Out of all the questions we get, “What should I wear on tour?” is one of the most common. And for good reason! If you’re heading to Hana or Haleakala for the first time, you may not know what to expect, and you want to be prepared! No worries; we got you! Below, you’ll find a guide on what to wear and bring along for every tour.
Hana Picnic, Hana Ultimate, Hana Cave-Quest, Hana Sky-Trek
For all four of our Hana tours, our recommendations are pretty much the same: dress in comfortable clothing, and wear good shoes for walking in the rainforest. Your clothing should allow for freedom of movement, because even though we’re not a hiking company, you can expect to traverse some uneven terrain, or even more if you’re adventurous! The weather in East Maui is similar to the rest of Maui, but can be a few degrees cooler, so you might want to bring a light sweatshirt or jacket, just in case. You can definitely expect rain, so a rain jacket would be ideal, but we provide premium umbrellas on every tour.
Lava rocks, vines, dirt, and roots are all part of the landscape while you’re exploring the road to Hana, so you’ll want shoes that are up to the challenge. We recommend tennis shoes or sneakers, but athletic-type sandals are also a good option, as long as they have a covered toe, and a good amount of tread. If you plan on swimming while on tour, bring a swimsuit and towel along in a beach bag—there are places to change at the swimming stops.
For the Hana Ultimate, you will be dining at the upscale Ka’uiki Dining Room at the Travaasa Hana. While the dining room doesn’t have a strict dress code, you’ll probably feel comfortable in casual clothes, rather than just a beach cover-up. T-shirt, shorts, and sneakers are perfect.
For the Hana Sky-Trek, you’ll be taking lots of pictures out of the windows of the helicopter, so wearing a bright white shirt isn’t your best bet. Black or navy blue makes for much less glare in your photos!
We probably don’t have to tell you, but the name of the game for a Haleakala Sunrise is staying warm. The temperature at the 10,023-foot Summit changes seasonally, but before sunrise, it’s always pretty chilly. Temperatures can range from the high fifties in the summer months to below-freezing in the winter, but even “warmer” days come with a pretty hefty wind-chill. Our recommendations are long pants (jeans are great, but sweatpants are fine too!), closed-toe shoes, thick socks, and a heavy jacket or light coat. Most people bring a warm hat or earmuffs too, and gloves or socks to warm up chilly fingers. If you have a thick, fuzzy beach towel or a blanket, you might want to bring that along as well– especially if you plan on cuddling up with your partner while watching the amazing show of light and color at dawn.
Summit Lavender Sojourn, Crater & Rainforest, Haleakala Sun-Trek
For these upcountry day tours, you won’t need to bundle up like you would for a sunrise tour, but do plan for slightly cooler weather. For the Summit Lavender Sojourn and the Crater & Rainforest tour, you will be visiting the Summit of Haleakala. While temperatures aren’t as cold as they are before sunrise, it can still get pretty chilly, so we do recommend long pants, closed-toe shoes, and a light jacket. For your visits to the lavender farm and the winery on the Summit Lavender Sojourn, you’ll warm up by walking and exploring in the morning sun, but you may expect some rain or cloud cover on occasion. Your Tour Guide will provide you with an umbrella, if you need one. We definitely recommend closed-toe shoes for the Summit Lavender Sojourn, as it can get dusty at the lavender farm. Bring your ID if you plan on tasting wine during your visit to the winery.
For the Crater & Rainforest tour, you’ll be traveling the Road to Hana as far as Ke’anae Peninsula during the second half of your tour, so expect a shift into warmer, more balmy weather. It’s a good idea to bring a pair of shorts to change into after visiting Haleakala in the morning.
Finally, for the Haleakala Sun-Trek, the same advice for the Hana Sky-Trek applies: wear a dark-colored shirt for photos in the helicopter. For the rest of the day, you’ll be exploring upcountry Maui, so comfortable clothing as well as a light sweater or jacket will serve you perfectly fine. You’ll be doing quite a bit of walking at Ocean Vodka, Surfing Goat Dairy, and in Makawao Town, so comfortable shoes are key for this tour. To participate in the tasting at Ocean Vodka, you’ll need your photo ID to prove that you’re over 21.
On all of our land tours, a small bag that can sit at your feet in the Luxury Limo-Van is perfectly appropriate to carry a sweater, a change of clothes, or anything else you may need during the day. For your Hana Sky-Trek tour, the helicopter company does ask that you limit your carry-on bag to three pounds per person.
As always, please let us know if you have any questions about what to wear, bring, or expect for your tour. We take pride in ensuring a top-notch experience for every guest, and we hope you’re having fun planning for your next Maui adventure tour with us!