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We just returned from our 7 day Maui trip (you can see everything we did here). I’m still dreaming about those GORGEOUS views!

This was the trip of a lifetime, but packing for this trip was a little nerve racking. We knew what kind of activities we would be doing and what the weather was like, so we had some idea of what to pack.

When taking a dream trip of a lifetime, you want your trip to be as great as it can. And that starts with what you pack!

You will want to have the right clothing, gear, and necessities to make your Maui trip the best it can be!

Here I’m listing the things we couldn’t have done without, and a few things that made the trip that much better!

What to Pack for a Trip to Maui

When I can, I will link to the exact items we packed so you can check them out!

Cooler Backpack

This cooler backpack was perfect for taking on our hikes and to the beach. We didn’t want to have to tote around a hard cooler or a bag, so this was easy to throw on and go.

When hiking, we could keep our waters and sandwiches cold. This allowed us to make and pack our lunches to save money on eating out.

Using this cooler backpack at the beach was perfect! We still had hands for our beach chairs, umbrella, and boogie boards.

I took this backpack as a carry on bag on our flight, so we didn’t have to worry about packing it away. It was perfect weaving through the airports!

This is the exact backpack we took and highly recommend!
Water Shoes

We had planned a few hikes and had read some were muddy or passed through water, so I wanted to have some lightweight water shoes.

I ordered these water shoes and they were perfect! They were very comfortable and I didn’t get a blister all week!

These water shoes fit perfect, so I didn’t have to worry about them slipping off or hurting. They are super lightweight and really durable.

I wore these hiking, to the beach, and when we went exploring.

These are the exact water shoes I ordered and would highly recommend! (They fit me true to size.)
Hiking Sandals

I ordered these waterproof hiking sandals to mostly take to the beach and wear on the helicopter tour, since they have straps.

These sandals may be the best thing I packed! They were so comfortable, cool, and could be worn almost everywhere in Maui.

I had taken regular tennis shoes, but never wore them. These hiking sandals were really light, but very durable. I wore them hiking, to the beach, in the ocean, on the plane, and in the car driving around.

These sandals were very easy to wash off, and dried pretty quickly. If you only want to get one pair of shoes for a Maui trip, these would be the ones I would recommend.

These are the exact hiking sandals I ordered and would highly, highly recommend! (I ordered a 1/2 size down and they fit perfect!)
Maui Revealed Guidebook

If you only pack one of the things I suggest, let it be this one. This Maui Revealed guidebook is INCREDIBLE. I had read about this book before we left, but didn’t have time to order it. When we got to the condo, I was so excited to see it sitting on the table!

So, what’s the big deal about this book? It tells you everything! Seriously, everything. You’ll find the best places to eat (and where to avoid), the best secluded beaches (how we found the quiet beach to learn to boogie board), the best places to stop on the road to Hana, what to visit in each area of Maui, and lots of interesting history.

We wouldn’t have found half the cool places we did without the Maui Revealed guidebook. And when we found things, we actually knew what we were looking at, because most things aren’t marked.

Definitely a must have! This book helped us find the best way to use our time in Maui.

Grab yours here to start planning your trip! (Great to have before you go and while you’re there!)
Plenty of swimsuits

I pretty much lived in my swimsuits the whole week we were in Maui. Pack a few different ones, so you can let them dry off completely before having to put them back on.

I had grabbed a few brand new Target brand tops and bottoms from a bargain store to mix and match. It was nice not to wear the same exact suit every day!
Lots of swimsuit cover up wear

Since I wore a swimsuit all day every day, I went through my cover ups pretty quick. I packed a lot of running shorts that dry quick, and loose fitting tank tops.

This outfit was perfect so we could go on hikes or walks, and then jump in the ocean without having to find a place to change. Maui is pretty relaxed, so don’t think you need to be too dressy!
Mosquito Bracelets

Someone had recommended these before our trip, and I’m really glad I got a pack. Some areas in Maui were really humid and there were plenty of mosquitoes. If you plan on hiking or visiting any kind of garden areas, I would grab some of these so you don’t have to worry about spraying.

