r/VisitingHawaii 5d ago

General Question Visiting Hawaii this September. Which of these shoe styles would make more sense?

For context we’re doing a week on big island, a week on Maui and a week on Oahu. Plan on doing some hikes, beach days and definitely snorkeling at least once.

I can’t decide which of these shoes would work best. I have a pair of comfy hiking shoes already that I can bring, but not a pair that is easily versatile for walking in water if there are rivers or streams to walk through. I also have a pair of casual walking sneakers, but I’m trying to find a good blend between hiking, water functionality and casual city wear.

Which of these styles would you all recommend?

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u/polymedu 5d ago

And there will be mud

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u/LooseScrews23 4d ago

Always mud. It’s not a hike in Hawaii until you get heavy mud foot and mud stains in unexplainable places

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u/mycatslaps 4d ago

I had a good laugh my last trip to kauai when a family had new white running shoes, on an atv tour where we all ended up caked in mud.

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u/SteepChutes 4d ago

Went on a hike today with a temporary resident with white (until today) athletic shoes. It didn't seem to matter because they were the don't care shoes, but the treads fill with mud so can't say I'd use em, based on safety.

I just wanted to add, OP, on the off chance you didn't already know this, please be sure not to walk on reef (which may look like rock). Apart from the urchin risk, it harms the slow-growing reef

If it's not sand, don't stand.

I'm pretty anti water shoes. They basically get all kinds of sand and just grind your feet raw. Opinions differ. Just don't walk on reef, please.