If you’re like me, packing for any trip causes me to reach for anti-anxiety medications. Will it rain☔? Is it humid? What shoes will I need? Can I do laundry
? Do I need my pillow?! I’m beyond overwhelmed 🤯. My suitcase 🧳is overflowing before I even finish the inventory.
Well, let me tell you about Maui and what you need to pack for the best vacation spot in the USA. With these essentials, you will feel confident that even your spur of the moment activities will be covered.😌
Footware – Hawaii translates to casual outdoor living and dining. I recommend a good pair of “slippahs”🩴 for around the house and the resort. Wearing shoes and socks 🧦will be Hot 🥵for most days. Most restaurants will accept you in sandals and many can double for lounging comfortably around the house. They are easy and small to pack and don’t take up much room.
Hiking – Now there are great hikes 🥾to explore the stunning scenery on Maui🌴. I wear the heavier soled shoes on the airplane so as to not take up room in the suit case. These double as hiking and walking shoes just depending upon the activity of the day. I’m a person that likes to wear socks and generally pack 2 pair.
Laundry – Look for places with laundry facilities (en-suite is preferred) so you can keep everything clean. In fact I often clean all my clothes prior to leaving so I don’t have to do a load when I get home. Goldstar Vacation homes all have en-suite laundry facilities.
Leg-wear AKA pants or shorts! – For men, 3 pair of shorts and swim trunks
. I can’t count the number of times I’ve had to buy swim suits on island🏝️. I recommend the board shorts 🩳without liners. The islanders wear these and they keep you very cool🧊. Ladies have more options. My wife recommends plenty tanks and cotton shorts and a Mumu for comfort and and easy way to enjoy the culture Hawaiian style. This is also a great option to dress up for a casual open-air dinner or lunch. They roll easy to be packed in luggage so as to not take much room and can be worn for most occasions. For hikes, walking shorts are comfortable. Did I say pants? No. Most likely not needed in Hawaii. But if you need a pair I’d recommend wearing them on the airplane. It keeps you warm especially if you are venturing to Haleakala crater in the morning.
Suntan lotion 🧴- My dermatologist recommends a minimum of 50☀️. There are many warnings⚠️ on the island regarding the destruction of coral due to the “…benzone” type of lotion🤿. There have been observations during the Covid lockdown that the coral has started recovering from the mega tourism days. Environmentally friendly and less chemical exposing zinc-oxide based products are what many islanders recommend to protect the skin. Sunscreen in resorts is💰so packing some yourself in your checked luggage is a great option. The other totally environmentally friendly option is the UV A/B Sun 🌞Protection Factor (SPF) 50 shirts. I recommend a size 1X larger so that it is easier to get on and off even when wet. I dry mine naturally in the sun and wind and rarely use the sun screen on my upper body.
Upper Wear – We personally like the lite polyester material or very very light cotton. Anything heavier and you’ll get overheated🌡️. Material that breathes through the trade winds🌬️ is a great bet💰. And…it is easy to pack. We recommend 
very light long sleeves shirts for when the sun goes down or for those hikes in the jungles. One of these can be your UV A/B 50 SPF long sleeve shirt. Many people won’t even need these but in general it is nice to have. (It is comforting for my anxiety).
Essentials – Sunglasses 😎- UV A/B/C. I recommend these High Definition glasses to protect the eyes. You’ll see the bluest water you have ever seen and clearly enjoy the swimming turtles🐢. You can find a great buy on Amazon.
Hats – Wide rim👒 and/or baseball hat🧢. Protect the ears – they get sunburned too!
Water shoes – The coral and rocks can hurt. I’ve stubbed my toes a few times. When I’m unfamiliar with the beach I generally will wear water shoes to protect my feet. You can walk comfortably in the water and on the shore, but if you stay at a place with a sandy beach you’ll be less likely to hurt your toes.
KOOZIE 🥤- keep your bottles and cans cold in the heat
Water bottles 🚰- We highly recommend insulated containers. Keep your water chilled during your hiking🥾, golfing🏌️♀️, or lounging🏖️. You’ll thank us for this one. Pack them in your suitcase 🧳 filled with smaller clothing to save space. Or take it on the airplane✈️ and fill it with water after the TSA ✅check. Just don’t forget it on the airplane. (I’ve done that several times – adds to the stress)
Above all, RELAX☺️, and keep these essentials on your list and you will be Hawaii-Ready.
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