Traveling to Hawaii? "Mahalo For Removing Your Shoes!"

Mahalo (thank you in Hawaiian), for removing your shoes is often posted on a lot of Hawaii residents homes just outside their front door. Craftspeople wisely take advantage of this opportunity by making signs out of tiles or wood and other materials. Plaques saying "Mahalo For Removing Your Shoes" are for sale all over the Hawaiian Islands.

A real no no in Hawaii! Never ever go into someone's home in Hawaii wearing your shoes! I don't care if they have dirt floors.. It is a matter of respect and honor.

One thing that we all hope for when we travel is that we don't 'look' like a tourist, at least I do. In Hawaii the idea is to 'dress down', especially in the shoe department.

It is a tradition in many cultures to not enter someone's home with your shoes on. This is the case in Hawaii as well. Locals usually just wear flip flops or thongs.. commonly called slippers or slippas in Hawaii, one reason being they are easy to take off.

Unless you plan to hike or dine out in a posh restaurant in Hawaii...

wear slippas!

Slippas are easy to remove when and if you meet up with a Hawaii resident and are invited to their home for a little 'Ono Grinds' (yummy food) and some 'Wala' au' (talk story another term used in Hawaii that means to have the gift of gab with each other, share adventures and thoughts).

NEVER, ever, enter someone's home in Hawaii without removing your shoes first, not even if they have dirt floors. Ya just wouldn't do that out of respect for their home and person. Normally you will see a whole slew of shoes and slippas outside the door of Hawaiian residents. It is pretty darn cute.

You can find "Locals" or "Surfahs" brand names for the most hip, yet cheap (under $5.00 normally) at a lot of grocery stores even, all over Hawaii. Ya might want to go ahead and wait till you arrive to purchase what the locals wear, yeah? Make your first stop at the local grocery store or quick stop.. too funny huh?

Whatever ya do, unless you have extreme athletes feet or something, don't wear shoes and socks, that is a dead giveaway that you are from the midwest and your aim it to fit in right?

Aloha! A word that can never be said too much in Hawaii.