If you are planning a vacation in Maui, of the most important things to consider is what to add to your Maui packing list. If you’re wondering what to wear in Maui, you’ve come to the right place – this guide will break down weather on Maui for every season, Maui packing list essentials, and a few things you want to make sure not to pack.
This post includes affiliate links, which means if you purchase something I may receive a commission for purchases, at zero cost to you. I only recommend things I love and think you will love too 🙂
Maui Packing List: Beach Essentials
1. Reef-Safe Sunscreen
One of the biggest surprises to tourists in Maui is that some kinds of sunscreen are banned because they cause damage to Hawaii’s marine life and coral. Maui County recently passed a law banning all non-mineral sunscreens, and they need to be made with ‘non-nanotized’ zinc oxide or titanium dioxide.
There are also two common sunscreen chemicals, oxybenzone and octinoxate, which are banned in Hawaii. Unfortunately, many sunscreens that are labeled “reef safe” are not actually reef-safe, and many of them are banned in Hawaii.
If you are looking for a reef-safe sunscreen option, consider one of the following:
Babo Botanicals Sheer Mineral Sunscreen
Raw Elements Certified Natural Sunscreen
Babo Botanicals Sheer Zinc Continual Spray
2. Large Straw Hat
I was very skeptical of hats before moving to Maui, but believe me when I saw that the sun is strong here and unless you want to be beet red for your entire vacation – you need a hat. I have tried countless hats (I am not someone who loves hats in general) and the ones I have found that work the best for sun protection and look the least ridiculous are the ones listed below. A lot of locals wear these, so you know they’re good! I am wearing the women’s straw hat in the photo above.
3. Snorkel Equipment
If you plan to snorkel while on vacation in Maui (you DEFINITELY SHOULD!), you also want to make sure to bring or buy a snorkel set. I see a lot of tourists using the full-face masks that look like you have a bubble over your face, but I’m just going to tell you now that those don’t work well and you’re going to be hating yourself for buying that. They often leak water and don’t fit your face well – just trust me on this one and get a normal snorkel mask.
This snorkel and mask set is a great and affordable option, or if you plan to do some free diving and would also like a set that involves fins, this snorkel and fins set is a good one. I snorkel a lot and definitely recommend making time to do so on Maui – make sure to check out this article on the 10 best places to snorkel in Maui for some additional inspo.
4. Lots of Swimsuits
Listen, I get that you already know you need to pack swimsuits when you go to Maui. The point of this reminder is to tell you to pack more swimsuits than you think you would ever wear. A lot of your time in Maui will likely be spent at the beach or in the pool, and you should plan to bring at least one swimsuit for every day of your trip. If you are also planning to buy more swimsuits ahead of your vacation, my husband is a surfer and I snorkel and dive, and these are our favorite swimsuit brands for each gender.
My picks for women’s swimsuits:
Volcom Swim: most comfortable and good for lots of use
Monday Swimwear: fashionable swimwear, good for women who need extra support
Amazon Swim: best budget-friendly swim – this specific suit is great
His picks for men’s swimsuits:
5. GoPro Camera
If you are planning to snorkel, do a boat tour or any other activity that involves being in the water, I highly recommend bringing a GoPro to take photos and videos of your experience. We use both a GoPro Hero and the GoPro Max 360, which takes 360 videos of your surroundings. Both are incredible and perfect for capturing memories underwater or on a hike.
In Maui specifically, I would recommend using a GoPro while snorkeling, diving or on hikes on the road to Hana where you don’t want to risk getting a regular phone or camera wet or dirty. As a side note, GoPro also has awesome customer service – our GoPro battery insert malfunctioned once and the battery fell out while cliff jumping in Maui and the GoPro Max was ruined, we GoPro sent us a new camera for free when we explained what happened. Overall they’re a great company and if you’re going to buy a camera for vacation use, I would recommend the GoPro or GoPro Max.
6. Water Shoes
If you are planning to surf, snorkel or swim in Maui, consider also purchasing water shoes. I’m going to be honest, before moving to Hawaii I thought water shoes were useless and stupid, but after trying to snorkel and surf in Maui without them I have completely changed my mind. Many beaches, such as Honua Bay and Launiupoko, are incredible surf and snorkel beaches that are filled with sharp rocks and sea urchins that really hurt to step on. If you are planning to snorkel on surf in Maui, save yourself some time and bring water shoes with you – they are really cheap and absolutely necessarily in a lot of Maui beaches.
Maui Packing List: Adventure Essentials
1. Reusable Water Bottle
Whether you’re going to the beach or on one of Maui’s incredible hikes, you will likely want to bring a reusable water bottle with you. I like this water bottle, which is light-weight and easy to wash. I stress the light-weight part because if you’re anything like me, your suitcase will be full and you aren’t going to want to carry around a heavy, metal bottle, making this a great option to throw in your carry on or stuff in your suitcase.
2. Portable Phone Charger
Many of Maui’s hikes and scenic drives (like the road to Hana) have bad reception and will quickly drain your phone battery. An easy fix is to buy a cheap portable phone charger, which takes up very little space and will keep your phone charged so you aren’t stranded without Google maps (which also works offline). If you’re planning to drive the road to Hana, drive the old Lahaina road or do any of the popular Maui hikes, I highly recommend bringing this with you.
3. Causal Clothes
Unless you’re planning to do a fancy dinner at your resort, the dress code in Maui is beyond casual. For men, that usually means board shorts or casual shorts and a t-shirt and flip-flops. For women, that usually means jean shorts or casual shorts and a tank-top. If you’re looking for some women’s vacation wear you can check out my outfit links here, but the general rule is to keep it casual and plan for warm weather.
4. Warm Jacket For Haleakala
If you’re planning to go to Haleakala while on your trip to Maui, plan to bring a warm jacket and long pants. This is one of the only areas of the island where you actually experience cold weather, and Haleakala sometimes even gets snow in the winter. It’s a beautiful mountain top worth visiting, but make sure to bring appropriate clothing for your trip and include a warm jacket, shoes that are easy to walk in and long pants.
Maui Packing List: Maui Weather
Weather obviously makes a big impact on what you need to pack, and Maui is no exception. If you are staying in the most common resort areas where you can find the best Maui hotels, Lahaina and Kihei/Wailea, plan for hot weather year-round. No matter which month you choose for your vacation, you’ll find less than 5 rainy days per month, highs between 81-90 and lows between 61-67.
I have lived in both Lahaina and Kihei/Wailea, and I very, very rarely wear long pants, even during winter nights. You might want to bring a sweater or light jacket for nighttime, but other than that you won’t need warm clothing. As mentioned above, that rule does not apply for Haleakala, so plan to bring a warm jacket and pants if you’re going to Haleakala. You also may want pants and rainproof jacket if you’re staying overnight in Hana, as it does get slightly colder there in the evening than in Kihei or Lahaina.
That wraps it up for this Maui packing list and look at what to wear in Maui. If you’re planning a trip to Maui and have questions or have been to Maui and want to share your experience, please comment and let me know!