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25 of the best Hawaii travel tips

Over the years as a Hawaii Travel Agent, I’ve been asked for my best Hawaii travel tips many times. If you’re planning your next Hawaii adventure, these Hawaii travel tips will help you plan your dream vacation.

Hawaii Travel Agent

Are you having trouble planning your Hawaii vacation? I get it—there are a lot of things to figure out when planning a trip to Hawaii. That’s where I come in. Whether you’re planning a Hawaii honeymoon, a Hawaii family vacation, a multi-gen trip, or anything else, I can help guide you through the process and make it as simple as possible. Want to be fully hands-on and choose everything but with the help of an expert? I can do that.

Maybe you want an expert to handle it all, and you just hop on the plane and be on your way? I can do that too! I’ve worked with clients who wanted to fully be part of it (but have someone there to help and be there if a problem arises) and those who want me just to tell them what to do.

Whichever you are (or if you’re somewhere in between), I’d love to chat and help you plan the perfect Hawaii vacation for you. Contact me today to get started. 

Now, let’s get to the Hawaii travel tips!

25 helpful Hawaii travel tips

Here are some of my best Hawaii travel tips, listed in no particular order. 

1. Bring sunscreen

Bring sunscreen, but make sure it’s reef-safe! Reef-safe sunscreen is so important, and you can read more about that in my post, where to find reef-safe sunscreen.

Even if you don’t tend to burn, bring sunscreen or rash guard clothing. Trust me. The sun is different in Hawaii than what you’re used to, it’s right on the equator, and it’s intense!

You might also enjoy reading about the best sunscreen for Hawaii.

2. Stay as long as you possibly can.

If you can, stay for two weeks—do it! If you want to visit multiple islands, I recommend staying at least five days on each island. One week per island is even better. There is so much to see in Hawaii and on each island. Make sure to plan adequately to allow you to see as much as possible.

3. Avoid leaky luggage!

Items tend to leak on airplanes, so make sure any liquids in your carry-on or checked bags are appropriately sealed. One little travel hack is to put a small plastic wrap on the top and then close the lid.

4. Make sure to follow TSA rules.

Make sure to check the TSA website for prohibited items. Items like knives, nail files, and knitting needles are not allowed in carry-on luggage. Corkscrews are also not allowed; don’t ask me how I know. 

5. Know the weight of your bags

The weight limit on checked bags is usually about 50 pounds. Try weighing yourself with and without the bag to figure out the weight of your luggage. Better yet, pack light and avoid the checked bags! Check out my YouTube video about packing with just a carry-on. 

You might also enjoy how to fight jet lag in Hawaii.

6. Don’t get left with no access to your money.

It’s never a bad idea to inform your bank and credit card companies that you’ll be traveling to Hawaii.

7. Carry a little bit of cash.

Most businesses in Hawaii do accept Visa and Mastercard. Some smaller businesses (think roadside fruit stands, etc.) are cash-only, and it’s always good to keep some cash on hand for tips.

8. Tipping etiquette

Tipping in Hawaii is the same as in any other U.S. state. At restaurants, tip a minimum of 15%, and consider more for excellent service. Tips for housekeeping, tour guides, and valets are also standard.

9. No all-inclusive, but that’s okay!

There are no all-inclusive resorts in Hawaii, but that’s okay! It can be great to get away from the resort and do some exploring. If you want an all-inclusive resort, save the money on a plane ticket to Hawaii. There are plenty of great all-inclusive resorts in Mexico and the Caribbean.

You can read more about why Hawaii has no all-inclusive resorts here: Hawaii all-inclusive resorts, do they exist?

If you want an all-inclusive-like experience, consider a Hawaii cruise! Your meals (and possibly drinks) will be included on the cruise. One cruise explores all four islands in just seven days, which can be a great way to experience the islands for the first time. Contact me for more information, or check out my post on why you might want to consider a Hawaii cruise.

10. Don’t forget your bathing suits

Bring a bathing suit. Even if you haven’t worn one in years, bring one! You might want to bring two or three: one to wear, one to dry, and maybe an extra just in case. You can also bring one and buy one; Hawaii has so many options for buying swimsuits.

11. Don’t stress if you forget any small, essential items.

Essential items are often available at resorts. If nothing else, you can stop by an ABC store or Whalers General Store to purchase any small essential items.

These stores also have cute souvenirs, although they’re likely not made in Hawaii. Check out the Farmer’s Markets for locally made goods. Most islands also have stores like Wal-Mart, Costco, and Target for essentials like shampoo, snacks, etc.

