What to Wear in Hawaii (All Islands and Seasons)

Hawaii outfit ideas!

What to Avoid Wearing in Hawaii

Before we actually get into what to wear in Hawaii, let’s start with a few things to avoid!

👠 Heels or any fancy footwear! Flip flops are the norm in Hawaii, and locals dress very casually. If you are looking for a nicer pair of sandals to wear out to dinner (with some height), I love Birkenstocks Glenda platform sandals, they’re super comfortable and cute!

⚫️ Dark colored clothing. Sure, you can wear whatever you like but bright colors rule in Hawaii! Leave your all-black outfits at home unless you’re completely uncomfortable in color.

👖 Tight fitting clothing. Unless you’re visiting in the coolest times of the year (December, January), you’ll be quite uncomfortable in tight clothes. Opt for loose fitting, flowy clothes instead!

👙 Poor quality swimsuits that don’t stay on your body! If you’re going to wear your swimsuit in the water, be sure it securely fits. The waves are powerful (especially in the wintertime) and the last thing anyone wants is to flash the whole beach! Athletic bathing suits and one pieces are usually a good choice, but just go with whatever fits you best.

PS: I have a complete Hawaii packing list that goes into everything to pack for Hawaii, beyond just clothes!

What to Wear in Hawaii

In reality, you can wear whatever you want in Hawaii. Local fashion is causal but its common to dress up a bit when going out. And if you’re somewhere like Waikiki, you won’t feel out of place no matter what you wear as you walk past people in wet bathing suits leaving the beach and others dressed up for dinner. But, there are a few guidelines I’d recommend following when styling Hawaii outfits to make sure you’re comfortable (and stylish!) Here are a few pointers on what to wear in Hawaii!

🌈 Bright colors and fun patterns. Almost everyone dresses in bright colors in Hawaii. If you have any colorful clothes hiding in the back of your closet, Hawaii is the place to try them out! And yes, floral Hawaiian patterns are 110% okay to wear and honesty don’t make you look overtly touristy since locals wear them as well.

💃🏽 Sun dresses and other flowy clothes. I personally feel most comfortable in the heat if I’m wearing a loose fitting sundress. Oversized tees, flowy shirts and shorts, and other loose fitting clothes are also great to wear in Hawaii.

👗 Swimsuit coverups. They can be easy to forget at home, but a swimsuit coverup is really a must in my book when packing for Hawaii. Throwing a coverup like this one over a bikini makes it a full outfit that you can actually feel comfortable wearing in town or to lunch after spending a few hours on the beach. No more awkward wet marks on clothes that weren’t meant to be coverups!!

🩴 Flip flops and sandals. You really can’t go wrong with flip flops! These cute woven flip flops are actually comfortable for walking (and sustainably made!). You can also wear other types of sandals, but honestly flip flops are what everyone wears in Hawaii most of the time!

☀️ UPF sun shirts. If you plan on going on a boat tour, or a hike with little shade, or just chilling at the beach a lot, a sun shirt is a great investment! I have this long sleeve sunshirt from REI and its actually kind of flattering (?) and not as ugly as you’d expect, and best of all it is very breathable and keeps you cool! And then if you get chilly on a boat ride it can keep you a little warm, too!

Cute Accessories to Wear in Hawaii

These fun accessories can bring your Hawaii outfits to the next level! Even though local fashion in Hawaii is casual, its common to wear jewelry and other accessories that go with the island vibes. Plus, hats and sunglasses are often a must on sunny Hawaiian days!

🌺 Hawaiian flower hair clips: I’m so happy these Hawaiian-inspired hair clips are in style these days (I even saw people wearing them in Italy!). You can get a 7 pack of matte flower clips here or more traditional looking plumeria hair clips here.

🐚 Shell necklace: A shell necklace like this choker is another perfect accessory to spruce up your Hawaii outfits! You’ll see lots of people wearing them in Hawaii and they are easy to dress up or down!

⚪️ Pearl earrings: I love wearing pearl jewelry in Hawaii, too. I have some pearl earrings I got at a local thrift shop that I wear almost everyday in Hawaii, similar to these gorgeous pearl drop earrings from Amazon.

👒 Sun hat: A sun hat is not only practical, it can be stylish too! I have a few cute straw sun hats like this one, I love that they can easily be packed in a suitcase without getting destroyed!

🧢 Baseball cap: I also always pack a baseball cap for Hawaii to wear when hiking or on the beach!

