What To Wear in Maui + 8 Chic Outfit Ideas & Printable Packing List

Headed to on a Hawaiian beach vacation? Here’s what to wear in Maui for style, function, and comfort, so you can enjoy your beautiful time there!

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image of a woman standing on the beach wearing linen flowy pants and a cropped linen top, and a sun hat — photo: @kelsey_diprima

What should I pack to go to Maui?

I’m not exaggerating when I say that Maui is my favorite place on earth. I’m currently preparing for my 7th trip to this island of paradise so I’ve got a lot of experience in the area of “what to wear in Maui”.

Over the years I’ve been able to formulate a great travel packing list based on what I think is a versatile combination of clothing and accessories for a one or two week trip to the island.

The only specific pieces of clothing (and accessories) I did not include in the graphic below is workout/hiking attire and footwear and rainy weather attire (oh, and underwear/pyjamas, because… I’ll leave that up to you!).

These items can absolutely be added in if you plan on being active on your trip (or plan to stay in the more rainy Kapalua area) and I’ve included them in the printable packing list you can find at the end of the post.

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(alternate cotton shirt dress)

What To Wear in Maui

If you’ve never been to Maui here are a few things you should know that will help you when you are packing.

The weather is most often warm to hot with breezy trade-winds
It’s humid, so you want to go with light, airy, breathable fabrics
The temperature gets a touch cooler at night so layers are a good choice
Rain comes and goes, especially in the northern parts of the island so a light rain jacket is handy to have
The island vibe is generally casual (unless you are staying at a luxury resort)

image of a woman on a beach wearing a white swimsuit, white button up shirt, and sun hat — photo: @juliaberolzheimer

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The Maui Packing List

Now that you know some details about Maui climate and vibe, here are the clothing items I recommend you pack. You can make adjustments to this list according to your own style and preferences – there are no set rules!

Oversized button down shirt (white, striped, or neutral) – this is the perfect layer, it’s great as a beach cover-up or layered over a dress and tied cropped at the waist.
(2) Neutral tank tops – perfect for pairing with shorts, skirts, and flowy pants, and can be easily dressed up or dressed down.
Lightweight slip dress (or body-con dress) – an easy beach cover-up or it can be dressed up with some jewelry and worn to a nice dinner out in the evening.
Gauze cotton shirt dress – this is perfect for a beach cover-up, wearing out and about to brunch, lunch, or exploring, or it can be dressed up for a nice evening.
Neutral or floral midi dress – a pretty flowy dress is perfect for a day of checking out the nice resorts or a dinner date out. Go with a pretty print or stick with black or white.
Lightweight knit sweater – a perfect layering piece that can be worn over shorts, pants, or a dress in the evening or put over a swimsuit if it gets cooler at the beach.
(2) Swimsuits – self-explanatory!

image of a woman standing on a sandy beach in front of a lounge chair wearing linen smocked pants and a bikini top

image of a woman wearing a black sun dress holding a large round straw beach tote

image of a woman with long brown hair wearing a white t-shirt, brown paperbag shorts, and a small straw tote bag

photos: @neutrallyashlan, @hannahcrosskey, @un-fancy

(2) Pairs linen or cotton shorts – neutral shorts made from linen or cotton are great as they can easily be dressed up or down depending on the activities of the day.
Denim shorts – great for exploring the island, heading to the beach, or taking the road to Hana!
Lightweight linen or cotton pants – another versatile piece for the beach, or to wear out during the day or evening.
Black sarong – perfect for the beach of course, but you can double this as a skirt with a neutral tank top and some jewelry for an evening out browsing main street Lahaina.
Airy blouse – a dressed up top is great to have and can be paired with shorts or pants for shopping, exploring resorts, or going out for lunch or dinner
Linen camisole – a lightweight linen tank is another great option for a top to wear for the beach or when out exploring.
Woven beach tote – go with a tote that is a little nicer and use it for practically any occasion!

Jewelry – I recommend avoiding expensive jewelry that can get stolen and or fall off in the pool/ocean, rather stick with simple pieces to dress up an outfit, and make sure they are tarnish resistant as there’s always humidity and moisture in Maui!
(2-3) Sandals – a few pairs of sandals; dressy, casual, and waterproof (for pools/pool bathrooms) are always a good idea.
Sun hat – Necessary for that sun protection, and can be stylish too! I love a good straw sun hat, but you can also bring a visor, baseball cap, or any other style hat you prefer.
Sunglasses

image of a blonde woman sitting on a sandy beach wearing a knit sweater and white shorts — photo: @fakander

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More Items To Consider

Depending on the activities you plan on doing while in Maui you may want to add this additional items to your suitcase to wear.

Rash-guard – a perfect addition for snorkelling, scuba, or surfing.
Spandex biking shorts – to wear hiking, running, or for a walk to get coffee in the morning.
Running shorts – same as above.
Sport tank tops – for hiking, exercising, or similar activities.
Sweatshirt or hoodie – if you head inland, or up to the Haleakala crater (incredible views!) the temperatures drop quite a bit, so you’ll want warmer layers. Also great for flights.
Leggings – same as above.
Hiking or running shoes (or sandals)
Baseball cap
Rain jacket

image of a woman sitting on a beach from the back wearing a flowy white shirt and a sun hat — photo: source unknown

If you are going to a fine dining restaurant for dinner you can wear a dress with sandals, layered with a light knit sweater like look #8, or glam it up with a look like #3. For a more casual dinner, you can easily wear a nice pair of shorts, sandals, and a pretty top with added jewelry.

Aside from luxury hotels and fine dining establishments, it’s unlikely to find a dress code in Maui, and usually you are always safe with something along the lines of “business casual”.

As I mentioned earlier, in the evenings it can cool off a little in Maui, especially if you are heading inland or are sitting by the ocean getting a breeze.

Light knit sweaters or cardigans, a light shawl, or even a denim jacket can be helpful to add warmth.If you like to take evening walks, pack along some leggings and a sweatshirt just to be safe.

I hope you feel equipped for what to wear in Maui and are excited for your trip. Be sure to download the Maui Packing List below to help you on your way!