Maui has a wide variety of things to do and, therefore, a lot of different activities to pack for. This Maui packing list includes everything you’ll need to enjoy all the adventures that the island has to offer.

We’ve had years of experience packing for trips to Maui and perfecting what’s in our luggage. Follow our packing list so you’ll be prepared with the clothing and gear needed for swimming, snorkeling, hiking, surfing, stargazing, and upscale dining on the island.

Maui Packing List

Beachwear and Gear for Swimming, Snorkeling, and Surfing

• Bathing Suit
• Reef-safe Sunscreen & Lip Balm: Using reef-safe sunscreen (like Thinksport SPF 50+ Mineral Sunscreen, Sun Bum Original SPF 50, or Hawaiian Tropic SPF 50) and reef-safe lip balm (like Supergoop! PLAY Lip Balm SPF 30) is important for preventing damage to the coral reef. Help keep the reefs beautiful and thriving!
• Rashguard: Wearing a rashguard (Women’s | Men’s) provides protection against sunburns and helps reduce the amount of sunscreen you need to use, which is not only convenient, but also better for the coral reef. For surfers, rashguards provide protection against chafing from the surfboard.
• Bathing Suit Cover-up
• Flip Flops/Beach Shoes
• Beach Tote Bag: Bring along a packable beach bag for carrying your beach items. My favorite packable beach tote is the ALOHA Collection Day Tripper Travel Bag (Amazon | REI). ALOHA Collection bags are functional, splash-proof and come in cute, beachy designs. The company donates 5% of profits to Hawaii-based conservation organizations.
• Packable Quick Dry Towel: We like to pack our Nomadix Towels (Amazon | REI) for beach trips so we have something lightweight to dry off with and sit on. Nomadix Towels are quick dry, sand resistant, packable, and come in a variety of unique designs.
• Hat
• Sunglasses
• Waterproof Pouch: We recommend keeping your important belongings with you while swimming. A waterproof pouch with a waist strap can be used to hold belongings such as a cell phone, wallet, and keys and keep them dry while swimming and snorkeling.
• Snorkel Gear: If you plan to snorkel often, it is worthwhile to bring your own snorkel gear rather than rent. I own a Cressi Dry Snorkel (Amazon) and have traveled with it for years. We recommend purchasing a dry snorkel (versus a semi-dry snorkel) because it has a special valve that prevents water from filling the tube when submerged.
• GoPro: The variety of sea life in Maui is incredible. We enjoy capturing what we see while snorkeling with a GoPro (Amazon | REI). We also record cliff jumping videos with our GoPro. Bring along a floating handle attachment (Amazon | REI) to make sure your GoPro doesn’t sink if it is accidentally dropped.

Clothing and Gear for the Road to Hana

• Rain Jacket: Rain showers are common.
• Hiking Clothes
• Hiking Shoes: We recommend wearing trail running shoes for Maui hiking since trail running shoes are more lightweight and packable than hiking boots and still provide some support and toe protection. Jordan and I both wear Salomon Speedcross Trail Running Shoes (Women’s | Men’s).
• Hiking Backpack: Our favorite packable, multi-use backpack is the Osprey Daylite Plus Daypack (Amazon | REI). The Daylite Plus is the perfect size for day hikes and has large pockets, including easy access outer mesh pockets for a water bottle or phone.
• Water Bottle or Hydration Bladder
• Food/Snacks
• Reef-safe Sunscreen & Lip Balm
• America the Beautiful Annual National Parks Pass: If you plan to hike the Pipiwai Trail or Seven Sacred Pools, you’ll be entering Haleakala National Park. Visitors will need to pay the $30 entrance fee (per vehicle, good for 3 days) or present an America the Beautiful Annual National Parks Pass. An $80 America the Beautiful Annual Pass provides entrance to all U.S. National Parks as well as additional recreation areas for a year. If you plan to visit multiple parks within the year, the pass may be more cost effective than paying individual park entrance fees.
• Costco Card: If you are a Costco member, pack your card with you for your trip to Maui. Maui’s Costco gas station has the best fuel prices on the island and is a great place to fill up before you start the Road to Hana.
• Bathing Suit: If you plan to swim in waterfalls, bring along a bathing suit.
• Packable Quick Dry Towel
• Water Shoes: Water shoes (Women’s | Men’s) can be worn for swimming in waterfalls. If you’re comfortable walking on submerged uneven rocks, going barefoot is an option, but watch out for the prawns! They’ll pinch if you get too close!
• GoPro
• Cash: Twin Falls and the roadside fruit and banana bread stands require cash payment.

Clothing and Gear for Haleakala National Park

• America the Beautiful Annual National Parks Pass
• Food/Snacks
• Water Bottle or Hydration Bladder
• Hiking Clothes
• Hiking Shoes
• Hiking Backpack
• Reef-safe Sunscreen & Lip Balm
• Warm Clothing: Warm clothing is crucial for visiting Haleakala for sunrise or sunset. This may come as as surprise given the warm tropical temperatures on the other parts of Maui, but at 10,000 feet, Haleakala’s temperatures can be frigid. We recommend bringing a warm hat, warm pants, and a warm jacket. I brought a blanket to the summit as well and was very thankful for it.
• Camera and Tripod: Stargazing from Haleakala is absolutely incredible. The dark skies make it possible to clearly see the Milky Way. If you are an astrophotography enthusiast, you’ll want to bring your camera gear to Haleakala.
• Headlamp with a Red Light: The summit of Haleakala is quite dark before sunrise and after sunset. In order to see where you’re walking, bring a headlamp with a red light (Amazon | REI). Using red light instead of white light will help keep your eyes adjusted to the darkness so you can better see the magnificent starry sky.

Upscale Dinner Clothing

• Resort Wear: Resort Wear is generally recommended for upscale evening dining. Check the dress code of restaurants you plan to head to beforehand. If upscale dining is not part of your itinerary, there are many places to eat where casual attire is acceptable.

For more information on Maui, check out the Top Things to Do in Maui.

For help with planning you trip to Maui, head to our Maui Travel Guide, which covers which islands to visit in addition to Maui, how many days you need for your trip, what time of year to visit, and where to stay.

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