Water shoes?

[cgattis]

I went with flip flops only, skipped the water shoes, didn't have a problem. Drives me nuts when I see tourists with water shoes walking on the coral. That is not ok to do, it kills the coral! No water shoes will remove the temptation.

Bring a floatation device out with you in the water if you can't swim the whole time. Yes, there are maybe some spots when walking into the water that water shoes will help, but I didn't have a problem with that at Aulani or Turtle beach. Flip flops were fine walking around the pool and to the beach.

If you insist on the water shoes, please remember to be careful what you walk on.

Good reminder--thanks! Any recommendation on a good packable flotation device? Was thinking of the horse collar type they have at Castaway Cay. A little concerned about snorkeling in open water on our own (like not on an excursion) with me and two kids--DH is not a swimmer and I'm not confident I could get DS out of trouble on my own :/. I think DD would be fine, but something found always happen (to anybody).

 

[rnorwo1]

I went with flip flops only, skipped the water shoes, didn't have a problem. Drives me nuts when I see tourists with water shoes walking on the coral. That is not ok to do, it kills the coral! No water shoes will remove the temptation.

Bring a floatation device out with you in the water if you can't swim the whole time. Yes, there are maybe some spots when walking into the water that water shoes will help, but I didn't have a problem with that at Aulani or Turtle beach. Flip flops were fine walking around the pool and to the beach.

If you insist on the water shoes, please remember to be careful what you walk on.

Shoes or no-shoes, don't touch the coral!

I agree, the Aulani cove was very easy on the feet. Paradise cove has a lot of rocks on the sides, and my kids wanted to climb on them, so the water shoes were helpful there, for the slipperiness and the jagged edges; but, just walking from the beach into the water is fine barefoot. My kids also didn't wear them around the pools, even though the concrete became very hot. My nephew never took his off, though.

The north shore beaches were absolutely brutal. At one point I took my shoes off, and I had to send DH back to get them, I couldn't move in any direction after a few minutes.

So, if you're staying around Aulani, don't worry about them, but if you're going to other beaches, I wouldn't risk not having them.

 

[lmb80129]

Just got home yesterday. Sometimes it was incredibly hot others just comfortable. HOWEVER, I would recommend them for slippage issues. The rocks and walkways are INCREDIBLY SLIPPERY, I almost went down several times and that was while I was being super vigilant. I took very small steps but if you are wet, or the ground is wet it is very much a slipping hazard. And I would recommed the shoe type water shoes, not flip flops.

I totally agree with warning others about the slippery pool deck!!! We were caught out in the rain at the pool and I slipped down 4 steps when barefoot. Never had a problem with flip flops or water shoes.

 

[brimorga]

Good reminder--thanks! Any recommendation on a good packable flotation device? Was thinking of the horse collar type they have at Castaway Cay. A little concerned about snorkeling in open water on our own (like not on an excursion) with me and two kids--DH is not a swimmer and I'm not confident I could get DS out of trouble on my own :/. I think DD would be fine, but something found always happen (to anybody).

Aulani has free life vests for the kids they will give out at the towel stations, so if that works for you, you don't have to pack your own.

 

[cgattis]

Aulani has free life vests for the kids they will give out at the towel stations, so if that works for you, you don't have to pack your own.

I was thinking of when we are outbox our own, like Hanauma Bay. But at Aulani, I assume you have to use their vests if you use one, and their tubes for the lazy river?