Your Hawaii Vacation: What Do I Pack for Hawaii?
Packing your bags for Hawaii
Now that airlines charge for a second piece of luggage, or in some cases even the first one, and strict weight limits of “50 pounds per piece of luggage” apply, the thrifty traveler is forced to plan ahead to avoid accumulations. expensive baggage fees. I used to travel with the motto “Do not search your luggage unless you can afford to lose it; if you can afford to lose it, please do not bring it,” so I have never traveled anywhere with anything but my carry-on luggage. . While it’s always good to travel as light as possible, with the advent of strict new carry-on limits and my advancing age (and a concomitant increased desire to travel in comfort) I have learned to travel with just one piece of checked luggage. more my move on. The key is to pack smart so you can pack less.
Be smart with your carry-on: Most airlines allow you to carry a tote bag and a personal item, such as a purse or laptop. I push this a bit by bringing a tote bag plus my laptop in a computer pack that also has room for a video camera, my SLR camera, and an emergency change of clothes (in case all the rest of my Baggage). Usually they let me get away with it. Since I don’t trust baggage handlers or TSA inspectors and my luggage has been lost more times than I remember, I pack my other video camera and most of my clothes in my other carry-on bag to they don’t have to register. In this bag I also carry a liter of water (bought at the airport, after the security inspection) and some snacks.
You will want at least one book to read on the flight; Your tickets, reservation confirmations, traveler’s checks, list of phone numbers, replacement glasses and medications should be placed in a waterproof bag in the carry-on bag that you want to hold more tightly.
Remember that you can buy more books, extra batteries, memory cards, videotapes or films for your cameras at Wal-Mart or Costco on the island almost as cheaply as on the mainland and you don’t need to fill your luggage with extras. . If you pack the film and it is in your carry-on, be sure to protect it from X-rays.
Plan your activities: You may be planning to enjoy some particular activities while in Hawaii that require specific clothing or equipment; it is better to think about this carefully when packing. If you are going to snorkel, many people want to save money by bringing their own equipment. This is a false economy if you have to pay for an additional piece of luggage on the plane. Buying snorkeling equipment on the island is quite inexpensive and renting it is quick, easy, and even cheaper. The same can be said for rental of scuba gear and golf clubs. Activities like hiking and horseback riding require a fairly specific wardrobe, but if you plan it correctly, you just need to bring your hiking / riding boots and an extra pair of pants and t-shirt suitable for the activity. If you plan to visit the mountain tops, remember that they can be quite cold, even snowy or rainy, so plan and pack accordingly. If you bring boots, I advise you to wear them on the plane to save space and weight in your bags. As for photography equipment or musical instruments, any expensive or delicate equipment, my philosophy is to never let go with it. Never check your cameras, your guitar, your laptop, etc., it is a recipe for loss.
Plan for the weather: Being tropical, Hawaii’s sea level temperatures vary by only about 10 degrees between day and night and throughout the year. It’s hot during the day, plan a cool wardrobe. The windward side is generally rainy and “country” cities (mountains) can often experience afternoon rains. The nights, especially in the interior of the country, are delightfully cool, as there is usually a night or land breeze. With foresight, your wardrobe can cover all of these situations without being bulky, heavy, or ornate.
Specific details: Costumes in Hawaii are unnecessary; even the Circuit Court judges wear Aloha shirts under their dresses here. A nice shirt, usually an Aloha shirt, and a pair of khaki pants are the wardrobe of choice in the best restaurants and nightclubs; in all other places, they are shorts and sandals. I would advise a total wardrobe consisting of a polo shirt and a pair of Aloha shirts, a pair of long khaki pants and three pairs of shorts, a pair of tank tops or T-shirts; that’s all you need to cover most of the bases. Women may want to wear a light sundress or skirt. Sandals are everything you’ll need or want in terms of footwear (your feet will be HOT), unless you want to toss in a pair of running shoes for exercise or walking.
Bring two swimsuits – you will be amazed at how enjoyable it is to be in the water in the warm tropics, whether you are cooling off in the pool after a hot day or diving with the turtles and fish every day so who probably wants to swim. every day. Bathing suits rarely dry overnight, and a warm, dry suit is much more pleasant to wear than a cold, wet one.
If you plan to go horseback riding or explore higher elevations such as Hawaii Volcanoes National Park or Mauna Kea, be sure to bring some jeans and hiking shoes, a warm sweater, and a light rain / windbreaker jacket as well. A compact travel umbrella is always a good idea.
Don’t forget to pack your toiletries and personal items; He used to carry them with him, in case of lost luggage, but restrictions on liquids, gels, and razors make this impractical. Medicines, of course, go in hand luggage. Sunblock, sun hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen (I use an aloe gel) will make your vacation smoother, but they can be bought cheaply locally if you don’t have space for them.
As an aside, there are two things to keep in mind when in Hawaii: if you start to feel thirsty, you’ve waited too long to drink water; If you start to feel the sun, you have waited too long to apply sunscreen. Drink more water than you think you need, apply sunscreen before you go out, and reapply it more often than you think you need. Your body is used to milder climates and will not warn you of danger in time.
Many people plan ahead, leaving ample space to bring souvenirs and gifts; Modern restrictions on the number of pieces of luggage allowed make this impractical. Instead, I spend the month before my trip going through my wardrobe, grabbing a very nice set of clothes, and the rest of the clothes I wear are items destined for the thrift store. Therefore, I simply leave them at the end of my stay and therefore have more than enough space in my luggage for whatever I buy. Remember that the US Post Office sells specific weight boxes for flat rate shipping, prepaid, and very cheap rates. Order “Flat Rate Shipping Boxes” and send those gifts home safely, inexpensively, and hassle-free on your part.