Walk along any Gulf Coast beach and you'll spot people who have figured out the secret to all-day comfort: a good pair of sandals. For a lot of our customers, those sandals say OluKai. Here's a closer look at the island-inspired brand and why it has earned a spot on our shelves.
Comfort + Ocean: What "OluKai" Means
The name comes from two Hawaiian words: olu (comfort) and kai (ocean). It's pronounced "oh-loo-k-eye." The name sums up the brand's mission: footwear that blends comfort and craftsmanship with life in and around the water.
OluKai's story began in 2005. Inspired by the Hawaiian islands, the company set out to make the best footwear for people who live and play by the water, sandals and shoes you could wear from the beach to dinner.
Built on ʻOhana, Aloha and Quality
OluKai describes three core values that guide everything it does:
- ʻOhana (family): valuing the connections that unite people and building community.
- Aloha: which OluKai describes as the "breath of life," a commitment to selfless giving and care.
- Quality: careful material choices and attention to detail from the first sketch to the finished pair.
OluKai is also a Certified B Corporation, a certification that formalizes a company's commitment to responsible business practices.
Giving Back: The Ama OluKai Foundation
In 2014, OluKai founded the Ama OluKai Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Hawaiʻi that partners with grassroots organizations to preserve Hawaiian culture, land and ocean. The name has a lovely meaning. In Polynesian tradition, the ama is the float on an outrigger canoe that gives it balance and support, and the foundation aims to play that role for the Hawaiian community.
The Drop-In Heel: OluKai's Signature Feature
In the islands, people kick off their shoes at the door. OluKai turned that habit into its patented Drop-In Heel®, a durable, collapsible heel built into many of its sneakers and shoes. Wear them as a regular shoe, or fold the heel down and slide in hands-free like a slip-on.
It comes in handy more often than you'd think: hauling chairs and coolers back from the beach, stepping out to the lanai, or hopping on and off the boat. You can try it in the Men's Nohea Moku No Tie Boat Shoes, which pair the Drop-In Heel with a breathable mesh upper, elastic no-tie laces, drainage ports and razor-siped rubber for traction on wet surfaces.
Sandals Made for Sand, Salt and Wet Decks
What our customers notice first is the footbed. OluKai talks about a "wet sand" philosophy: footwear that supports your foot the way damp sand does. Many of its sandals combine a compression-molded, anatomical footbed with water-resistant straps and non-marking rubber outsoles siped for traction on wet surfaces. That's a big deal on slick pool decks and boat docks.
Here are a few favorites we carry:
- Women's ʻOhana Beach Sandals and Men's ʻOhana Beach Sandals: the everyday classic, with water-resistant straps, a quick-drying jersey-knit lining and a soft nylon toe post.
- Women's Hoʻopio Beach Sandal: a lower-profile sandal with an anatomical footbed and an ocean-current-inspired traction pattern.
- Men's ʻUlele Beach Sandals: laser-cut straps and a "Wet Grip Rubber" outsole.
- Men's Tuahine Leather Beach Sandals: full-grain leather straps for a dressier beach-to-dinner look.
- Men's Nalu Slide Sandals: an adjustable slide with a hook-and-loop strap for easy on and off.
- …and more in our full OluKai collection.
Reef or OluKai?
We carry both, and it's one of the most common questions we hear at the sandal wall. Both make quality beach footwear. The right pick comes down to how you'll wear them:
- Choose OluKai if you want a sculpted, anatomical footbed for all-day walking, premium materials like full-grain leather, and a sandal that looks just as good at dinner as it does on the sand.
- Choose Reef if you want an easygoing, classic beach flip-flop for quick trips to the water and back.
Plenty of our customers own a pair of each. The easiest way to decide is to try both on in the store and walk around a bit. Browse all of our footwear and more.
Finding Your OluKai Fit
Comfortable footwear starts with the right fit. Here's what OluKai's own help center says about sizing:
- Half size? Size up. OluKai sandals and slippers come in whole sizes only. If you wear a half size, OluKai says sizing up to the next whole size will usually fit best. For example, if you wear a 10.5 in shoes, an 11 will likely fit you best in OluKai sandals (OluKai: half-size guidance).
- Width matters. OluKai notes that narrow or wide feet can change how a style fits, and that sandal fit is partly personal preference.
- Check the style's Fit Guide. Every product page on olukai.com has a Fit Guide showing how that style runs in size, width and arch. OluKai's site also lets you filter styles by arch support: low, standard or high.
- Leather needs a little care. OluKai says its leather sandals and shoes are water-resistant, not waterproof, so let leather pairs dry naturally after they get wet.
The easiest way to get it right is still to try a few pairs in person. Our team is happy to help you compare sizes and styles when you stop in.
Complete the Look
OluKai pairs naturally with the rest of a Gulf Coast wardrobe. Match a pair of ʻOhanas with men's volleys, a women's cover-up, polarized sunglasses, a sun hat and more for an easy beach-day uniform. You can also browse all of our footwear, including men's, women's and more.
Try On OluKai at Swim City
There's nothing like feeling that footbed for yourself. Stop by one of our stores to try on OluKai and explore our swimwear, resort wear, accessories and more. Our stores carry far more styles than you'll find online. If your size isn't on the shelf, we can transfer it from another Swim City location (it can take a few days or more), special order it when the brand has it, or ship it to your home. Find your nearest location on our store locator, call 1-800-210-6221, or shop OluKai online.
