Home » What to Pack for Hawaii in the Winter

What to Pack for Hawaii in the Winter

Hi Cuties,

I hope you all had a beautiful Thanksgiving! I just got back from my vacation to Oahu—I’ve been to Hawaii 3 times before, but this was my first time visiting in the winter instead of spring or early summer. Here in San Diego, I’m wearing mostly deep, rich colors and knee-high boots for the holiday season, but since Hawaii is warm and tropical year-round, I pulled out my summer stash to create bright and breezy looks that fit the island vibes. 

ACTIVEWEAR

Of course, you’ll always want to pack swimsuits and beach cover-ups, but I also highly recommend hiking the beautiful trails on the island, so don’t forget to bring some cute athletic wear as well! I brought these cute sweats, a hoodie (love this mint color one I got right before my trip and it’s on sale for $27!), and pink APL sneakers. Even if you don’t plan on hiking, this look is great for going out to grab breakfast in the morning rain. It can get really windy in Hawaii during the winter, so be sure to have an easy-to-style jacket on hand, like this denim one. I wore this on my flights too. 

COLORS & PRINTS

When in Hawaii, you’re surrounded by vibrant pops of color—from hot pink Hibiscus flowers to dreamy rainbows in the sky—so, I styled my outfits with pastel and neon accessories. Gorgeous, natural destinations like this are also the perfect opportunity to pack exotic prints like this leopard print slip dress or these snakeskin shoes. 

SHOES

I packed two pairs of mules (mostly neutral colors to complement my vibrant outfits), two fancy pairs of heels since I planned to shoot a holiday look while I was there, one pair of sneakers for flights and hiking, and a few flat sandals for beach days, driving and casual looks.

HANDBAGS

I definitely overpacked…I brought 7–8 bags with me in addition to my backpack for flights, but I ended up only using 1 or 2. Lesson learned for next time! Plus, they were all big, structured bags that didn’t fit in my luggage, so I had to carry them in a shopping bag, which ended up being heavy and exhausting to carry. Lesson learned for next time! Only pack a few bags that will go with most looks.

HATS

I always bring a few hats with me to tropical destinations. They not only save the bad hair days, but they also make great props for photoshoots! I never pack them in my suitcase since they tend to get creased—and because my hats are very precious to me. So, I always take a big shopping bag to carry my hats with me on the plane.

I hope these tips are helpful for your next trip to Hawaii! Thanks for stopping by!

xx

Nihan

Photos by: Hiedi Nguyen

Follow:

Looking for Something?