The Ultimate Maui Packing List

Beach and Water Essentials

• Reef-safe sunscreen -- Hawaii law bans oxybenzone and octinoxate. Bring mineral sunscreen (zinc oxide or titanium dioxide) from the mainland. Island prices are high and selection is limited.
• Rash guard or sun shirt -- More effective than sunscreen for all-day ocean time. Lightweight, dries fast, and protects while snorkeling. Kids especially benefit from full-body rash guards.
• Quality snorkel mask -- If you have your own mask that fits your face well, bring it. Rentals are fine for snorkeling, but a good mask makes the difference between a foggy experience and a clear one. Fins are heavy to pack; rental fins are adequate.
• Water shoes or reef boots -- For lava shore entries at Ahihi-Kinau and any rocky beach access. The rubber soles also help on wet pool decks.
• Dry bag -- For kayaking, boat tours, or anytime your phone and wallet need to stay dry near water.
• Microfiber towel -- Two per person. Fast drying and compact. Hotel-sized beach towels are bulky in a beach bag.
• Reusable water bottles -- One large insulated bottle each. Maui tap water is safe and the unit at Maui Sands Seaside has a filtered water system. You will drink a lot; buying bottles is expensive and wasteful.

Clothing

Maui's west shore runs warm and dry. You need less than you think.

• Swimwear: two or three per person if you have a washer. One if you are hand-washing daily.
• Lightweight shorts, linen pants, or breezy dresses for evenings out.
• One light layer (cardigan or long-sleeve) for upcountry, Haleakala (bring something warm for the summit -- it can be near freezing at 10,000 feet), and air-conditioned restaurants.
• Sandals for everything. One pair of closed-toe shoes for hiking.
• One or two nicer dinner outfits. Maui's fancier restaurants are resort casual -- no jacket required, but not shorts.

Outdoor and Activity Gear

• Binoculars -- For whale watching from the lanai. A 7x or 8x compact pair is enough. You can spot spouts and flukes from 711's west-facing perch during whale season without them, but binoculars reveal the detail.
• Waterproof phone case or housing -- For snorkeling photos. GoPro-style cameras work well for underwater footage at the local snorkeling spots.
• Headlamp -- For the Haleakala sunrise departure (3 a.m. starts in the dark) and any evening hiking.
• Hiking shoes -- If you plan trail days. Trails in Maui range from muddy (Hana) to dry lava (Haleakala). Trail runners handle most of them.

What to Buy When You Land

These are better purchased on Maui than packed from home:

• Groceries and produce -- Hit Costco in Kahului on day one if you are doing a condo stay. Stock the fridge. See our grocery guide for the full breakdown.
• Snorkel fin rentals -- Most shops rent fins for $5 to $10 per day. Not worth packing from home.
• Sunscreen (backup) -- If you forget reef-safe sunscreen, Target and Whole Foods in Kahului carry it.
• Aloe vera -- One bottle. The sun here is intense even in December.

What to Leave Home

• A full hair dryer -- The unit has one.
• A hair straightener or curling iron -- The humidity makes them pointless.
• Formal wear -- Nobody needs a blazer in Maui. If you are going to a very formal event, it is the exception, not the rule.
• Too many shoes -- Two or three pairs handle everything: sandals, water shoes, one closed-toe option.
• Jeans -- Heavier than linen, slower to dry, and unnecessary in 80-degree weather.

Health and Safety

• Prescription medications in the original containers, plus a few days extra.
• Motion sickness medication if you plan a Molokini or whale watch boat tour.
• Insect repellent -- Not always needed on the dry west side, but useful for Hana and upcountry.
• Basic first aid: bandages, antiseptic, ibuprofen. A coral cut or lava scrape heals better when treated immediately.