Aloha Reader!

I just got back from two weeks in Hawaii — Oahu and Maui — with my 12-year-old, and I'm still in that phase where I'm unpacking my bag and thinking "yes, glad I brought that" and "ok, never packing that again."

So while it's fresh, here's what actually made the trip better.

The tripod

This was my best decision. Traveling solo with my son means either asking strangers to take our photo (hit or miss) or handing the phone to a 12-year-old who will absolutely find a weird angle or photo bomb you. The tripod I brought is small, fits in my bag, and I used it almost every day. If you ever want a photo of yourself in Hawaii that isn't a selfie, bring one. Shop the tripod I used →​

Phone lanyards for activities

We went ziplining on Maui and I was so relieved I had thought to bring these. They're inexpensive, barely take up any space, and completely solve the "what do I do with my phone during this activity" problem. I also used mine on the boat for whale watching. Get them here →​

Sun Bum sunscreen

I know sunscreen is sunscreen, but this one smells like a banana and it just puts me in a good mood every time I put it on. We went through almost a whole bottle. It's reef-safe, which matters especially in Hawaii, and my son didn't complain about it once, which honestly is its own endorsement. Find it here →​

The wetsuit

Okay, hear me out. February in Hawaii is not summer in Hawaii. The water was chilly enough that my son wore his 2mm neoprene wetsuit on several days — and he was way more comfortable than the kids who were just dealing with it. We bring this on all our winter trips to warm-water destinations now. If you're going for spring break, pack one for your kids. This is the one we have →​

My Aloha Collection bag

I have been bringing this bag to Hawaii for years and I will never stop. The sand just falls right off it, it's water resistant, and it looks cute. I used it as my beach bag, my day bag, my farmers market bag. It does everything. Shop Aloha Collection →​

A wool base layer — yes, really

I know this sounds counterintuitive, but airplane cabins are cold and I refuse to pack a bulky sweatshirt just for the flight. This merino base layer takes up almost no space in my bag, kept me warm both ways, and I wore it a couple of evenings when it got breezy. It's also perfect if you're doing Haleakala or Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. If you tend to freeze on planes, this is worth throwing in. Here's the one I use →​

Comfortable sandals that go everywhere

I packed "nice" sandals for going out to dinner. I wore my FitFlops literally everywhere instead — to nice-ish restaurants, on the beach, to the farmers market, walking around Lahaina. They're supportive enough that my feet didn't hurt after long days, and I just didn't feel like changing shoes. These are the ones I have. Shop FitFlops →​

That's my honest list from this trip. Nothing on here is glamorous but all of it made things easier...and that's kind of the whole point.

If you're heading to Hawaii for spring break or starting to think about summer, my packing approach has shifted a lot now that I'm traveling with a tween versus a little kid. Happy to share more if you're in a similar stage. And if you're still working through the bigger questions (which island, how many days, where to stay) that's exactly what I help families sort out in a consultation. You can learn more and book a time here.

Talk soon,

Marcie