Two weeks in Hawaii - what to pack
 

OK what to bring for two weeks??? I can't imagine packing 14 of everything. And our last three days are in Frisco, so it is sure to be cool mid September. I am thinking 7 pairs of shorts, 3 or 4 pair of capris, 10 tops, 2 pair jeans, 2 pair good walkers, 3 pairs sandals, a couple of sun dresses or slacks for nicer restaurants, and three bathing suits. We will send our laundry out if we run short...am I overdoing it or will I need more...I hate the packing thing. Hubby takes care of himself!

I have traveled to Hawaii for several 2-3 week vacations and I always take way less than you are planning to take and still always feel I have taken too much after I get there. I usually do laundry once while there--underwear and t shirts especially--about half way through the trip.
I usually take 3-4 pairs shorts, 1 pair capris, 5-6 T shirts, 2 swimming suits, a combo coverup/sun dress, a pareo, flip flops and reef shoes (though you can wait til you get there and buy cheap at Wal Mart), 1 pair sandals, cotton caftan for lounging around the cottage, 1 pair of light cotton pants to wear on the plane and a light coverup if planning any activities upcountry (Volcano on BI, Haleakala on Maui). A couple of times I have taken either a skirt or a dress to wear to dinner and about half the time didn't wear it even once.
As I said at the first of the post, I always come home thinking that I took too much.
So I would advise take less than you are planning and if you find you really need something that you didn't take, you can buy it there.
(FYI-We usually stay at B&B's or rental houses, not resort hotels.)

I am an overpacker (and proud of it) and am still amazed at how LITTLE I wear of what I pack. I went for two weeks (3 islands) and wore a very small fraction of what I took. I stayed at a hotel, a cottage and a resort and bascially wore swimsuits, with shorts and tshirts every day and 2 other outfits for nice dinners. I do like a variety of swimsuits. Other than that, tropical vacations are the one type of destination that I could get everything I actually wear in a carry-on. If you have access to laundry, you can get by with less.

I'd get away with the "outfit a day" mentality. I just don't need that much while at the beach or adventuring around an island.

Nannymer, WAY, WAY too much!

I went for 2 weeks and this is what I brought. I thought THIS was too much. I try to stick to 4 colors so that all of the tops will go with all of the bottoms.

2 pair of shorts
2 linen drawstring capris
1 pair of gaucho style capris
4 tanks (sometimes I layer them)
2 t-shirts
1 sun dress
1 mini skirt
2 bikinis
1 sarong
1 pair of clogs (my most comfortable shoes)
2 pair of sandals
1 set of travel pants and casual jacket worn with one of the tanks
1 pair cheap-o flip-flops that I bought there

If you're leaving within a month, I can pretty much guarantee that you will NOT wear the jeans in Hawaii, so I'd only bring one pair for San Fransisco. I packed this in a 19" carry-on with plenty of room to spare. While there, I picked up some cute tight t-shirts and tanks to take home. We did laundry once.

Thanks all.. you have been a big help. I am cutting back and so is my friend, Kat, who is going with me. I too try to stick to 4 colors - white, tan, black, and yellow! I KNOW I won't wear a lot of what I bring, and it is SO HARD for me to pack light, but I am determined this time to do it!

19 days and counting....Hawaii here we come....Thanks Again!

In agreement with all the above. For 1-2 weeks in Hawaii, I pack the same and it all goes in a 24" roller suitcase. If you really want jeans wear one pair on the plane. I would not wear them in tropical places they are too heavy. Here's my list:
3 bathing suits
3 sarongs
2 sandals
1 sneakers or walking shoe
1 flip flops
4 shorts
2 capris
7 tank tops or t-shirts
2 sundress (no slacks)
1 lounging dress/sheath

Wear things more than once, get away from the fresh outfit for every day idea. Buy a beach towel, suntan lotion, straw hat after you arrive.

that said, San Francisco in September is entirely different! You might want to lay in the bottom of your suitcase a windbreaker or sweatshirt, long slacks, long sleeve t-shirt. If you find yourself under-dressed for the weather, just go down to Fisherman's Wharf where they sell loads of fleece stuff cheap on the street... for all the tourists who are not dressed warmly enough! An every day occurance in San Francisco in the spring, summer, and fall -lol!

