Hawaii Packing Checklist

Passport only required if connecting through an international carrier or if your REAL ID is not yet issued.

Cell service drops on the Road to Hana, in Volcanoes NP, and on Kauai's north shore.

Haleakala sunrise reservations open 60 days in advance and sell out within minutes.

Hurricane season runs June through November. Kilauea eruptions can close park areas with little notice.

Check-in for inter-island flights opens 24 hours before. Carry-on size is strictly enforced.

Hawaii Act 104 (effective January 1, 2021) bans the sale and distribution of sunscreens containing oxybenzone or octinoxate. Maui County also bans non-mineral sunscreens. Violations can carry civil fines up to $1,000 per offense. Read the label, don't trust marketing claims.

Reef-safe means free of oxybenzone, octinoxate, octocrylene, and avobenzone. Reef-friendly is a marketing term with no legal definition, so always read the active ingredient list.

A rash guard is the single best way to protect skin and the reef. Less sunscreen needed, more coral saved.

Most Hawaii resorts and restaurants accept resort-casual. A true aloha shirt is considered formal wear in the islands.

Haleakala summit at sunrise can hit 32 degrees F or below, even in July. Mauna Kea is colder. Bring real warmth, not just a hoodie.

Required at most snorkel spots. Lava rock cuts feet and urchins lurk in shallow pools.

Lava rock is sharp and slick when wet. Skip the sneakers for Volcanoes NP and Diamond Head.

Costco and Walmart in Honolulu and Kahului sell decent sets if you don't want to pack one.

Mosquitoes are heavy in rainforests on the windward sides of every island. Hawaii is also a dengue-risk area.

Must travel in carry-on per TSA. Sunrise hikes drain phones fast in the cold.

Whale watching season runs December through April. Keep at least 100 yards from humpbacks (federal law).

Channel crossings to Molokini and Lanai get rough. Take 30 to 60 minutes before boarding.

Coral and lava rock cuts get infected fast in salt water. Treat immediately.

Hawaiian Airlines inter-island carry-on is 22 x 14 x 9 inches and 25 lb. Strict enforcement at gate.

Kapu means sacred or forbidden. Treat heiau the way you would treat a cemetery.

Federally protected under the Endangered Species Act. Fines start at $500 and can exceed $5,000.

Critically endangered, fewer than 1,500 remain. NOAA enforces a 50-foot buffer.

In Hawaiian tradition, lava rock belongs to Pele. Beyond cultural respect, Volcanoes NP rangers receive packages of returned rocks from tourists daily.

USDA agricultural inspection is mandatory before departure from Hawaii. Inspectors will confiscate undeclared produce, seeds, and plants. Citrus, mangoes, and cut flowers (other than approved leis) are restricted.

Taking sand from Papakolea (green sand) or Punaluu (black sand) is illegal and carries fines up to $100,000.

Opihi (Hawaiian limpet) has strict state harvest limits. Commercial export is banned.

Hawaii Act 104 of 2018. Maui County also bans avobenzone. If TSA or hotel staff see it, expect it confiscated. Read every label before packing.

Buy from airport agricultural-cleared vendors or ship directly via approved farms to skip the inspection line.