Last Updated on June 19, 2024 by Tori Pines
Planning a trip to Hawaii means booking hotels, planning activities, making dinner reservations and reserving a rental car. But if you’re anything like me you’re also looking for what to wear in Hawaii, to find the perfect dresses and swim.
While you can certainly get away wearing whatever you normally would at home, it’s much more fun to look the part when on the tropical islands.
Here’s some of my favorite pieces that I have found for my trips to Hawaii for both women and men. I’ll also remind you of some things to pack that you might not have remembered. Whether you’re visiting Oahu, Maui, Kauai, the Big Island, or all four, you’ll be covered for your Hawaiian vacation with this complete vacation packing guide for both women and men!
This post may contain affiliate links for activities, destinations and products that I love, and think you will too!
Tips for What to Wear in Hawaii
Packing for your Hawaiian vacation can be stressful just thinking about finding the cutest outfits for all of your photos, but there are a few other important things that you need to keep in mind in addition to style whether it’s your first time or tenth in Hawaii!
Light and Breathable
First and foremost, try to pack light and breathable clothing and fabrics as much as possible. Hawaii is blessed with warm weather and tropical climate year round and sometimes this means in the summer months it will get hot! Loose cotton clothing is your friend in this warm climate. But don’t worry, the trade winds keep Hawaii a super pleasant temperature most of the time!
Layers
That being said, the weather can change pretty quickly throughout the day and as you move around the islands. Having layers is super important!
Comfort
At the end of the day, no matter how stylish you look, if you’re uncomfortable that can ruin even the best vacation days. So, be sure to wear things in before you leave, and pick comfort over style!
What to Wear in Hawaii for Women
Here’s some of my favorite pieces for women to wear in Hawaii. I’ve broken them out into categories for different things you might be doing on the islands, but all are in true Hawaiian style!
What to Wear in Hawaii On a Hike
Hiking in Hawaii is one of my favorite things to do. The first morning of our trip we always do a sunrise hike. Our bodies are already waking up early since we are on mainland time, so it’s easy to get up extra early.
I love these sunrise hikes on Oahu. Diamond Head is a great sunrise hike but we also loved Koko Head! But all of the islands have amazing hiking.
It’s warm year-round on the Hawaiian Islands, so tank tops and shorts are always a good idea. But I love to have extra cute outfits on vacation no matter what we’re doing. Because if you don’t dress up on vacation then when will you dressThese sets would be perfect for a hike on any of them.
I LOVE this set from Sweet Honey Hawaii in the photo below, and while they don’t sell activewear sets currently, they have some other beautiful things for women, men and kids! Plus, the company is a Hawaiian brand which is a great thing to support!
What to Wear in Hawaii While Exploring the Island
During the days in Hawaii I hope you’ll take the time to explore the islands. While you’re out and about, I recommend going pretty casual. Aloha shirts are super popular but you’ll probably want to buy that from a local store while you’re on the islands.
So I recommend packing light, breathable fabrics to stay comfortable no matter what time of year you visit. Bring a few pairs of shorts, linen pants, and light comfortable t-shirts or tank tops. I also love rompers and summer dresses! And of course if you plan to get in the ocean during your exploring, or try out any water sports then bring along a swimsuit too. Here’s some of the cutest outfits you can choose for the days you explore.
What to Wear in Hawaii to the Beach (or Pool)
Of course you’ll definitely be spending plenty of time at the beach and by the pool, it’s probably the most popular activity, so cute swimsuits are a must! And be sure to bring all of the other necessities I’ve listed below for your beach vacation.
Beach Accessories
While what to wear in Hawaii is super important, the first thing that goes in my suitcase to Hawaii, and honestly anywhere we travel, is my Teema Towel. It’s perfect for the beach or pool, but also great to keep warm on the plane, to use as a picnic blanket, or to block the wind out on a sunset cruise!
Be sure to bring along some kind of wide-brimmed hat to keep your face out of the sun. Please listen to me when I warn you, the sun is STRONG in Hawaii. Even when we were on Oahu in February one year I got so burnt the first day and was miserable throughout the trip from it. I recommend the big beautiful sun hats, but a baseball hat helps too! And of course you’ll need a beach bag, so bring something that will fit all of your stuff without taking up much room in your luggage like the one linked below!
And of course, you’ll need some sunglasses as well! Here’s a pair of cute inexpensive ones I love.
This might not be what you immediately think of when planning what to wear in Hawaii, but you definitely need to wear some sunscreen when at the beach or pool! The sun is super strong in Hawaii, so always apply sunscreen more than you normally would.