12. Make sure to bring chargers for all of your devices, including your camera.

It’s always good to bring an extra SD card too. Hawaii has so many great spots for photos; you don’t want to miss anything. Speaking of cameras, I would recommend buying a GoPro. Most places rent GoPros, but it’s nice to have your own. The GoPro is great because you can use it for snorkeling, biking, ATV rides, and so much more.

13. Speaking of devices, remember that Hawaii is hands-free behind the wheel.

That means putting down your cell phone. You’ll also want to wear your seatbelt for safety and to avoid a hefty fine.

14. Plan to bring more items back than you came with.

You can always bring an extra bag or buy one in Hawaii.

15. You can’t bring your pets to Hawaii.

I know it’s sad, but you can’t do it! Well, you can, but it’s costly, and it takes a lot of work. Make sure to make other accommodations for your pets while you travel to the islands. 

16. Hawaii has Banned the use of plastic bags.

I recommend either bringing your own small foldable reusable bags (bonus: you can bring souvenirs home in them!) or purchasing reusable bags on the island. We love our reusable Hawaii-print Target bags. We use them all the time wherever we are.

17. Attire in Hawaii is very casual.

There are only a handful of restaurants that will require you to dress up. Almost everyone wears shorts, sundresses, and flip-flops (slippahs/slippers) regularly.

18. Remember the 3-1-1 rule for liquids in your carry-on.

It’s better to put liquids in your checked bags. If you’re a light packer like me and not checking a bag, make sure to purchase some small bottles to carry your liquids. I use this set from Amazon. Also remember that most resorts, condos, and hotels will supply shampoo, soap, etc. If you want to bring your own, make sure to follow TSA guides. More detailed information can be found here.

19. Be respectful.

A lot of land in Hawaii is sacred; treat it as such. It’s also important to remember to avoid jerk-tourist behaviors like trespassing, stepping on the coral, general rudeness, littering, etc. Just be a decent person, and you’ll be fine.

Check out 30 things you should never do in Hawaii to learn more.

20. Rent a car.

I know you will read some advice saying you don’t need a car on Oahu, but I disagree. The island of Oahu is beautiful, and there is much to see beyond Honolulu and Waikiki. Yes, the bus system on Oahu is pretty good, but it’s so much better to be able to travel around your schedule. Any rental car should be just fine. On all other islands, you will need a rental car. I wrote a post all about why you should rent a car in Hawaii, so go check it out for more information.

Should you rent a Jeep? I recommend renting a Jeep on Hawaii island (the Big Island.) On Hawaii Island, there are lots of places that you won’t be able to access without a 4-wheel drive. Check out my top 7 best things to do on the Big Island for more info.

If it’s within your budget, I would also recommend renting a Jeep on Kauai. It’s not as necessary, but some spots are easier to access with a 4-wheel drive. Do remember that some places in Kauai are inaccessible with any vehicle. You can also read my top 10 best things to do in Kauai for more information on Kauai.

In Maui, I recommend renting a car. If you want to do something fun, rent a convertible. We drove the Road to Hana and the back way from the Road to Hana with a car. Planning a trip to Maui? Check out seven things to do in Maui.

21. Plan some downtime.

I believe that it’s best to plan your vacation to allow you to experience as much of Hawaii as possible. That being said, it’s great to prepare for some downtime! Plan to spend a day browsing local farmer’s markets, swimming, or just spending time on the beach, interacting with the locals, and just appreciating the aloha spirit.

22. Buy some snorkel gear.

Snorkeling is one of the best (and cheapest!) things to do in Hawaii. You can always save some room and rent gear, but you’re going to want to snorkel multiple times on your trip. It ends up saving money to buy a decent snorkel set and bring it with you. Here is the one that I have (and love!)

23. Don’t take the lava rocks – it’s bad luck!

Maybe you’re not superstitious, but are you a little stitious? Sorry, Office joke. Anyway, taking lava rock from their natural place is considered a no-no in Hawaii. Tourists have been known to mail back their lava rocks, saying they’ve had an incredible streak of bad luck lately. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!

24. Prepare to make many return trips.

There’s no way you’ll see everything you want the first time you go to Hawaii. Plan to fall in love and return again and again. I’ve been a Hawaii travel agent for many years, and I’m fortunate enough to work with return clients regularly who want to go back and see more!

25. Work with a travel agent!

Planning a Hawaii vacation can be stressful, especially if you’ve never visited. It can be hard to figure out which island to visit, where to stay, and what to do. A Hawaii travel specialist can help with all of these things. If you’re wondering about the other benefits of working with a travel agent (hint, saving time, saving money, etc.) check out my post on why to work with a travel agent.

I hope these 25 Hawaii travel tips will help you plan an epic vacation. If you want to remove the stress from planning your vacation, I’d love to chat with you! You can set up a time for me to call or send an email here.

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