Packing your bags for Hawaii

Now that airlines are charging for a second piece of luggage (or, in some cases, even the first) and strict “50 pound per piece” weight limits are being imposed, the thrifty traveler is forced to plan ahead. to avoid racking up expensive baggage fees. I used to travel by the motto “Don’t check your luggage unless you can afford to lose it; if you can afford to lose it, don’t bring it” so I never traveled anywhere with anything but my carry-on. . While it’s always good to travel as light as possible, with the advent of strict new carry-on baggage limits and my advancing age (and concomitant increased desire to travel in comfort), I’ve learned to travel with just one piece of checked baggage plus my continue. The key is to pack smart so you can pack less.

Be smart with your carry-on: Most airlines allow you to bring one carry-on bag and one personal item, such as a purse or laptop. I push this up a notch by bringing a carry-on bag plus my laptop in a computer pack that also has room for a video camera, my SLR camera, and an emergency change of clothes (in case all my other luggage gets lost). ). They usually let me get away with it. Since I don’t trust baggage handlers or TSA screeners and my luggage has been lost more times than I care to remember, I keep my other video camera and most of my clothes in my other carry-on bag so do not have to be reviewed. In this bag I also carry a liter of water (bought at the airport, after security inspection) and some snacks.

You’ll want at least one book to read on the flight; Your tickets, booking confirmations, traveler’s checks, list of phone numbers, spare glasses, and medications should be placed in a waterproof bag in your carry-on baggage that you want to hold more tightly.

Remember that you can buy more books, extra batteries, memory cards, video tapes or film for your cameras at Wal-Mart or Costco on the island for about the same price as on the mainland and there’s no need to fill your luggage with extras. . If you pack a movie and carry it in your carry-on, be sure to protect it from X-rays.

Plan for your activities: You may be planning to engage in some particular activities while in Hawaii that require specific equipment or clothing; it is better to think about this carefully when packing. If you are going to snorkel, many people intend to save money by bringing their own equipment. This is a false economy if it makes you pay for an extra piece of luggage on the plane. Buying snorkel equipment on the island is quite cheap and renting it is quick, easy and even cheaper. The same can be said for the rental of diving equipment and golf clubs. Activities like hiking and horseback riding require quite a specific wardrobe, but if you plan it correctly, you just need to bring your hiking/riding boots and an extra pants and t-shirt suitable for the activity. If you plan to visit the mountaintops, remember that it can get quite cold, even with snow or rain, so plan and pack accordingly. If you bring boots, I advise you to use them on the plane to save space and weight in your suitcases. As for photography equipment or musical instruments, any expensive or delicate equipment, my philosophy is to never lose them. Never check your cameras, your guitar, your laptop, etc. It is a recipe for loss.

Weather plan: Being tropical, sea level temperatures in Hawaii vary only about 10 degrees between day and night and throughout the year. It’s hot during the day, plan a cool wardrobe. The windward side is generally rainy and “in-country” (mountain) cities can frequently experience afternoon downpours. Afternoons, particularly in the interior of the country, are delightfully cool as there is usually a night or land breeze. With foresight, your wardrobe can cover all of these situations without being bulky, heavy or overdone.

Specific details: Suits in Hawaii are unnecessary; even circuit court judges wear Hawaiian shirts under their robes here. A nice shirt, usually a Hawaiian shirt, and a pair of khaki pants are the wardrobe choice in the best restaurants and nightclubs; everywhere else, it’s shorts and sandals. I would advise a complete wardrobe consisting of a polo style shirt and a couple of Hawaiian shirts, a pair of long khakis and three pairs of shorts, a pair of tank tops or T-shirts; that’s all you need to cover most bases. Women may want to wear a light dress or skirt. Sandals are all you will need or want for footwear (your feet will be HOT), unless you want to wear a pair of sneakers for exercise or walking.

Bring two bathing suits – you’ll be surprised how nice it is to be in the water in the hot tropics, whether you’re cooling off in the pool after a hot day or snorkeling with the turtles and fish every day, so that you will probably want to swim every day. Bathing suits rarely dry out overnight and it is much more pleasant to wear a warm dry suit than a cold wet one.

If you plan on horseback riding or exploring the higher elevations such as Hawaii Volcanoes National Park or Mauna Kea, be sure to bring some jeans and hiking shoes, a warm sweater, and a light rain/windbreaker jacket as well. A compact traveler’s umbrella is always a good idea.

Don’t forget to pack your toiletries and personal items; I used to carry these with me, in case of lost luggage, but restrictions on liquids, gels and razors make this impractical. Medicines, of course, go in hand luggage. Sunblock, sunhat, sunglasses and sunburn cream (I use an aloe gel) will make your holiday more restful, but can be bought locally cheaply if you don’t have enough space for they.

Just as an aside, there are two things to keep in mind when you’re in Hawaii: if you start to get thirsty, you’ve waited too long to get a drink of water; If you start to feel the sun, you’ve waited too long to put on sunscreen. Drink more water than you think you need, apply sunscreen before you go outside, and reapply more often than you think you need to. Your body is used to more moderate climates and will not warn you of danger in time.

Many people plan ahead by leaving ample space to bring souvenirs and gifts; the modern restriction on the number of pieces of luggage allowed makes this impractical. Instead, I spend the month before my trip going through my wardrobe, picking up a very nice set of clothes and the rest of the clothes I take are items destined for the thrift store. So I just drop them off at the end of my stay and therefore have more than enough room in my luggage for everything I buy. Remember that the US Post Office sells prepaid, fixed rate, specified shipping weight boxes at very cheap rates. Order “Flat Rate Shipping Boxes” and send those gifts home safely, cheaply, and with no hassle on your part.