There are tons of blog posts with clothing recommendations/ideas and some with completely unnecessary suggestions. Instead of listing out the obvious (e.g. shorts, tanks, sunglasses, hats, luau dress (this one has pockets), swimsuits, etc.), I wanted to share some of the specific items that came in handy.

Brace yourself - this is a long list, but I felt the need to share my reasons behind WHY I’m recommending these products.

For The Beach · For Adventuring · Good to Have · Travel Favorites · Don’t Pack These · Phone Insurance

Disclosure: Some of the links posted are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

For The Beach

You know the basics of what you need - here are some things I bought specifically for Maui!

Reef Safe Sunscreen

If you plan on purchasing your sunscreen at home to avoid the island markups, make sure to do a little research before accidentally bringing one that is banned. Did you know that two ingredients found in many popular sunscreen products — oxybenzone and octinoxate — are known to harm and kill corals?

Hawaii officially banned all sales of products containing those ingredients last year and is on its way to banning two more. Well-known brands such as Banana Boat, Coppertone, and even Hawaiian Tropics are common users of these banned ingredients. Many products are even branded as “reef-safe”, yet still contain ingredients that are listed as harmful.

Tropic Sport: amzn.to/3wdWLLg - This one fits the bill and worked well.
SPF Chapstick: amzn.to/32PNSvW - Most people remember to put sunscreen on their bodies, but have you ever sunburned your lips? It sucks. Protect your lips (and hairline if you’re not wearing a hat).

The BEST Beach Towel

Sand Cloud makes the BEST beach towels EVER. They aren’t bulky, they REPEL sand, and they can be used as a towel and a blanket! They are lightweight, pack easily, and dry SO MUCH faster than regular towels. I used mine everywhere we went, and it was SUCH a conversation topic! Is it a little expensive? Yes, but I promise you it’s worth it.

Sand Cloud Towel: sandcloud.com - If you use this link, you can get $15 off your order over $50! I swear they’re incredible beach towels.

Water Protection

Water Shoes: amzn.to/3oluMFs - If you’re going to the beach, consider bringing water shoes to protect your feet from rougher lava rocks, hot sand, Kiawe tree thorns, or spikey water critters. I bought these for under $15, and they were super lightweight. They were PERFECT to wear while snorkeling, and they absolutely saved my feet from so many potential cuts.
- Mr. San Diego wanted me to share that these lightweight water shoes were NOT sufficiently protective for climbing cliffs - not enough traction for wet rocks. If you plan on being super adventurous, maybe be heavier-duty ones.
Rash Guards/UV Swim Tops: amzn.to/3BXUkOE - These are great for snorkeling and will protect you from the sun when your sunscreen washes off in the water. The sun in Hawaii is stronger than the contiguous 48, so plan accordingly and avoid turning into a bright red painful lobster.
Waterproof Phone Case: walmart.com - After I lost my phone in the ocean, I purchased this fully waterproof case at AT&T. It was PERFECT for snorkeling because I was able to use the volume buttons on the side of the phone to take photos. Your hands get cold in the ocean, and after a while, the touch screen doesn’t respond. I took some amazing videos, including one of a turtle while I was snorkeling! The only downfall is that video quality outside of the water isn’t the best, and it’s not the easiest to take the case on and off.
Waterproof Phone Pouch: amzn.to/3rtPepX - If you don’t want the case above, these pouches are highly rated. I bought them before the trip but ended up just using the case I got on the island instead. The link is for a $10 two-pack.

Handy Carry-All

Mesh Beach Bag: amzn.to/3rkE5aJ - Having a large tote bag to take to the beach is super handy. I was able to bring cover-ups, towels, snacks, and more in my bag. Since it was mesh, it was easy to empty out all the sand, and I could see what was inside without dumping everything out. Plus, it has a zipper to keep things like your keys separate and pockets on the sides for easy grabbing.

For Adventuring

Aside from good shoes and sweat/humidity-resistant clothes, here are some things I bought for hiking and adventures!

Lightweight Rain Jacket: amzn.to/3IwtFeq - It can rain a lot in paradise, especially in the winter months. We stayed in Lahaina, which doesn’t get as much rain as other parts of the island, but I brought a very lightweight rain jacket to stay dry when exploring. It took up almost no space in my suitcase. Mine is a North Face jacket that I bought yearsssss ago, but the link above is for a much more affordable option.
- When I went to Kauai years ago, it rained A LOT more and my jacket came in clutch. A heavy rain jacket would have been torture with the humidity.
Portable Power Bank: amzn.to/3QCGUxY - My phone died SO fast from all the photos and videos I took, and my portable power bank saved me from being phoneless. This one has the lightning cable attached to it so you don’t have to pack a cord for it as well. I get at least three full recharges with it.
Backpack for Exploring: amzn.to/3HmbDuM - If you plan on renting a car to explore the island, make sure that you don't leave ANYTHING in your rental. Hawaii has an unfortunate problem with car break-ins, so bring a backpack to load all your stuff and leave nothing behind. I have one that I received in a FabFitFun box, but the link above has an afforable backpack that is super lightweight and packable.
Motion Sickness Patch and Pills: amzn.to/3Ix9SLK - Whale watching tours and the Road to Hana are very popular tourist activities, but they’re also ones that might lead to a little motion sickness. We had planned on doing both of those things, but time just did not allow for it.
Anti-Chafe Stick: amzn.to/3K5KHAp - My thighs are thick and the chafe is real. This stick works a little better than deodorant to keep the chafe at bay. If your thighs don’t touch, count your blessings. It was a NECESSARY item for me since I lived in shorts and dresses.
Pack some TP and hand sanitizer in your backpack before you head out. There are some public facilities at the parks and beaches, but you might find that there will be NO supplies to clean up nature's call. These small sanitizers (amzn.to/35yHOZZ) are great for traveling.

