water activities, one for athletic
activities, and one or two for casual or dressed up activities.
That way, you save space in your luggage and won't be
overburdened with choices.
Jewelry is another topic that you should consider before
traveling to Hawaii. Many activities on the islands will require
you leave your jewelry in the hotel, and in fact the hot weather
simply is not conducive to a lot of jewelry. In addition, when
you wear fine jewelry you will make yourself a target for theft
and will need to increase security options. As a result, decide
on some basic pieces of jewelry that will flatter all of your
clothing and travel with those. You will feel more secure
knowing your jewelry is safe at home than locked in a hotel
safe.
Remember, this is not a comprehensive list of things to pack,
just some simple suggestions to keep in mind when you pull out
your suitcases and start trying to fill them with your entire
closet. Be conservative and keep in mind that most condos and
hotels have laundry services in case you need to do a load of
laundry on vacation. Also, you will want to make a comprehensive
list before you begin packing and review it for things that are
truly unnecessary. Then, begin packing and rest easy knowing you
will pack everything you need, but not over pack for the first
time in your life. You will really enjoy Hawaii when you have
the right clothes for every occasion, but not so many that it is
a burden traveling.