What type of clothes should I wear in Hawaii?

We recommend comfortable shoes for walking, shorts, sun dresses, and t- shirts. In the evening, most people switch over to dressy-casual – slightly dressier than their daytime attire – khaki shorts or trousers, polo shirts, aloha shirts, skirts, sundresses, etc.



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What Do Hawaiians Wear?
  • Aloha attire for women : Slacks and a blouse are great as well as an aloha-style dress and sandals.
  • Aloha attire for men: Aloha shirts (obviously) with either loose fitting pants (think linen or cotton) or tasteful length shorts. Polo shirts are also great.


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While jeans are technically acceptable in Hawaii, they may not be the most comfortable or practical option for exploring the islands. With the warm and humid climate, lightweight fabrics should be your go-to choice when packing for your trip.

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Long sleeves | A long-sleeved top, track jacket or popover will keep you warm in places like Upcountry Maui or on early morning hikes. Rain jacket | Throw on a rain jacket or windbreaker if you're visiting in the wet season. These can also come in handy on windy boat rides.

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These are the clothing basics for what to pack for Hawaii – weeklong vacation:
  • Swimsuits (2)
  • Swimsuit cover ups (2)
  • Outfits for tours (like shorts and a top or a sundress) (1-2)
  • Nicer outfit/dress for fancy dinners or night out in Honolulu (1-2)
  • Beach sandals.
  • Water shoes.


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For a one week trip, that means you'll spend anywhere from $350 to $1000 per week. Just remember that if you do choose to get a car rental in Hawaii, you'll need to be aware of parking fees. Parking fees around the cities cost just a few dollars per hour.

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Aloha attire for women : Slacks and a blouse are great as well as an aloha-style dress and sandals. Aloha attire for men: Aloha shirts (obviously) with either loose fitting pants (think linen or cotton) or tasteful length shorts. Polo shirts are also great.

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It's summer weather year-round in Hawaii, so bring your best sun defenses: hats or visors; sunglasses that provide protection from UVA, UVB and UVC rays; and broad-spectrum sunscreen that do not contain oxybenzone and octinoxate, which are prohibited in Hawaii. You'll be in the tropics.

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Only ancient kapuna are allowed to wear socks and slippers, with the sock material squished up in their toe gap. Socks should only be worn with dress or athletic shoes, and please, match white ankle socks with white shoes and black socks with black shoes. No knee highs.

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Hawaiian Style Tip #1: Aloha Attire
  1. Aloha attire for women : Slacks and a blouse are great as well as an aloha-style dress and sandals.
  2. Aloha attire for men: Aloha shirts (obviously) with either loose fitting pants (think linen or cotton) or tasteful length shorts. Polo shirts are also great.


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Most travelers to Hawaii don't need to bring hiking boots. As long as you're planning to do just short day hikes, you can wear sneakers. If you're planning to hike more than 4-5 miles, it's worth packing hiking boots and wool socks.

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Locals refer to evening wear as Aloha attire. Think dressy casual, a style that welcomes sandals in place of high heels and floral dresses instead of cocktail ones. So, if you've already packed a lovely sundress or two and some fancy sandals, you don't even have to wonder what to wear in Hawaii come evening.

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Aloha shirts, blouses and dresses must. reflect a floral or cultural (surfboards, canoes, tiki's etc.) print pattern in the. Polynesian, tropical, or traditional style.

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Lightweight Rain Jacket: Of course, you can always buy one of those plastic parkas at the local drugstore, but those never seem to do the trick of keeping you dry. Bring something lightweight that is waterproof and can easily be thrown over your outfit to keep you dry.

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You won't wear jeans in Hawaii, I promise! Once you feel the warm, humid air in the islands, you'll understand why. Denim just feels way too heavy for Hawaii. Instead of jeans, pack leggings (for hiking or as part of your airplane outfit) or lightweight pants.

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Hawaii itself is around 80 degrees year-round so you likely won't need these to wear there, except for maybe at night. Every single indoor place in Hawaii is air conditioned excessively which is why sometimes jeans are helpful!

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Island temperatures average in the 70s and 80s Fahrenheit year-round. Take a light jacket or sweater, but chances are you won't even wear that.

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Anyone can wear an aloha shirt without risking offense to Hawaiians. Hawaiians didn't invent them; they didn't exist until well into the 1900s, and were originated (reputedly) by a Chinese merchant based on colorful Japanese prints, in a Honolulu dry goods store.

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Honestly, prices in Hawaii are not greater than mainland US. Some restaurants DO charge high prices depending on where (usually ocean side dining costs more, eating at high-end chain restaurants or hotels is expensive). However, there are places to eat where you can expect to pay prices you are familiar with.

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It's always advisable to bring money in a variety of forms on a vacation: a mix of cash, credit cards, and traveler's checks. You should also exchange enough petty cash to cover airport incidentals, tipping, and transportation to your hotel before you leave home, or withdraw money upon arrival at an airport ATM.

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