Five Essentials to Bring on Your Next Trip to Hawaii

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Are you planning a trip to Hawaii? It is a magical destination, but you’ll spend a lot of time in the sun. Read on for five essentials to bring on your next trip to Hawaii.
Hawaii is one of the most popular tourist destinations worldwide, especially for those who like going to beaches. One of its famous locations—Waikiki Beach—is considered one of the best beach vacation escapes thanks to its beautiful sunsets, beach-front hotels, and cool evening breeze. You may be eager to visit other places during your next trip to the islands, such as the Koko Crater Trail and the Kaumana Cave.
View of Diamond Head from Waikiki Beach. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham
Apart from arranging your itinerary, you must prepare your luggage and other beach necessities. While you may have the basics down, like your swimsuit, flip-flops, and beach towel, you might forget a few more essentials. With that said, here’s a list of the five things you shouldn’t forget to bring on your next trip to Hawaii.
Beach-Ready Sunglasses
Everyone knows they should bring sunglasses to the beach to protect their eyes from the sun’s harmful UV rays and avoid eye conditions like cataract formation. However, do you know what kind of sunglasses you should be packing?
While there are different types of sunglasses: photochromic, anti-reflective, and gradient, you should focus on getting prescription and polarized sunglasses. Using prescription sunglasses ensures you have lenses that correct your vision, enabling you to see the beautiful Hawaiian outdoors while protecting your eyes. Those from Ray-Ban are perfect for eyeglass wearers who want to look cool on the beach. They offer many famed frames—like the New Wayfarer and Large Metal Aviator—with prescription lenses. Meanwhile, polarized sunglasses reduce light glare and eye strain, letting you appreciate Hawaii’s beauty without squinting. Oakley is known for its polarized sunglasses, including the Caveat and Valve.
Sunglasses are one summer essential for everyone. Photo by tanya1985 via DepositPhotos.com
Wide-Brimmed Hat
You can’t go to the beach without a hat. Still, you can’t bring just any type of hat; they must be wide-brimmed to cover your whole face. After all, hats should protect your skin from the heat and sun to prevent sunburn.
You can find a fashionable hat that is also functional. Photo by FabrikaCr via iStock by Getty Images
Even if you plan on getting sun exposure for vitamin D, you’ll need a wide-brimmed hat covering your face, head, ears, and neck. These are the areas that are most prone to sun damage and burns. Wallaroo Hat Company makes crushable, packable, and washable fabric sun hats with ultraviolet protection for men, women, and children. They have wide-brim, cowboy and bucket hat designs to suit your style. Another is GearTop, which creates unisex, wide-brimmed hats with UPF 50+.
Reef-Safe Sunscreen
Another non-negotiable essential is sunscreen. While it may surprise you, you may bring the wrong type of sunscreen. Starting January 1, 2021, Hawaii has banned selling sunscreens containing the coral-harming chemicals oxybenzone and octinoxate to preserve the reefs and marine environment.
If you haven’t returned to Hawaii since then, you’ll have to get reef-safe sunscreen, also known as  biodegradable sunscreen . This doesn’t contain the dangerous chemicals mentioned above, as well as camphor, butylparaben, and 4-methyl benzylidene that harm the ecosystem. Despite the lack of said ingredients, this product is as effective as the chemical sunscreens you’ve grown accustomed to—as long as you follow the reapplication instructions. Some brands to consider are Hawaiian Tropic and Badger.
A reef-safe sunscreen protects you and the ocean’s natural beauty. Photo by Francesco Ungaro  
Reusable Water Bottle
Hawaii has a warm climate. If you’re not used to it, you can get dehydrated quickly, especially if you plan on doing strenuous activities like hiking. Moreover, a Hawaiian doctor warns everyone (including tourists) to drink lots of fluids to  prevent dehydration , which can lead to heatstroke, fainting, and organ failure.
So, bring a reusable water bottle with you on your next trip, complying with the state’s anti-plastic bottle legislation that may soon go into effect starting in 2024. This will address the increasing amount of plastic waste in the ocean to preserve Hawaii’s environment. Hydro Flask and YETI are great brands that retain your water’s temperature for hours. Make sure to empty them before boarding the plane to adhere to TSA regulations.
Dry Bag
Getting your belongings wet when splashed or falling into the ocean is a real problem. Waterproof bags can keep your valuables (like your phone, wallet, and passport) safe while kayaking, island-hopping, or lounging on the shore.
Dry bags are waterproof and float on the water, preventing your valuables from getting wet and lost. It has straps and buckles, so you can easily carry or attach them to your luggage or backpack for convenience. The most popular dry bag brands are Earth Pak and IDRYBAG, available in sizes ranging from 5 to 55L.
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When You Take Your Trip to Hawaii
Going to Hawaii will be more enjoyable when you pack the essentials. Keep this list in mind for your next trip to the islands! Let  Wander With Wonder be your guide when planning what to see and do on your trip to Hawaii . We also have more travel tips to help make your travels more enjoyable.
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Five Essentials to Bring on Your Next Trip to Hawaii
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