I line the cooler with newspaper with enough to cover the top of the goods when packed. So I switched to hard freezer packs which work really well. I used to use dry ice when I was bringing home mostly fresh fish and doing a lot of fishing on Big Island and Maui, but the gas place in Kahului isn't open on some weekends or holidays, and you have to get to the airline checkin counter early to fill out special paperwork for the dry ice because of the gas. I then pack it all up to go home so DH and I have island grinds for months to come. During the week, I load up the condo freezer with local fish, steaks, smoke meat, etc. When we travel to Maui, I bring a cooler filled with Trader Joe's goodies and other items that are difficult to get on island for my friend in town. You could bring a small cooler and check it.
