Hawaii men's pack list
 

I am attempting to assist a co-worker who is leaving tomorrow for Maui. He's not an experienced traveler & doesn't have beach vacation clothes (we're in Seattle). Here's what I've come up with but would appreciate any feedback:

hat
sunglasses
birkenstocks (bear with me here)
1 pair sneakers (wear on plane)
1 pair shorts
1 something to swim in
1 pair lightweight pants
3 t-shirts
2 short sleeve summer shirts
socks, underwear
1 windbreaker jacket (wear on plane)
1 jeans (wear on plane)

Upon arrival go to Longs Drug and buy:
flip flops
1 shorts
1 bathing trunks
straw hat
sunscreen
straw beach matt &/or beach chair

How am I doing? ;-) mahalo everyone

Looks good so far - but here's a suggestion...don't need long pants if the shorts are 'reasonably' presentable with collared shirt for dinner. My DH NEVER puts on a pair of long pants once he arrives. Also, can cut back on socks unless needed for playing golf, etc. Sandals (w/o socks)are usually the norm everywhere. Hope he has a great time!

Thanks!

I realize I should probably include reminders for things like:
plane ticket or confirmation code
passport or drivers license
cash, ATM card, credit card
eyeglasses
any prescriptions
guidebook (i loaned him Moon)

&
1 beach towel - or buy there

suze, have him buy the beach towel there. Takes up too much room. And, no reason for long pants. We saw men at church on Easter Sunday with nice shorts on.

I really hope:

1) He asked for your advice
2) He does not have a wife

Are you going to remind him to bring a toothbrush?

I have no idea what birkenstocks are but just get down to Hilo Hatties and invest in some outrageously Hawaiian clothing and relax!

1) he did
2) he does not

This is an amusing thread! If he's wearing the birks, he may not need flip flops? Unless he really wants to be able to get into the water w/footwear. Could wear the light weight pants on the plane instead of the jeans? (prob won't be wearing jeans in Maui)? Maui in general is very causal. A golf shirt & chinos' is pretty much as dressed up as it gets, unless you're going all out for a fancy dinner.

I bought a pair of the crocs flip flops while we were in Hawaii and ended up wearing them every day, all day long.

David - Bierinstocks (sp?) are sandals.

suze - If your friend doesn't have them he might be better off with taking just a pair of boat shoes. He can wear them wherever he goes (sightseeing, dinner, on boat trips and at the beach) - no need for any sneakers.

Tell him to pack light - take less clothes and bring more money.

Unless he's hiking or going horseback riding, I'd skip the jeans - too hot. Bring another pair of khakis and more shorts unless he's going for a weekend, only...one pair???? Flip flops, Aloha shirt and shorts for the plane ride.

I'd add some more shorts to the list just judging by my Husband's khaki shorts that always get dirty.

Who knew? this thread would be so popular... Thanks everybody!

That's the problem guys & gals... he doesn't have more than 1 pair of shorts, no nice linen pants or anything. That's why I was hunting up creative solutions from you all. His Seattle gardening clothes are the closest thing to resort wear is my impression (co-worker not friend or traveling companion BTW, my own people have island clothes)
;-)

More money less clothes is likely a wise tip!

Don't forget the ocean safety sermon!!! Common sense isn't grown on trees!!! And the middle of the pacific aint paradise when your caught in a riptide!

Since he is leaving tomorrow, I would definitely suggest he spend a couple hours the first day doing some shopping. Then he wont have to worry about taking the right kind of clothes - he can get them there.

I think we just love to sit around & visualize that we too are packing for Maui.

please tell him if wearing the birks with shorts, no black socks!

i'll be SURE to pass that along...

so as not to detract from the natural beauty of the islands!!!

No kidding, Jules! Especially after checking out MsGo's Maui photos, I wish I was packing for Maui! :)

Sorry, never been to Hawaii and don't know specifics, but if you go to this website and type in the details of your future trip, it creates a personalized list:

http://upl.codeq.info/

...spare liver...aspirin....

toothbrush
toothpaste
comb
deodorant
shaving cream
razor
condoms - although if you have to tell him to bring underwear I don't think he will need these.