🕶️ Flattering sunglasses: I always bring 2-3 pairs of sunglasses on vacation just in case I lose (or break) a pair! Plus, I like to have variety! For the past few years I’ve gotten my sunglasses exclusively from SOJOS, I love their retro style and all their sunglasses are high quality but under $20.

👜 Beach bag: I love this cute woven beach bag, it works great for a day at the beach but is cute enough to carry around town or bring as a purse for dinner! And this splash-proof Hawaiian-made tote bag is also a great option!

Unexpected Essentials to Pack for Hawaii

While you’re brainstorming Hawaii outfit ideas, keep in mind these unexpected essentials that you’ll want to pack for your trip.

🧥 Light jacket and pants (especially for Maui and Big Island!) If you’re planning on driving to the top of Haleakalā volcano in Maui, or doing a high elevation hike on a cooler day, be sure to bring some warmer clothing. On my first trip to Maui I was caught off guard by how cold it was on the top of Haleakalā!

👟 Hiking shoes: Okay, maybe this one isn’t so unexpected if you’re an avid hiker, but not matter which island you’re visiting, you’ll probably want some quality hiking shoes! The terrain in Hawaii is a lot more rugged and the hikes are a lot more difficult compared to what you’re probably used to, so having good hiking shoes is essential even for the shortest hikes! I love my Altra Lone Peak trail runners because they are so comfortable and take up very little space!

🤿 Snorkel gear: Again, this might be obvious for a lot of people, but not for others! Bring your own snorkel gear to Hawaii, trust me!! It’s so easy to swim with colorful tropical fish, sea turtles, and other marine life right on the beach in Hawaii! I recently got this snorkel mask which has a neoprene strap so my hair doesn’t get damaged – I love it! If you’re short on space in your bag, you can also just bring regular swimming goggles, which is what I did for years until I got my snorkel mask this year. FYI you don’t need a snorkel if you go shark diving on Oahu or another snorkeling tour, just pack one for when you’re at the beach by yourself!

👟 Water shoes: These clever grippy shoes protect your feet from the sharp coral and volcanic rocks that are so common on Hawaii beaches! I find water shoes especially helpful for places like the Mermaid Cave, Popoia, Hanauma Bay, and most waterfalls too!

Also See: Oahu Off The Beaten Path: 21 Hidden Gems + Secret Spots

Hawaii Beach Outfit Ideas

My typical Hawaii beach outfit includes:

• Comfortable, secure bathing suit (by the way I recommend packing 3+ bathing suits for a one week trip to Hawaii)
• Beach cover up like this one
• Sunglasses and sun hat
• Flip flops or other sandals
• All my essentials in a cute beach bag like this one (usually I’ll bring my Kindle for reading, sunscreen, snorkel gear, and Nomadix travel towel)

What to Wear Hiking in Hawaii

My typical hiking outfit in Hawaii includes:

• Patagonia baggies shorts (they’re so comfortable!!) or bike shorts with pockets
• Sports bra under an REI sun shirt or hiking shirt
• Baseball hat and sunglasses
• Altra Lone Peak trail runners and socks (of course)
• Gregory hydration pack with plenty of water (essential for hikes in Hawaii) plus snacks and my camera
• If I’m hiking to a waterfall or beach, I’ll also bring a bathing suit and maybe water shoes, plus my Nomadix quick dry travel towel

More Hawaii Vacation Outfit Ideas

• Vintage Hawaiian shirt with denim shorts
• Low back retro one-piece bathing suit with high waisted shorts
• White linen pants and colorful bikini
• Flowy colorful dress
• Hibiscus flower print dress
• Short and crop top matching set
• Crotched swimsuit coverup over a bikini

What to Wear in Hawaii FAQs

What should you wear to a luau in Hawaii?

Dress up, Hawaiian style! Clothes with Hawaiian floral designs are encouraged, but you can really wear anything you want, as long as its a little nicer than what you might wear to the beach. In general, women should wear dresses to a luau and men should wear a button up shirt (short sleeve is okay) and nicer shorts or pants.

Is it okay to wear a bathing suit inside a store or restaurant in Hawaii?

Usually, no. You can certainly go inside a business with a bathing suit coverup on and even with wet clothes, but you shouldn’t go in if you’re only wearing a swimsuit.

What fabric is most comfortable to wear in Hawaii?

You’ll be most comfortable in natural fibers like linen, cotton, or even silk! Athletic materials are also great to wear, especially if you plan on going on hikes in Hawaii.