There are a few mandatory items to bring with you when you come to Hawaii, some of which are obvious like shorts, sandals and sturdy walking shoes. But others might surprise you. Here is what I recommend you don’t forget to pack:

• Bags
  • Day pack, small shoulder bag, or tote bag: If you’re going to the beach, don’t bring your laptop bag or your big backpack because I guarantee it’s going to get sandy and wet.
    • I brought this Baggalini tote bag, but since it’s out of production, I recommend you bring the canvas or nylon bags you put your groceries in – whatever is easiest to compress.
    • I’ve also been carrying an extra small Timbuk2 messenger bag because it’s easy to stuff into my luggage and has enough space for my water bottle, sunglasses and hat, wallet, and a couple energy bars for hikes.

• Accessories
  • Sealable, insulated water bottle: I received the 32 oz. Hydro Flask for my birthday a couple years so I highly recommend it. Anything you can do to keep your water chilled and from leaking will make your trip way more comfortable – especially if you’re hiking or going for longer walks.
  • Hat and Sunglasses: Do NOT NOT NOT forget either of these items. Sunburns on a scalp really suck, and not being able to see any of that gorgeous beachline or blue skies because the sizzling light rays are frying your eyeballs is equally lame. I wear a pair of Ray-Ban New Wayfarers and they’ve been reliably with me for years.
  • Waterproof Pouch: I bought this one on Amazon years ago and it’s been a life saver. Your
  • Solar Charger: If you’re going to spend a lot of time at the beach and you like your music, phone calls, or whatever to continue happening, consider picking up a solar charger like this Anker model I bought last summer.

• Other
  • A physical book: If you’re like my wife, you love your Kindle or your iPad and it’s super convenient to read on a tablet – I do it myself. But when you’re on the beach, you don’t want sand clogging up the ports on your devices. Bring a real book for these days instead.

Now that you’ve visualized yourself sitting under the bright, Hawaiian sun with a Maui Coconut Porter or a Bud Light in your hand, read one of my travel posts on Hawaii and figure out which island you’ll be heading to next!

• Hawaii (the Big Island)
• Oahu (the Main Island)