Are Slippahs Really Made in Hawaiʻi? The Honest Answer

Short answer: most “Hawaiian” slippah brands are no longer made in Hawaiʻi. Only one of the big names still handcrafts its slippahs in the islands today. We love all these brands, so here is the honest breakdown, brand by brand.

Island Slipper: yes, made in Hawaiʻi

Island Slipper is the real deal. It has handcrafted its sandals at its factory in Pearl City, Oʻahu since 1946, and it is the last slippah brand still making its product in the islands. Their leather and suede pairs are literally cut and assembled by hand in Hawaiʻi. If “made in Hawaiʻi” is the thing you care about most, this is the one. You can browse the lineup on Island Slipper’s Amazon store.

OluKai: born in Hawaiʻi, made overseas

OluKai is a Hawaiʻi born brand with deep island roots and ocean ready design, but its slippahs are manufactured overseas, not in Hawaiʻi. The design soul is local. The factory is not. That does not make them any less comfortable, it just means “made in Hawaiʻi” is not accurate for OluKai.

Scott Hawaiʻi: island brand, overseas factory

Scott Hawaiʻi was founded in Honolulu back in 1932, so the brand history is as local as it gets. Production moved overseas around 2000, so today’s pairs are Hawaiʻi rooted but not island made.

Locals: the iconic look, made abroad

Locals is the blue strap rubber slippah every local grew up in. It is woven into island life, but the slippahs themselves are produced overseas.

So why do we still call them “Hawaiʻi’s favorite”?

Because they are. These four brands are the most loved and recognizable slippahs in the islands, even if only Island Slipper is truly made here. We frame our rankings as Hawaiʻi’s favorite slippah brands, not Hawaiʻi made, so the love is honest and so is the label.

Want to dig deeper? See how the two premium brands stack up in our Island Slipper vs OluKai comparison, check the live brand rankings, or take the slippah finder quiz to get matched to your pair.