Packing list

Hawaii Packing List

Honolulu runs from 18 °C (65 °F) nights in February to 32 °C (89 °F) days in August, and March is the wettest month, with about 6 days of rain. For your own dates, trip length and group, use the packing list generator.

What should you pack for Hawaii?

Counts are per person for a 7-day trip. Weather gear depends on the month, so it is in the table below the list; the download adds it, marked with the months that need it.

Documents & Money

  • Check in online and save your boarding passes offline

  • Keep a backup card and emergency cash apart from your wallet

  • Before you go: lock up, unplug appliances, arrange pet and plant care, hold the mail, leave a spare key with someone

  • Leave your itinerary, emergency contacts and a passport copy with someone at home

  • Wallet with ID, driver's licence, health insurance card and payment cards

  • House and car keys, in your carry-on

  • Transit card: HOLO card · Honolulu

Clothing

  • Underwear ×8

    Per person

  • Socks ×8

    Per person

  • Everyday outfits (tops and bottoms) ×5

    Per person

  • Comfortable walking shoes

  • Sleepwear

  • Light layer (sweater or hoodie)

  • One smart outfit and shoes for a dinner out

  • Change of clothes in your carry-on

  • Flip-flops or shower sandals

  • Swimsuit

  • Compression socks

  • Sunglasses

  • Wide-brimmed sun hat

  • Swimsuit cover-up (sarong)

  • Water shoes

  • Belt

  • Workout clothes and shoes (if you exercise on the road)

  • Light scarf, shawl or travel blanket for cold planes and buses

Tech & Accessories

  • Install local apps: Uber, Lyft

  • Phone charger, with USB-C and USB-A cables

  • Power bank, in your carry-on (never in a checked bag)

  • Headphones or earbuds (noise-canceling for flights)

  • Laptop or tablet and charger (if you bring one)

  • Wired earbuds or a Bluetooth transmitter for the seatback screen

  • Multi-port USB charger or short extension cord

  • Camera with a spare battery and memory card

  • Luggage tracker (AirTag or similar) in checked bags

Health & Safety

  • Toothbrush, toothpaste and floss

  • Toiletry bag: deodorant, shampoo and conditioner, body wash, razor

  • Clear quart bag for carry-on liquids (100 ml / 3.4 oz each)

  • Prescription medication and daily vitamins (with a copy of the prescription)

  • Glasses or contacts, solution, eye drops and a spare pair (if you wear them)

  • Sunscreen (SPF 30+)

    Needed all year

  • Hairbrush or comb, and hair products

  • Face wash and moisturizer

  • Makeup and makeup remover (if you wear it)

  • Basic meds: pain relief, antidiarrheal, antacid, antihistamine, cold medicine

  • Small first-aid kit

  • Hand sanitizer

  • Travel wet wipes

  • Earplugs

  • Sleep eye mask

  • Lip balm with SPF

  • Nail clippers, nail file and tweezers

  • Period products (if you need them)

  • Blister plasters and anti-chafe balm

  • After-sun or aloe gel

  • Perfume or cologne (if you wear it)

  • Motion-sickness tablets or bands

  • Face mask for the plane

Gear & Activity

  • Reusable water bottle

  • Daypack

  • Zip bags in a few sizes

  • Packable tote or shopping bag

  • Laundry bag for dirty clothes

  • Luggage tags with your phone and email

  • Luggage lock

  • Quick-dry beach towel

  • Waterproof phone pouch

  • Dry bag

  • Handheld fan or cooling towel

  • Mini sewing kit and safety pins

  • Small flashlight or headlamp

  • Snorkel and mask

Extras

  • Travel neck pillow

  • Snacks and gum for the journey

  • Book or e-reader

  • Notebook or travel journal

Download or print this list

Weather gear by month

A tick means at least one city on this route meets that weather in that month: 8 or more rainy days (snow in a month below freezing on average is not rain), nights at 8 °C (46 °F) or colder, or days at 24 °C (75 °F) or warmer; sun protection also marks every month in a city 2,500 m up or higher. Bug protection marks a month that is both hot and rainy, or every month where malaria or dengue is a risk.

