OluKai Shoes Review: 6 Styles Tested Over 3 Years (2026)

I live in California and spend most of my vacations on tropical islands, so a brand built around beach-to-town wearability has been on my radar for years. I bought my first pair of OluKais back in late 2022, and I’ve been adding to my collection ever since. 

After three years and six styles across flip flops, slippers, booties, sneakers, and sandals, this OluKai shoes review is an honest look at where the brand gets it right and where it could improve. 

Spoiler, the ‘Ohana flip flops are my clear favorite, and I’m now on my second pair after wearing them all over Kauai last month. 

Disclosure: I paid for the Nohea Slipper and my first pair of Ohanas with my own money. The other shoes featured in this review were gifted by OluKai, but all opinions are my own.

My Favorite Picks From OluKai Right Now

• Most Comfortable Flip Flop: ‘Ohana Flip Flops
• Best Lightweight Sneaker for Tropical Travel: Makiki Athletic Shoes
• Best Nicer Sandal: La’i T Bar Sandal (note: this is the version I’d recommend over the slide style I tested)

What is OluKai?

OluKai is a Hawaiian-inspired footwear brand founded in 2005 that designs shoes, sandals, slippers, and boots built for life near the water. The name itself is Hawaiian, with “Olu” meaning comfort and “Kai” meaning ocean. 

The brand is a Certified B-Corporation and runs the Ama OluKai Foundation, a nonprofit that supports Hawaiian cultural and environmental causes. 

Olukai Shoes Review: My Experience With OluKai Shoes

My first OluKai purchase was the Nohea slipper in November 2022. It was the highest-rated women’s shoe on the site at the time, and I was curious to try it myself. The Nohea didn’t end up being quite my style, but the quality was obvious from the first time I slipped them on.

The ‘Ohana flip flops came next in June 2023, and that pair changed how I think about flip flops entirely. I’d never owned a pair with arch support that I could actually wear for hours. 

I added the Manu Hope booties and Mālua Hulu boots in December 2023, then picked up the Makiki athletic sneakers, La’i Slides, and my second pair of ‘Ohana flip flops in April 2026 ahead of a trip to Kauai

That Kauai trip was a real test for the brand in the environment it was built for. Wet trails, hot and humid weather, beach days, casual dinners, and the Nā Pali Coast hike (Kalalau Trail) all happened in my OluKais. I came home with a clearer sense of what this brand actually does well in the tropics.

‘Ohana Flip Flops

The ‘Ohana is the shoe that first made me a fan of OluKai. I bought my first pair in petal pink a few summers ago, and they were comfortable from the very first time I put them on with no break-in period. 

I’d never owned a flip flop with arch support and proper cushioning before. These feel closer to a supportive sandal than a typical rubber flip flop.

I wore them constantly for two summers until I left them outside during a brutal California heat wave and the base curled up and warped beyond saving. Lesson learned, keep these out of direct heat when you’re not wearing them.

When I started planning my Kauai trip, I knew I needed to replace them, so I ordered the same style in Dark Java. The dark brown goes with everything, and I’m so glad to have my favorite flip flops back. They were on my feet constantly in Hawaii.

On sizing, the ‘Ohana only comes in whole sizes. I’m normally a 10.5 in women’s, and the size 10 fits great, so size down if you’re between sizes.

Makiki All-Terrain Athletic Shoes

I ordered the Makiki athletic shoes specifically for my Kauai trip because I wanted a lightweight sneaker that could handle easy hikes, dry quickly in a tropical climate, and not show every speck of mud. 

I went with the dark Lava Rock color after reading repeatedly that white sneakers and Kauai mud and red dirt were a bad combination. 

I’m usually not a dark sneaker person, but I liked the look of these a lot with their pebbled white soles and the option to swap between white and dark laces (both come with the shoes).

The Makiki is breathable in a way traditional hiking shoes aren’t, which made them much more comfortable in Hawaii’s humidity. The tread on the bottom is also excellent for rocky and muddy paths, and I never felt like I was slipping on uneven trails. 

I took these on the Kalalau Trail in Kauai, which is a 4.5-mile out-and-back hike with a lot of elevation gain and rocky terrain. They held up well overall, but I’d put them somewhere between a casual sneaker and a true athletic shoe. 

There’s moderate arch support, but there’s no ankle support since the design cuts below the ankle, and I felt that by the end of the hike.

In the future, I’d treat them more as a casual sneaker for travel days, exploring, and easy flat hikes than a true athletic shoe for serious hikes. They’re breathable, packable, and lightweight, which makes them ideal for hot climates.

I went up to a size 11 in these and they ended up being big in the toe box, so I probably should’ve sized down to a 10. If you’re between sizes, stick with your normal size or size down if you’re a half size.

La’i Slide Sandal

I chose the La’i Slide for a nicer sandal option for my Hawaii trip that I could use for dinners and a luau.

I had a hard time deciding between this one and the La’i T Bar. I went with the slides because I loved the easy on-and-off design, but in hindsight, the T Bar would have been the better call for my foot shape.

The cushioning is comfortable with its soft footbed underneath, and the bottom has just enough texture for some traction. Sizing down to a 10 worked well for me, and the tan leather was stylish enough for dinners out.

The issue with these ones was the strap design. The straps felt narrow for my average-width feet, dug in a bit, and made my foot feel like it was slipping out regularly from being squeezed by the straps. They were fine for shorter stints, but I wouldn’t choose these for a full day of walking around town.

