Can you go barefoot in Hawaii?

While it is very common on the Hawaiian Islands to go barefoot or wear flip-flops (locals call them slippers), you should never spend the day at the Polynesian Cultural Center or any of the many outdoor activities across our island without the proper footwear. Make sure you wear some good walking shoes or sneakers!



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Most travelers to Hawaii don't need to bring hiking boots. As long as you're planning to do just short day hikes, you can wear sneakers. If you're planning to hike more than 4-5 miles, it's worth packing hiking boots and wool socks.

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Socks. Speaking of shoes, not every shoe will leave your toes out to greet the warm Hawaii sands. So for those closed-toes shoes, pack a daily pair of socks, and you'll be good to go.

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Flip-flops should be fine, regardless of where you will go in Hawaii. In fact, some high-end restaurants will allow guests to wear a pair of flip-flops. But some restaurants have dress codes, so it is best to call in advance to find out the most suitable clothing to wear when going for a fancy dinner.

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Pack versatile clothing that you can mix and match, and dress up and down. Leave your denim at home! Denim feels so hot and bulky in the tropics. You will be much more comfortable in cotton or linen shorts or pants.

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Hawaii itself is around 80 degrees year-round so you likely won't need these to wear there, except for maybe at night. Every single indoor place in Hawaii is air conditioned excessively which is why sometimes jeans are helpful!

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Our top 5 no-nos include things like honking in traffic, keeping your shoes on in someone's house and wearing a suit to work. I know, the “no suits” rule may be something you'll have to get used to if you're moving here, but people really only wear aloha shirts here.

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Dress for Success
  1. Hawaiian/Aloha shirts.
  2. Board shorts.
  3. Loose-fitting pants or shorts.
  4. Comfortable shoes like sandals or flip flops.
  5. Colorful sundresses.
  6. Muumuu dresses.
  7. Tank tops.
  8. Pa'u hula skirts.


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Aloha attire for women : Slacks and a blouse are great as well as an aloha-style dress and sandals. Aloha attire for men: Aloha shirts (obviously) with either loose fitting pants (think linen or cotton) or tasteful length shorts. Polo shirts are also great.

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For nice dinners or going out in the evening wear a nice flip flop, dressy sandal, or casual but nice tennis shoe (men). If you are doing any sort of activity like hiking (including small treks to beaches surrounded by lava), you will want to have 1 versatile hiking/water shoe.

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RESTRICTED OR PROHIBITED ITEMS:
  • Pineapple and bromeliad plants and fruits.
  • Passion fruit plants and seeds.
  • Cruciferous root vegetables (radish, turnip, daikon, horseradish, rutabaga)
  • Corn on the cob.
  • Citrus and pulpy fruits from Florida & Puerto Rico.
  • Taro and dasheen.
  • Coconuts.


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While it is very common on the Hawaiian Islands to go barefoot or wear flip-flops (locals call them slippers), you should never spend the day at the Polynesian Cultural Center or any of the many outdoor activities across our island without the proper footwear. Make sure you wear some good walking shoes or sneakers!

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Flip flops or sandals are island-casual. You'll see all the locals wearing these around town, on the beach, and out to dinner. They're easy to slip on and off, and most importantly, they let all that Hawaiian beach sand just slide right out.

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There does not currently appear to be a strong sentiment among Native Hawaiians that the shirt should not be worn by non-Hawaiian people. This is likely because a Hawaiian shirt isn't a religious or historically ceremonial item of clothing. Therefore, it's usually okay to wear a Hawaiian shirt.

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Long sleeves | A long-sleeved top, track jacket or popover will keep you warm in places like Upcountry Maui or on early morning hikes. Rain jacket | Throw on a rain jacket or windbreaker if you're visiting in the wet season. These can also come in handy on windy boat rides.

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15 Essential Items to Pack for Your Vacation to Hawaii
  • Travel Documents: Keep Important Documents Together. ...
  • Comfortable Summer Clothes: Dress for Warm Weather. ...
  • Dress-Up Clothes. ...
  • Beach Gear. ...
  • Comfortable Shoes. ...
  • Toiletries. ...
  • Rain Gear. ...
  • Sun Protection.


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In alignment with TSA's Security Directive, as of April 18, 2022, face masks are now optional for our guests and employees onboard Hawaiian Airlines flights and at most U.S. airports we serve.

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Lightweight Rain Jacket: Of course, you can always buy one of those plastic parkas at the local drugstore, but those never seem to do the trick of keeping you dry. Bring something lightweight that is waterproof and can easily be thrown over your outfit to keep you dry.

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