What to Pack for Oahu with Kids: The Ultimate Family Packing List
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This list contains every possible thing you might need to make your trip to Oahu smooth and relaxing. I have included items from baby age on up, so if something doesn’t apply to you - ignore it. I’ve included items if you plan to spend all day on the beach or if you have reservations to hike up Diamond Head. Items that work great if you are staying at an apartment, but might be unnecessary if you are staying at a luxury resort. So take this list as a starting point and cross things off as you go to make your perfect packing list for your family on your trip to Oahu.
Clothing Essentials:
It is well known that Hawaii is warm, but it is not always as warm as you may think. Definitely bring the short sleeves and shorts, but layers are also a must. It can get chilly on rainy and windy days and especially so once the sun goes down. For Hawaii and beach vacation trips especially, I usually pack one extra days worth of clothes (if we are not planning on doing laundry). There is a lot of changing of clothes throughout the day - in and out of swimsuits or dry clothes after a rain storm or from sweating.
2-3 swimsuits per person, so you don’t have to get back into a cold, wet swimsuit from the day before. Women’s, Girls with rash guard, boys with rash guard
Swim cover-up
Causal dresses, t-shirts, or other lightweight clothes
Quick-dry clothing is a bonus
Shorts or skirts
Lightweight Pajamas
A nicer outfit for dinner or a luau
Socks & underwear
Rain jacket or ponchos
Light sweater and long pants for chillier days and nights
Sandals, flip flops, water shoes or shoes for the beach
Comfortable walking shoes or hiking shoes
Toiletries & basics:
Here is the list of things you need to pack no matter where you are going. This is the list I keep on my phone and add on to customize it to my specific trip I am packing for.
Reusable grocery bags for grocery shopping or collecting dirty laundry
Travel wallet with IDs, credit cards, cash
Toiletries
Toothbrush & toothpaste & floss
Hairbrush & hair ties
Deodorant
Shampoo & Conditioner in travel bottles
Body Wash
Skincare: face wash and moisturizer
Make-up & make-up remover
Razor
Prescription medicines
Contacts & contact solution
Small first aid kit with pain reliever medication for both kids and adults and band-aids.
Travel laundry detergent sheets, stain remover pen
Electronics
Camera & camera charger
GoPro for taking underwater or action videos
Memory cards for cameras
Laptop, tablet, e-reader
Sun Protection:
One thing you will need to be conscious of when picking out your sun protection for your Hawaiian vacation is getting sunscreen that is reef-safe. What does reef-safe mean? Sunscreen is made up of chemicals, some of which can harm the beautiful coral reef and animals that live within them that surround Hawaii. Reef-safe sunscreens are ones that don’t contain those chemicals. Instead they use mineral blockers to reflect back the UV rays. Hawaii has banned sunscreens that have Oxybenzone and Octinoxate. These mineral based sunscreens, typically use Zinc oxide as their active ingredient. There are several places on Oahu where you can swim around coral - like Hanauma Bay or several of the beaches along the North Shore.
Visitors often underestimate how strong the sun is in Hawaii. On our first trip to Maui, my husband was surprised to see a UV index beyond 10. He thought it capped out at 10 since he had never seen a higher number. Most days though ended up being above 10. Severe burns and heat stroke are unforunately common. Even on cloudy days or short 30 minute beach outings, you can get burns.
Face sunscreen - easier to put on kids
Rash guards and UPF swimwear for the whole family - kid sized and adult sized. These work so great and are convenient to minimize the area of the body you need to reapply sunscreen on.
Chapstick with SPF
Aloe vera for the possible burns
Stroller shade
Beach Gear:
It is hard to imagine going to Hawaii and not spending time on the beach. Gone are the days when you show up to the beach with just yourself in a swimsuit and maybe a book to read. Families bring whole wagons full of things to the beach. While you definitely don’t need much as the beach itself can occupy kids for hours - some of these things are nice to have. I am including everything, but feel free to reduce the list to fit your needs. It is also important to note that most Airbnbs or rental properties include beach gear that you can use - including beach chairs, beach toys, towels, etc. Before buying or packing anything, check what your accommodations provide.
Small soft cooler - we used this for taking lunch to the beach and also transporting our groceries between our accommodations when we moved from Waikiki to the North Shore
Wet/dry bags to bring swimsuits back from the beach without getting the rest of your bag wet
Things you can wait to buy or rent in hawaii:
There is an ABC store on nearly every corner of Waikiki that has pretty much ever beach gear you could imagine. If you are already planning on buying a new set of beach toys or inflatables for your trip, just wait to buy them once you get there. ABC stores are generally overpriced but they are quite convenient. You can also buy items at Target or Walmart or Costco or local stores. There are typically also rental stores for larger beach equipment near popular beaches - for things like snorkel, surfing and other equipment. If you are short on luggage space, here are some things that might be worth renting or buying in Hawaii rather than bringing from home.
A good rule of thumb: if it is bulky, inexpensive, or easy to replace - consider buying it there instead of packing. If it is bulky, expensive, don’t already own it and you don’t plan to use it extensively after the trip - consider renting it there.
Beach chairs, umbrellas
Towels
Sand-resistant beach blanket
Boogie boards
Inflatable rings
Swim diapers
Baby powder - removes sand easily
Outdoor Adventure supplies:
Beyond the beaches, Oahu has some incredible outdoor experiences - like hiking up volcanos or beautiful flower filled hikes to waterfalls. Most of which are kid-friendly. These are optional extras if you are planning some ground based adventures like hiking.
Hats & sunglasses - if you weren’t already planning on bringing hats to the beach, I would recommend bringing hats for hiking adventures. Many of the hikes in Oahu have little to no shade.
Small first aid kit
Kid-friendly Travel Items:
Here are the items that will shift and change based on the age of your kids. Thankfully, gone are the days we need a pack-n-play or bottles.
Snacks
Diapers, wipes & portable changing pad
Pacifiers & teethers
Bottles & formula
Stroller fan
Travel & Flight essentials:
Unless you are arriving on a cruise ship, you will need to take a flight to get to Hawaii. Here are some essentials and small toys for the flight portion of your trip.
Tablets with downloaded movies or shows
Coloring books
Crayons
Small figurines
Snack box
Disinfecting wipes
Bag of change of clothes for kids in carry-on
Lightweight blanket
For inspiration on what you should do while you are in Hawaii, visit our article detailing our week long trip to Oahu.
Oahu was easily ranked my kids top places they visited in 2025. Despite not remembering many trips beyond that, it probably would still be their favorite trip they’ve ever taken. Just as importantly, it was also very enjoyable trip for us parents as well. Warm soft sand, calm beaches, spotting giant sea turtles, unique cultural adventures, and short but rewarding hikes. Oahu is an island packed with things to do with short easy drives between them. Below you will find our 7 day itinerary, activities we didn’t get to, and advice on where to stay on the island.