Don't forget some really good sunscreen. According to a news show I saw, good ingredients to look for are Oxybenzone, Parsol 1789; Zinc oxide; and Titanium Dioxide. I always get the strongest I can find (50 spf).

Unless he's really dark like my husband - that lucky guy can stay in the sun for hours.

Edited: now I see you mentioned sunscreen in your very first post, which I actually did read. Well, I'm an idiot. Please disregard (since there is no way to delete a post).

suze, is your friend carrying on or checking his bag? If he is carrying on, be sure he gets his quart size baggie with his 3 oz. or less stuff in it!

If he happens to have 2 bathing suits, I'd take both. I also always wear reef shoes, but I'm in the minority on that. You can get them at a Hawaiian drugstore for less than 10 dollars, I think.

Most importantly to tell him, sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen, and keep re-applying while you're out in the sun. One intense burn will ruin his whole vacation.

On the sunscreen theme - even dark-skinned people should make a habit of wearing sunscreen when they will be outside a lot. Although their skin may not burn, sun damage is occuring, and while they may not be as suseptible to skin cancer as someone such as myself (pale skin, freckles and reddish hair, thank goodness for brown eyes - LOL), there is still a risk.

make sure to remind him the US dollars are accepted at most locations.

J_Correa - that's a good point!

OK, Suze, if he doesn't have more than one pair of shorts, just tell him to stand his one and only pair up in his room after the first day - phew! Tell him to head to Whaler's Village the second he gets off the plane.

This is fun! Let's keep on packing for Suze's friend - don't forget to bring PJ's or whatever he wears to sleep IF he wears something to sleep! :p I did this once and had to use DH's PJ bottoms and his undershirt!

Things may be better than I first thought. He printed his boarding pass for Hawaiian Air flight tomorrow at 10:00am here at the office).

Really the guy is not lame and I'm sure he can figure out to pack underwear (or not) as he chooses. He's a very sweet man who hasn't traveled alot and I have been coaching him thru the process of pulling this trip together.

Now *I* want to go pack for Hawaii... my stuff from the last trip's still hanging above an open suitcase ready to go again... 4 sarongs, 3 bathing suits, etc. etc.

My husband has dark skin too - but he is a sunscreen convert after a couple people we know with similar skin types had to get melanomas carved out of their bodies. Not fun.

camera!!

Can't forget that, especially on your first trip to Maui. Or buy a disposable there, but he should really have a decent one.

And don't forget those credit cards. Wait until he sees Maui restaurant prices!

Bring the jeans. Very important if he is going to do any hiking. They will pevent bug bites & sunburn.

An extra pair of old sneakers that are good for hiking. Make sure they are as non-skid as possible.

By hiking, I include any short trails to waterfalls, beaches, etc.

And dusty mentioned bug bites. Be sure he takes insect repellant. Them buggahs are big and bad!

I lost an arm rasslin' match to one once. b(

The mosquitos are bad on KAUAI and in the rain forests of Maui but not the beaches of Maui or the rest of the island. Bringing jeans to walk on the beach is just crazy. If you're horseback riding or hiking the rain forest, yes, bring them, otherwise - that's just nuts.

What a nice friend you are! Our last trip to a beach resort was painful for the men in new sandals so if he's buying sandals, be sure to include moleskin.

You've all been great(!) he's off and i'm sure he'll figure it out. i gave him the low down on Hawaiian Air (you need a debit or credit card for headphones & drinks, no cash accepted) they show great island-style programs plus a regular movie. And they even serve food; it's 'aloha' from the moment you get on the plane.

I cant believe that I am the only one to suggest that you do need at least one set of biz casual.

There are plenty of places that you will not feel comfortable or welcome if you do not have appropriate dress.

Unless of course he is a tree hugger planning on living off hamburgers!

:>