If you are staying at all hotels, just come to terms with going to the laundremat one morning. You're in and out in under 2 hours and can have bfast while waiting. We go thru a lot of tshirts and shorts from hiking and beaching and playing, so can change 3 times a day. Freshening everything up really is no bother first thing in the morning. Have fun

Pleased to announce that I downsized my packing from my big 50 pound (packed) bag to a mid size bag that now weighs about 25 pounds. I really cut back and I am so glad. Thanks for all the advice...

NannyJan (12 more days to go!)

Nannymer, congrats! It is so hard to NOT pack everything. But I always end up wearing maybe half of what I take, so I'm really trying to pack lighter now. Neutral colors that mix and match, things you can throw in the dryer, and eating in restaurants where you don't have to dress up has helped my packing problem a lot!!! Have a really wonderful time in Hawaii ... it is beyond paradise! :-) ((r))

topping for reference

I've been to Hawaii four times
and each time I take less and
less....and it is STILL too
much!

Underpack. I never wore makeup,
LOVE that, and wore the same thing
to dinner each night (you have it
on for 2 hours?)

My first trip, I made the mistake
of taking "cute" polyester tops!
OUCH! So hot! Take cotton or
stuff that will breathe.

I wore flip flops everywhere.
One pair of nicer sandels for
dinner.

If you pack too little, you
can always "shop"! I take
two half empty suitcases, so
that I can bring stuff home.

Have FUN!!!!

My list is close to Suze's, and I usually end up buying 2 or 3 clothing items, LOL. We had to get an extra duffle bag to check when we stayed at Hale Koa on Oahu 4 years ago. The PX there had great prices! :-)

On one trip to HI, I packed 2 pair of shoes, sandals and a pair of flip flops. You can guess what I wore the most. :-)

You know what I learned from my last Hawaii trip?

Pack every darn thing you THINK you might need, stand back a take a nice long look at it . . . and throw AT LEAST half of it back out onto the bed.

I ended up not using one drop of makeup or hair product (aside from shampoo and conditioner), I didn't wear ANY of my dressier clothes, and I never got out of the same pair of flops that I wore over on the plane.

I have narrowed my packing to the following for 2 weeks or more:

3-4 shorts, pants, skirts or combination thereof

5-6 tops to match all bottoms, usually shortsleeved unless a winter trip

1-2 lightweight jackets and/or sweaters

3 pairs of shoes - 1 walking, 1 casual sandal (flip flop, etc.), 1 dressier sandal for evenings

For beach vacations, replace 1 bottom and 1 top with 1-2 bathing suits and a coverup. For winter vacations, replace 1 lightweight jacket/sweater with heavy coat and sandals for closed toe shoes.

I don't do dresses because I can get more wear with separates. I also don't do white or light khaki/cream - they require more frequent washing. Darks and/or brights.

Another trick for flying into SF is to bring a pair of tights. Toss them in your carryon for the return flight to SF and when you arrive at the airport put them on under your pants/skirt. Then you don't have you take heavy pants but still stay warm. You can also do the same with a thin turtleneck. Not bulky but provides warmth.

The only thing I've needed to go out and buy after I arrived, was one trip I thought I could make do without sneakers. Because I walked all OVER Waikiki, it was more than what my pair of sandals or flip flops could handle.

As far as plane travel to warm weather, when it's cooler or cold at home... I have socks under sandals that can come on and off, a tank top under a shirt, like that.

If checking luggage, I always roll up flip flops, bathing suit, shorts and tank top in the bottom of my carry on... just in case it goes missing at least I can be enjoying myself poolside in the meantime.