Hi friends and happy Saturday! As you’re reading this I’m officially arriving in Hawaii! It’s my first time visiting and it’s been on my list FOREVER. Not so much for the pretty beaches and fresh poké, but actually because two of my friends from Oregon in high school now live there. Okay but I really did want to see all the beaches and eat all the poke too. but one friend just had a baby a little over 2 months ago. I was invited to the wedding, never made it. Invited to the baby shower, couldn’t go. But thankfully my travel buddy who you’ve seen before, Kristin, had a work trip here so we’ve extended it and plan to do some exploring!
First up, The Big Island. We’re not here for very long, but we did manage to pack a full day in tomorrow to tour the volcanos. Then we head to Maui, where my girlfriends live, for about 5 days. I’m excited to really relax here and take in some sunshine. It’s been nice shopping for warm weather clothing versus our Vermont trip which was all sweaters, socks and layers. Not as fun, trust me. Be sure to follow the fun with me on Instagram and Stories. I’ll be saving all my trip stories to my Instagram Highlights as well. I plan to take the week off of blogging this week so I can enjoy the vacation as much as possible.
PS Here’s what I packed!
What to Pack For Hawaii
Swimsuits & Coverups
I mean, if I’m not living in a swimsuit this trip I’m going to be pissed. I did pick up a new one piece that I’m pretty excited about but am definitely pulling from my giant stash of bikinis too.
Sandals & Wedges
Yes I’m bringing these lace up sandals with me because they’re probably the best sandal I ever purchased. How they’re still in one piece is beyond me. I also picked up some new white slides and a blush espadrille from Marc Fisher.
Easy Dresses
I plan on wearing one of two things in Hawaii, dresses or denim cut offs with flowy tops. I think dresses will be great for heading to dinner in and can’t wait to show off some tan legs! PS see how I styled this one while on the island!
The Best Shorts
I’m denim short obsessed you guys. Last summer I picked up some new BLANK NYC shorts that were a game changer. Under $100, fit great and are so soft. I also added these James Jeans white shorts to my closet because my white ones from last year didn’t really make it through Coachella.
Beach Essentials
A new beach tote, water bottle and sunglasses are a must for hitting the pool and beach in style. Plus, I bought the book Sharp Objects over the holidays and haven’t made it through chapter one yet. Determined to do some beachside reading.
Beach Beauty
You know I’m all about the sun protection! When thinking of what to pack for Hawaii I couldn’t leave this important category out. I’m packing all of the sunscreen products I have and easy beauty products that won’t weigh me down.
Adventure Essentials
Since we’re doing a 12 hour volcano hike, I had to really get serious about what I’d wear. I’ve gone on lame hikes, basically, nature walks, with my friends before. But I never had any proper attire. Hiking shoes are recommended for this day so I decided to finally get myself a pair. For under $60, these Adidas were a solid choice. I also picked up this North Face backpack which is lightweight and just the right size for the essentials.
Photo via Elanaloo (PS I’m obsessed with her blog be sure to give her a follow!)