OluKai Hawaiian-Inspired Footwear: Ho‘opio Sandals

This post may contain affiliate links. The Review Wire may collect a share of sales if you decide to shop from them. Please see my full disclosure policy for details.

We wanted to create footwear that combines durability for the waterman, ocean lifestyle, and a brand that has strong values and roots with style, comfort, and craftsmanship. – OluKai

I recently discovered OluKai shoes and sandals for men, women and kids, that are inspired by the Hawaiian lifestyle, and just in time for summer too! At OluKai, you will find two basic types of shoes, Mauka (towards the land) and Makai (towards the sea). The Makai shoes are made to be water friendly and are made of all synthetic material, no animal products. Makau products are generally closed toe and are predominately made with leather, however, they do have Makau closed toe styles that use canvas or twill and that are 100% synthetic.

You will find that when you are looking at the shoes, OluKai names each of them with Polynesian words. Naming the products with Hawaiian words is their small way of spreading and preserving the culture for future generations.

I received the Ho‘opio Leather Sandal in bronze and dark java (MSRP $75). The word Ho‘opio (ho-oh-pee-oh) translation means, To Act Young, Refresh, and Rejuvenate. These will go with just about any summer outfit! The rubber sole is thin yet comfortable.

This style is also available in several other colors: silver/charcoal, copper/dark java, bubbly/mustang, onyx/black, pearl/black and midnight/trench blue. Which color would you choose?

Since the rubber is a natural and synthetic combination that will not leave marks or ‘scuffs’ on surfaces of any type. At the core of all the footwear is an anatomical footbed; a biomechanically engineered shape that supports and positions your entire foot naturally, making them comfortable to wear!