I wore them for a week in Hawaii in shorter increments, and the leather hadn’t really broken in by the end. It might loosen up over time, but I think the bigger issue is that the strap shape just isn’t right for my foot.

If I were ordering again, I’d go with the La’i T Bar instead. Same cushioning, same traction, same construction, but I think the t-strap would hold my foot more securely and comfortably than the slide design.

Nohea Slipper

The Nohea was my first OluKai purchase, and while it’s a well made slipper, these don’t quite fit my personal aesthetic. 

It’s marketed as an indoor-outdoor slipper, but I’ve only ever worn mine indoors. If you like the look of a structured slipper with some heel support, these are a solid pick. 

The interior is soft and cozy and the quality is good. The footbed feels more supportive than my regular Ugg slippers that I usually wear around the house, so the Noehea is probably better for my feet overall. 

Another thing to note is that the Nohea ran small on me. The size 10 had my toes touching the end of the shoe. If I were ordering again, I’d go up to an 11.

Manu Hope and Mālua Hulu Boots (Discontinued)

I tested two boots from OluKai back in December 2023, the Manu Hope in grey and the Mālua Hulu in tan tapa, both in size 11. 

OluKai has since discontinued their women’s boots line entirely, but the experiences are still worth noting if you find these secondhand or are wondering why OluKai no longer makes boots for women.

The Manu Hope was a hit. They’re casual waterproof booties that I’ve worn for everything from easy Bay Area hikes to yard work, and the waterproofing has held up well. The style is casual without being clunky, and I still grab them from time to time over two years later. 

The Mālua Hulu was the biggest miss out of any OluKai shoes I’ve tried. The interior was cozy and the materials were nice, but the top of the shoe (where you’d usually find a tongue or laces) was stiff and dug into the top of my foot and ankle. They weren’t comfortable at all, and I rarely wore them as a result.

OluKai Sizing Guide

Sizing is the most confusing part of buying OluKai, because it varies by style. One important thing to know upfront is that most of their women’s shoes only come in whole sizes, not half sizes. 

I’m typically a 10.5 in women’s shoes, so I’ve had to make a judgment call on each pair to find the right fit. 

The general pattern across my six pairs is that most styles run a little big, and I’d recommend sizing down for the majority of their shoes. The main exception is closed-toe slippers like the Nohea, which run small.

• Flip flops (‘Ohana): Run slightly large. I’m a 10.5 and the size 10 fits perfectly. Size down.
• Slide sandals (La’i): Run slightly large. I sized down to a 10 and the fit was good beside being a little too narrow for my feet.
• Athletic sneakers (Makiki): Run slightly large. I sized up to an 11 and they were slightly too big. Stick with your normal size or size down.
• Closed-toe slippers (Nohea): Run small. Size up.
• Booties (Manu Hope, Mālua Hulu): Run slightly small. I sized up to an 11 in both and they fit well.

FAQs About OluKai Shoes

Are OluKai shoes good for wide feet?

It depends on the style. The ‘Ohana flip flop accommodates wider feet well. The La’i Slide ran narrow for my average-width feet, and the Nohea slippers also ran slightly narrow. In general, Olukai’s open-toe styles tend to fit a wider range of foot shapes than their closed-toe styles.

Are OluKai shoes good for plantar fasciitis?

I don’t have plantar fasciitis personally, but the arch support across the line is noticeably better than most casual shoe brands. 

The ‘Ohana flip flop in particular is often recommended for foot pain. If you have specific foot issues, look for styles with removable insoles (like the Makiki sneakers) so you can add custom orthotics.

Are OluKai shoes waterproof?

Many styles are water-friendly and quick-drying, including the ‘Ohana flip flop, the Makiki sneaker, and the La’i Slide. 

Some discontinued boot styles like the Manu Hope were marketed as fully waterproof, and OluKai still offers a handful of sandals and shoes that are fully waterproof. 

Is OluKai a Hawaiian brand?

OluKai is Hawaiian-inspired, but it isn’t a Hawaiian-owned or Hawaii-based company. The brand is headquartered in Irvine, California. 

That said, the brand name itself is Hawaiian, their first company-owned stores opened in Honolulu and Lahaina in 2019, and they run a nonprofit that supports Hawaiian cultural and environmental causes. 

So while the headquarters is in California, the brand’s identity, design philosophy, and giving are tied to the islands.

Where are OluKai shoes made?

OluKai is based in California, but its shoes are manufactured overseas, primarily in Vietnam and China. 

Is OluKai a sustainable brand?

Olukai is a Certified B-Corporation, meaning they meet third-party standards for social and environmental performance. 

They source leather from Gold Certified tanneries, partner with the Conservation Alliance, and run the Ama OluKai Foundation, which supports Hawaiian cultural and environmental causes. 

They’re doing more than most footwear brands at this price point, even if their materials still lean heavily on leather and synthetics.

Conclusion: Are OluKai Shoes Worth It?

Yes. Three years and six pairs in, OluKai is one of the few brands I keep coming back to, especially for tropical travel and beachy destinations.

The ‘Ohana flip flops are the most comfortable flip flops I’ve ever owned, and I now pack them for every beach trip. And the Makiki sneakers held up well through my Kauai trip as a lightweight and breathable casual athletic shoe. 

The brand isn’t perfect. Sizing is inconsistent, half sizes are basically nonexistent, and not every style will work for every foot shape. But for what they do well, especially flip flops and tropical-friendly sneakers, OluKai is hard to beat.

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