Have you ever been to the beach and seen those families that are struggling to carry numerous beach chairs, a cooler, an umbrella, beach toys that are spilling everywhere, all while screaming at there kids to not running off? Sounds stressful right? Shouldn’t beach days be enjoyable? Growing up in Hawaii I have seen it all! Families yelling at each other when they should be laughing together. I will list the top 9 things that you need for those beach days that you will remember forever.
Recently we had family from the Mainland come and visit us and they gave me the idea of this blog post. Watching them bring a huge bin of toys, a couple coolers, chairs, everything you can imagine. It looked like they were going camping for a couple days instead of chilling at the beach for a couple of hours. So let’s dive in to what you actually need.
#1 Sunscreen (Reef Safe)
I have seen WAY too many tourists looking like lobsters. And WAY too many kids wobbling around with burnt legs and arms. If you’re planning a long beach day please reapply sunscreen to your kiddos. Once isn’t enough. And PLEASE buy REEF SAFE sunscreen. There are chemicals in some sunscreens like avobenzone and oxybenzone, and many more that kill and ruin the reefs. Image what they are doing to your body! Thankfully Hawaii has banned these types of toxic sunscreens but many visitors buy them before even arriving here. So make sure you look at the labels before purchasing. https://amzn.to/4b3dWTa https://amzn.to/3CNVC3w
#2 Snacks, Snacks, and More Snacks
The moment we get to the beach my kids say, “I’m hungry.” Seriously! You couldn’t finish your breakfast I just made you but now you’re hungry? Anyway, the food that you pack doesn’t need to be any fancy Mr. Sub sandwiches. Granola bars, cut up fruit like watermelon, trail mix, just enough for them to snack on until you have your next meal. By doing this then you don’t need to lug around a huge cooler.
#3 Water
Yes your like “duh water.” But you will be surprised how fast you get dehydrated here. Personally we bring our Kangen water. (That’s for a whole other blog post though.) I have personally seen people pass out from dehydration and have had to call an ambulance for them so please just be aware of that. I always make my kids drink water even if they don’t want to.
#4 Blanket/Towels
Our kids know that if they want a towel that they better make sure they grab one for themselves. One towel per person. That’s all you really need. I pack a large blanket that we love to eat our snacks and sit on. That way we don’t get our towels all wet sitting on them. https://amzn.to/41lZh2h
#5 Umbrella (If Its Not Windy)
Please look at the weather outside before you set up your umbrella on the beach. Some of my most crying, laughing moments have been watching people struggle as their umbrella turns inside out from the gust of wind and they are trying to put it back together. Sorry if I was laughing at you. But on a serious note they can be dangerous too. There has been way too many Final Destination moments of umbrellas flying down the beach, when that person should have never put it up. https://amzn.to/40X1fog
#6 A Couple of Toys
A shovel and bucket is my go to. Most of the time my kids are playing with the sticks and rocks they find, digging a giant whole, or playing in the waves. My motto is, “the less you bring, the less you’ll have to clean.”
#7 Wagon
Depending on what beach you go to you cant always bring a wagon. There are many beaches with stairs and hills that would be more of a pain if you brought your wagon with you than not. But if you stumble on a beach that is convenient with a sidewalk or clear path I would say a wagon could be a life savor. You can put your little inside along with all of the previous beach things I talked about. I have gone through my fair share of wagons and I definitely recommend one that has off road tires so you can move through the sand easily. Amazon has great durable ones for sale! Here is one that I recommend. https://amzn.to/3EvtZgn
#8 Polarized Glasses And Or Hat
I should have taken my own advice with the sun glasses growing up, but my young immature self was unaware of how damaging the sun can not only be to your skin but also your eyes. I highly recommend polarized glasses because the reef is even more magical looking. Our favorite brand is Maui Jims. They are pricey but absolutely worth it! These are my go too! https://amzn.to/3Evus27 And for all of you moms out there worried about wrinkles and aging (I know I am) a hat is a must. Protect that beautiful face of yours.
#9 Respect
Definition: A feeling of deep admiration for someone or something elicited by their abilities, qualities, or achievements.
I ask you kindly to please show the aloha spirit while you are here visiting. There is a long history here that everyone should be enlightened on. It’s a beautiful place that should be respected and appreciated. Mahalo!