This is the exact pack I bought and would recommend. One bracelet lasted each of us the whole week, and we just wore them on our ankles.
Waterproof Phone Case

I, obviously, took a lot of pictures in Maui and didn’t want my phone to get ruined while at the beach or exploring. We ordered these waterproof phone cases that have a lanyard on them.

I love that these are super affordable and the case fit my iPhone 8 Plus perfectly! When we went to the beach, or climbing down to waterfalls, I slipped my phone in the case and wasn’t worried about dropping it or messing it up.

When we took the doors off helicopter tour (which was AMAZING), I used the lanyard so I could take pictures out the window and not worry about dropping my phone out of the helicopter. I could also still take pictures with my phone in the case. This was a great thing to have!

These are the exact waterproof phone cases we bought and would highly recommend.
Kavu Backpack

I took my Kavu backpack as my personal item on the plane, and it was perfect for my book and some snacks. These backpacks are so comfortable to wear and I love the different compartments.

When we went out for the day, I could pack a change of clothes in this backpack. On the plane ride, I took my cooler backpack as my carry on bag, so I had to wear my Kavu more like a fanny pack on the front. But, I still had my hands free!
Plenty of Sunscreen

Make sure to pack plenty of sunscreen. We were really good about putting on sunscreen, and only got a little sunburned in a weird 20 minute span. So, wear your sunscreen! 🙂

I had read some sunscreens contain ingredients that are harmful to the reefs, so we ordered this reef safe sunscreen. It was thicker than what we normally use, but applied and worked nicely.
Snacks and Dry Foods

We were warned that food in Maui is pretty expensive, and can confirm that now. I packed as many snacks and dry foods as I could fit in our suitcase and carry on bags.

I knew we would be hiking and spending our days out, so I packed things like peanuts, mixed nuts, peanut butter and crackers, granola bars, and individually wrapped cookies. We packed chocolate and candy for the plane trips, too! 🙂

I also packed muffin mix, so we could make our breakfast in the condo and avoid eating out so much.
A warm outfit

If you plan to visit the Haleakala Crater (which I talk about in this post), or taking a helicopter tour, definitely pack a warm outfit. It was much cooler at the Crater than I was expecting and we weren’t able to stay too long.

The helicopter tour was pretty windy and cool, so I was glad to have a lightweight sweatshirt to wear.
Rash Guard Shirt – maybe

So, this one is debatable. I took this rash guard shirt to wear if we were in the water a lot, so I wouldn’t get sunburned. But, I never wore it. We weren’t in the water a whole lot, just to swim and learn to boogie board.

If you are taking surfing or paddle boarding lessons, or going out on a boat, I would consider getting one.

This is the exact one I got. It’s nice and was affordable, just didn’t find a reason to wear it.
Rain Jacket

We were incredibly blessed with perfect weather on our week long trip, but the last day it rained pretty much all day so a rain jacket was nice to have. From what I’ve read it rains pretty often in Maui, usually just pop up showers, so I would suggest packing a lightweight rain jacket.

A few things you don’t need to pack for a trip to Maui

So, you know what to pack, but there are a few things you can skip when packing for your Maui trip.

Many dressy clothes

There are so many activities to do, and so much to explore in Maui. So, if you spend your time in dressy clothes, I think you would be missing out.

I wasn’t sure, so I packed a few nicer shorts and tops and a few dresses. I wore one dress, and two outfits of nicer shorts and tops when we went to eat.

Pack a few nice outfits to go to eat, but don’t fill your suitcase with too may dressy clothes. And I would just pack sandals, no heels. I think I saw maybe one person wearing high heels. Like I said, it’s a pretty relaxed island.

We wanted to take in as much of the beach and relax as much as we can (and let’s be real – save some money), so we grabbed a pizza a couple nights and ate on the beach. It was perfectly relaxing!
Beach towels and gear

I would suggest renting a condo (make sure it has air conditioning!) and checking to see if they keep beach towels and gear for renters to use. Our condo had chairs, towels, an umbrella, boogie boards, and snorkel gear.
Your worries

Ok, super cheesy!! But, seriously, leave your worries and stresses behind. Maui is so relaxing and laid back – just go and enjoy!!!