If you’re going to be wearing sunscreen at the beach and go in the ocean then you are required to wear reef-safe sunscreen. There’s chemicals in non-reef safe sunscreen that over time is bleaching the coral reefs. So to help further prevent this, Hawaii banned certain chemicals in sunscreens. So be sure to look for “reef-safe” when you buy the next bottle! I love this Sun Bum sunscreen personally, but have more options linked in my Oahu snorkeling article!
What to Wear in Hawaii at Night
The vibe at night on the islands is usually a nice mix between dressy and tropical. Think long flowy dresses with bright colors and designs! Most places will not have a dress code, but some of the fanciest restaurants will, so keep that in mind when planning out what to wear in Hawaii. Here’s some that I love to wear out to dinner, for evening drinks and walking around at night.
Miscellaneous Things to Pack for Hawaii
In addition to the outfits mentioned above, you’ll also need to pack some other very important items!
A rain jacket is something nice to have especially when exploring the islands in the rainy season, November to March. Each island is slightly different, but for the most part the eastern side of the islands are the rainier side. Short showers are extremely common but usually only last a few minutes, so having a small rain coat is a nice thing to have.
You will definitely want a light jacket or cardigan especially when visiting in the winter months. When we went to Oahu in February I loved having a neutral colored beachy style cardigan to throw on at night if it got chilly or if the AC is too cold at dinner. This one is similar to the one I have and love and can double as a bathing suit coverup!
When going out to dinner you might want to wear some comfortable high heels. But don’t bring anything too crazy high because you will likely do a good bit of walking around before or after dinner. I personally love these heels for nights out in Hawaii!
Chacos are an absolute must for my Hawaii Packing list. If you don’t own any, then you’ve probably heard others rave about them, and for good reason! They’re the best option for shorter hikes, walking around during the day, going to the beach and more! They’re the perfect shoe for active days in the heat!
Of course you’ll need flip flops to throw on when heading out to the pool or beach. I like having ones with good arch support in case you do some walking in them! These Vionic flip flops are by far my favorite I’ve ever worn because they are so insanely comfortable!!
You’ll want to bring a pair of sneakers or hiking shoes if you plan on doing any substantial hikes. Some people will hike any trail in Chacos, but anything over a mile or two I really would rather have my sneakers on! (and if there’s no rivers or waterfalls to walk through/swim in of course!) I’m currently loving these Adidas!
To carry all of your things around (while keeping your hands free) I can’t recommend a fanny pack enough. And lucky for you they are totally in style now, yay!
What to Wear in Hawaii for Men
Men also need to think about what to wear in Hawaii, but usually probably think about this the week of their trip. Lucky for you, all of the things I have linked are from Amazon, so you will likely be able to get it all in plenty of time. Be sure to look nice, tropical and be comfortable, it is vacation after all!
What to Wear in Hawaii On a Hike
You probably already have plenty of athletic attire to wear in Hawaii on a hike, but you might want to get some better looking sets for those epic photos at the top of the volcano! Here’s a few good options.
What to Wear in Hawaii While Exploring the Island
Same with the ladies, finding things to wear in Hawaii during the days you’re out exploring the island means light-weight, tropical pieces. Here’s a few great options for men that my husband loves.
What to Wear in Hawaii to the Beach (or Pool)
Men just need a pair of swim trunks and t-shirt for beach days. It’s resort wear at its finest! Here’s some cute tropical-ish options!
Beach Accessories
There’s not much that guys need to wear in Hawaii when it comes to beach accessories. My husband was always quick to get down to Waikiki beach First and foremost is reef-safe sunscreen which I included more info about above in the women’s section but have linked it again here!
What to Wear in Hawaii at Night
At night in Hawaii, you won’t need any kind of formal wear, but you do want to have some nice looking outfits for dinner. This usually means polo shirts and short sleeve button downs. You might not wear fun floral prints at home, but in Hawaii these bold patterns are a must. So buy some Hawaiian shirts and pack your bags for the islands!
Miscellaneous Things to Pack for Hawaii
And finally, you’ll want a few other random things when packing for what to wear in Hawaii. Here’s what you’ll want to consider.
It can get slightly chilly at night in Hawaii, and in the air conditioned restaurants. Pack a pullover for this reason. It’s also great to wear on the plane.
A raincoat is another thing you’ll likely want since afternoon showers are super common throughout the islands. This one is nice and will look great in photos hiking in the jungle.
Chacos are a must in my opinion! If you plan to do any light hiking, waterfall hikes, or just exploring the island then you’ll definitely want to wear these comfortable hiking sandals!
And finally, sneakers need to be on your list for things to wear in Hawaii. Any longer hiking trails will require sneakers, plus if you just want comfortable shoes for travel days, or days exploring. Or for hitting the resort gym if that’s your thing! These Ultraboosts are by far my husband’s favorite!