Good to Have

Travel Clothing Line: amzn.to/3seckjv - Putting on a wet bathing suit is NO FUN, and they never seem to get fully dry when you hang them over your hotel bathroom’s shower rod. This travel clothing line with clips is great for hanging up wet suits and cover-ups, and it doesn't take up valuable bathroom space. It weighs a little more than expected, but I used it every single day and was glad to have brought it.
Cash: Most places take cards, but bring a little cash to buy a fresh roadside coconut. It's delicious but almost always cash-only.
Large Ziplock Bags: amzn.to/3PuVeqV - Bring a few plastic freezer bags from home to keep your phone and other goods protected in your bag! Also, it comes in handy if your bathing suit isn't completely dry but you need to pack it in your suitcase.

Some Travel Favorites

Some items here may not be necessary for you, but I always bring them with me when I travel.

3-in-1 Travel Charger: amzn.to/3K2w3de - I have an iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods (ugh, yes, I’m that girl). Instead of bringing multiple chargers, this 3-in-1 can charge them all with only one outlet required and is easy to pack in my suitcase.
Cheap Old Navy flip-flops: These are great to wear to the pool/beach and not ruin my nicer sandals. I also use them in hotel rooms since I hate walking barefoot on hotel carpets.
Extra Sunglasses: In case I lose or damage mine, I always bring extras. I have this cool travel sunglasses case that fits four pairs.
Travel First Aid Kit: amzn.to/35wrHfh - I’m very accident-prone. It only makes sense to bring a kit with me.
Luggage Scale: amzn.to/3sradtH - I am ALWAYS pushing the 50 lb. limit and this scale keeps me from overpacking and being charged extra at the airport. I never fly without my scale and I always make sure to bring it with me so I have it on the trip back home.

Travel Organizers

If you can’t already tell (it’s super obvious), I’m one of those obnoxious A-type personalities who write packing lists and organizes my suitcases. I love my travel organizers and they help keep me from making a giant mess in my hotel room.

Packing Cubes: amzn.to/33YkYuj - I loveeeee my packing cubes.
Mesh Pouches: amzn.to/3vkFLU9 - These are great for packing smaller items and the mesh makes it all visible.
Large Toiletry Bag: amzn.to/3M8jT4g - I don’t pack light and this toiletry bag is extra big with four sections and a hook for hanging.
Luggage Straps: https://amzn.to/3pnMTLA - My suitcases are black, so to avoid someone accidentally mistaking them for their own, these bright-colored luggage straps wrap around to make them easy to identify. They also help keep my suitcases closed in case they accidentally pop open.
Travel Laundry Bag: https://amzn.to/3Iv2Yqq - I’m not a fan of mixing my clean clothes with my dirty clothes, so I use these travel laundry bags for longer trips to keep everything separated.

Things You Won't Need

Snorkel Gear: There are tonsssss of places to rent snorkel equipment. Unless you want to have your own set, save the luggage space and just rent them from one of the MANY rental places on the island. We stayed at the Sheraton, and they had their own booth for snorkel rentals. It was more expensive, but at least the option was there.
Beach Toys: Head to a local ABC Store - they sell some beach toys for cheap. Also, if you’re lucky, you might meet some people flying back home who offer you everything they don’t want to take back with them. We were offered two boogie boards, an inflatable pool ring, and a bottle of Captain Morgan by people rushing to check out from our hotel!
- You might want to bring life preservers for small children. We only saw really basic inflatable ones at the ABC Stores.

One Last Tip

PHONE INSURANCE!!!

Make sure your phones have full insurance coverage!!!!!

Four hours after landing, I was wiped out by a rogue wave while walking along the beach. It took my iPhone with it and left me with a nasty bruise. Even though I paid monthly for AppleCare, I didn’t have the Theft and Loss option and therefore had NO coverage for the loss. I lost half a day driving inland to the closest AT&T and spent hundreds to get a new phone (which took away from my excursion money).

The tech at AT&T said that most of their business comes from people losing their phones in the ocean. Don’t be a fool like me. Make sure you have the right coverage in case of theft or loss, and do a FULL phone backup before you leave home.

Maui | What I Packed For My Vacation