Weather gear needed in Hawaii, by month
MonthRain gearWarm layersSun protectionBug protection
Jan✓·✓✓
Feb✓·✓✓
Mar✓·✓✓
Apr✓·✓✓
May✓·✓✓
Jun✓·✓✓
Jul✓·✓✓
Aug✓·✓✓
Sep✓·✓✓
Oct✓·✓✓
Nov✓·✓✓
Dec✓·✓✓

Rain gear

  • Packable rain jacket or travel umbrella

Warm layers

  • Warm insulated jacket
  • Warm hat and gloves
  • Thermal base layer

Sun protection

  • Sunscreen (SPF 30+)
  • Sunglasses
  • Wide-brimmed sun hat
  • After-sun or aloe gel
  • Handheld fan or cooling towel

Bug protection

  • Insect repellent (DEET or picaridin)
  • Bite relief cream

What should you wear in Hawaii?

By the average daytime high in Honolulu.

Mar–Dec: highs 82–89°F (28–32°C)

Light, breathable fabrics: linen or cotton tops, shorts or light skirts, sandals.

Jan–Feb: highs 82°F (28°C)

Short sleeves by day, a light long-sleeve or thin layer for air-conditioning and evenings.

Hawaii weather by month

Average daily high and low, and days with rain or snow per month (a snowflake marks snow). Source: Rain: contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information; Temperatures: TerraClimate (Abatzoglou et al.), CC0.

Honolulu

Average weather in Honolulu by month
MonthHighLowRainy days
Jan82°F / 28°C66°F / 19°C4
Feb82°F / 28°C65°F / 18°C5
Mar82°F / 28°C67°F / 19°C6
Apr84°F / 29°C69°F / 21°C5
May86°F / 30°C (hot)71°F / 21°C4
Jun87°F / 31°C (hot)72°F / 22°C3
Jul89°F / 31°C (hot)74°F / 23°C3
Aug89°F / 32°C (hot)74°F / 23°C4
Sep89°F / 32°C (hot)74°F / 23°C3
Oct88°F / 31°C (hot)72°F / 22°C5
Nov85°F / 30°C (hot)71°F / 22°C4
Dec83°F / 28°C68°F / 20°C5
Kahului
Average weather in Kahului by month
MonthHighLowRainy days
Jan81°F / 27°C65°F / 19°C3
Feb81°F / 27°C65°F / 18°C5
Mar82°F / 28°C66°F / 19°C6
Apr83°F / 28°C69°F / 20°C4
May84°F / 29°C70°F / 21°C3
Jun86°F / 30°C (hot)71°F / 22°C0
Jul87°F / 31°C (hot)73°F / 23°C2
Aug88°F / 31°C (hot)73°F / 23°C2
Sep88°F / 31°C (hot)73°F / 23°C2
Oct87°F / 30°C (hot)72°F / 22°C3
Nov84°F / 29°C70°F / 21°C4
Dec82°F / 28°C67°F / 20°C5
Hilo
Average weather in Hilo by month
MonthHighLowRainy days
Jan79°F / 26°C63°F / 17°C16
Feb80°F / 26°C63°F / 17°C19
Mar80°F / 26°C65°F / 18°C24
Apr81°F / 27°C66°F / 19°C21
May82°F / 28°C67°F / 20°C20
Jun83°F / 28°C68°F / 20°C12
Jul84°F / 29°C70°F / 21°C14
Aug84°F / 29°C70°F / 21°C14
Sep85°F / 29°C69°F / 21°C15
Oct84°F / 29°C69°F / 20°C18
Nov82°F / 28°C67°F / 20°C16
Dec80°F / 26°C65°F / 18°C16

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, all year: every month at least one of the cities here averages 8 or more days with rain.

No. Nights stay above 8 °C (46 °F) all year in the cities here; a sweater or light jacket covers the coolest evenings.

Yes, all year: every month is hot and wet somewhere on this route, which is mosquito season. Pack a DEET or picaridin repellent and bite cream.

Uber, Lyft.

Next: the trip itself

Going to Hawaii for 7 days? Get the day-by-day plan too.

Timed activities, restaurant picks, a budget that adds up, and a map for every day. What you told us is already filled in. Free, no sign-up.

Plan my Hawaii trip →

More packing lists

Weather: Rain: contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information; Temperatures: TerraClimate (Abatzoglou et al.), CC0. Contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Updated October 15, 2026.