I visited Hawaii twice last year. Here are 4 things I'm glad I packed and 2 things I wish I'd left at home.

After two trips to Hawaii, I learned what I needed to pack and what I could've left at home.
Polarized sunglasses, good walking shoes, and reef-safe sunscreen are essentials.
However, looking back, I didn't need to bring my own snorkeling gear.

Last year, my husband and I decided to celebrate his birthday in Hawaii.

We fell in love with Maui's natural beauty and endless beaches, and a few short months later, found ourselves returning to the state to spend time in Kona on the Big Island, where the laid-back atmosphere enchanted us.

I spent a decent amount of time before we left for Maui strategically planning what to bring, and then used the lessons from that trip to streamline the packing for our stay in Kona.

Here are four things I'm glad I packed and two I wish I'd left at home.

Polarized sunglasses were good to have.

A pair of sunglasses and a case near a pool.

As someone who lives in Phoenix, I always have a pair of sunglasses with me. Knowing we'd be spending a lot of time outside in Hawaii, I wisely chose to bring my pair with polarized lenses.

Unlike my cheaper, everyday sunglasses, these help protect my eyes from glare from reflective surfaces, which was especially helpful when swimming or looking out across the ocean. They also help reduce eye strain.

It was the right swap, and the quality of the lenses meant that the colors and hues of Hawaii weren't diminished when I wore them.

I'm glad I brought a small beach bag.

A small striped beach bag on a chair near a pool.

I wanted something that could help me carry a few things down to the beach or pool without taking up a ton of space in my luggage. So, I brought a smaller, non-traditional beach bag with me.

Without a stiff bottom, I could easily roll it up into my suitcase. The bag itself still fit all the essentials and easily doubled as my purse when we were out and about.

Comfortable shoes made exploring easy.

A pair of white sneakers next to a pool.

Naturally, I had sandals and flip-flops stuffed into my bag, but I made sure to bring one pair of comfortable sneakers too.

They were my go-to each day, and I found it easy to go on hikes and explore around volcanic rocks in them.

In my opinion, one of the best parts of visiting Hawaii is exploring on foot, and coming prepared with the right footwear really helped.

Reef-safe sunscreen helped me to be a responsible tourist.

Hawaiian law prohibits the sale and distribution of sunscreens that contain oxybenzone and octinoxate, which are damaging to reefs.

So, all travelers are asked to use only reef-safe sunscreen, which is the type sold locally on the islands.

By doing some light research, I was able to find an acceptable reef-safe brand, Raw Love, and stocked up on TSA-approved sizes for our carry-ons.

However, I really didn't need to bring snorkeling equipment.

Snorkeling equipment on a chair near a pool.

I'm not usually a fan of checking luggage, but for our trip to Maui, we chose to bring a checked bag for our snorkeling gear. But in the end, the equipment was never used.

We were so busy exploring the island that we didn't spend time snorkeling at the numerous beaches while driving around Maui. Plus, our time in the ocean was spent at the resort, where snorkel sets were provided by the hotel.

In the future, this gear will only come with us if we plan some dedicated off-property snorkeling time in advance.

Looking back, I brought too many swimsuits with me.

A pink bathing suit and a blue towel on a chair near a pool.

Maui felt like the perfect place to debut several new swimsuits, especially because I'd be in the water so frequently.

In reality, though, I found myself consistently choosing my favorite (and most practical) swimsuit almost every time. I just hung it out to dry every evening to ensure it was ready for the next day.

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