Preparing to Travel to Hawaii

Committing to Hawaii

My first big trip post COVID. So much hung in those words and thoughts. What I knew I wanted: something that felt substantial, exotic. What I booked originally: the panhandle of Florida. The closer the trip got, however, the more upset I got about going to Florida for my weeklong holiday. When I saw my friend was in Hawaii, I asked how it is there. Is travel to Hawaii worth it? Is it as beautiful as people say or is it overrated? She told me it’s worth it, so I booked my flight and started preparing my holiday to Hawaii. I canceled my hotel room in Florida, and I was fully committed to this adventure. I needed a big trip, and Hawaii was calling my name. “Come see me, Liz. I want to show you what you’ve been missing.” Fine, Hawaii, I’ll see ya soon.

Travel Items to Buy

A 15 Hour Plane Ride Ahead...

I’ve convinced myself for years that Hawaii wasn’t worth traveling all that way. Flying for 15 hours to get somewhere that was still part of the United States felt weird. It took me a little while to mentally get on board with this whole trip Why? It's faster to go to Western Europe from my home airport than it is to go to Hawaii. This was hard to wrap my head around. Nonetheless, I researched and read blog after blog about others' experiences. What I realized is how diverse people’s experiences are on the same island and how different each island is. To get more enthused about preparing to travel to Hawaii and the long flight ahead, I bought myself a travel pillow, a travel blanket, a travel hair dryer, a dry phone protector, and travel cubes. I admit, a little retail therapy boosted my mood. This Hawaii trip was getting better with each click of the Amazon “purchase” button.

So Many Things to Do! How to Choose?

As the days went by, I decided to book some activities so we wouldn’t be scrambling when we arrived, which just makes sense when you're travel to Hawaii. The first one was a recommendation from some friends: a boat ride around the Na Pali coastline on the island of Kauai with Blue Ocean Adventure Tours. Sounded fun to me! Another “must do” was the Road to Hana, which is a winding road around the east part of Maui. I was told by two friends to book a hotel room in Hana so that I wasn’t killing myself to experience the whole drive in one day. I booked a room at Hana Kai Maui condos. Additionally, surfing was on my bucket list of things to do in life, so that was booked as well. Otherwise, I was fine with winging it, specifically regarding restaurant reservations. How hard would it be to find food, at least somewhere? When traveling to Hawaii, or anywhere for that matter, a big question for me: book ahead of time or wing it? I went with a combination, which is typically how I do it.

Me in a Madewell Dress

What to Wear, What to Wear

Fashion is a big deal for me on vacation, and everyday for that matter. Assembling an outfit is something I thoroughly enjoy, as I am not a yoga pants kind of person. Unless I'm actually doing yoga. Comfort is key, and what you don't have to sacrifice is looking good. I bought a couple of new items like a cliche Hawaiian shirt and a dress from Madewell. Preparing to travel to Hawaii was a deliberate decision of what to take and, more importantly, what not to take. Bottom line: it can be overkill if you're not careful. Below is a good list of what to pack when you do travel to Hawaii:

Swimsuits and cover ups. A cute one, a practical one, and maybe a one-piece. So 2-3 in all.
Shorts. I like Patagonia. Depending on how many days you go, divide it in 2 and bring that many shorts.
T-shirts. I like cute ones. Maybe with wording (you know, like "SUPERSTAR" or something, or a good old plain white tee with a cute fit. I should’ve brought more. Bring as many as days you’ll be there. They can double as a cover up for a meal.
Sandals. One for the beach and one cute but comfortable pair. Invest in a good pair. Brands I like are in my other blog about my favorite shoe brands.
Sunglasses. A MUST. I am partial to Goodr. Inexpensive and effective.
Tennis shoes. I like to hike. I also like to be comfortable.
Dresses. They make sense because you’re in the tropics. Preferably ones with pockets, but at the least, comfortable. Boden is famous for dresses with pockets and I'm here for it.
Comfy clothes. I wish I had brought 3 comfy shorts/pants and a few more t-shirts (as said above). Just gym shorts, nothing more.
Jean jacket or similar. For breezy evenings.
Workout stuff. For the hikes or walks. Or if that’s your style.

Preparing to Travel to Hawaii is Easier Than 1,2,3...

That’s about it, folks. Essentials not listed, like bras, underwear, and socks. Hawaii is easy. Preparing to travel to Hawaii is also easy. I made it more complicated than it needed to be, and I want you to avoid that mistake. I know I’ll be back there at some point, so this blog will be a great reference for me, and I hope that if you’re going soon, I helped you narrow some things down. Enjoy your preparations, your excitement, and anticipation for your trip to Hawaii. Please contact me via email if you want to know anything else. I am here to help make this a fun and memorable and stress-free vacation of a lifetime. Also, stay tuned for more Hawaii articles on Kauai, Maui, and all the fun that I had!