It's a Hawaiian Custom
Here in Hawaii it's customary to remove your shoes before entering someone's home. It's a tradition that came with the Japanese immigrants, and it totally caught on. It is considered very rude to leave your shoes on, unless your host tells you "no need". Hey, most people wear "slippahs" anyway.
Even when I take clients out looking at homes and condos for sale, we are expected to take off our shoes. Keep this in mind when you're on Maui and want to see some properties with your Realtor. Wear some shoes that are easy to slip on and off.
When we travel back to the mainland it's always a little shocking to me to see people just walking right into homes with their boots and shoes on.... what's wrong with those people... haha.
How about you? Do you take your shoes off when you get home?
Do you expect others to do the same?
Many homes will have a place to keep the shoes, right by the door. You know you're at a good party when there are so many shoes outside, you have to step over them all to get inside. And don't leave with a better pair than you came with... it happens you know!
If you're curious about what's for sale on Maui, check out www.eastmaui.com to search the active MLS listings. No registration required, and you can keep your shoes on.
Aloha and have fun looking at properties on Maui! Georgina M Hunter R(S) e-Pro
Remember to call me when buying or selling property on Maui. (808) 283-0635
I very often do on inspections, since I do not want to track dirt into the house. We have a fairly large Asian population here in Houston, and this custom is appreciated by them, so it is a good habit (I always check that my socks look good before I go onto a job :). Since tile is becoming more popular here do to Hispanic influences, I noticed that in those homes, even Asians have left their shoes on though when looking at these houses.
In my home the kids consider it customary to take their shoes off in the car so that they can enter the house with no shoes. This is not our rule- just theirs. In Arizona I've never been asked to remove my shoes... but I have seen plenty of people wearing flip-flops (even agents). I know this caused a controversy on another post- but it's really depends on the clients... I've been chided for dressing too formal and make sure to dress appropriately on follow up visits. (Which explains why I'm wearing flip flops today.)
Frank - so you don't wear odd socks? haha
Chuck - your kids are funny! Do they keep all their shoes in the car?
The best is when you go to a party and leave with someone else's slippahs at the end of the night. ;)
We've always removed our shoes when we walk in the house... we think that it keeps dirt and toxins outside.
After all the years in Germany, it is a natural for us to take our shoes off when we walk in the front door! In Germany we also had a special cabinet by the door to store all the shoes! Here we just line them up!!!
When I go to our Buddhist prayer meetings there are piles of shoes outside the door and indeed, you have to often step over mounds of shoes to get inside!
Thanks for the comments everyone!
It is also a custom in India. I always take off my shoes.
Gita - glad to hear you do it too - seems that a lot of us are on the same wavelength
I live outside New York City, and very few people here remove their shoes. I've got two young kids and it grosses me out to think of all the germs picked up in the subway on the floor where my kids get down to play. Yuck! I always ask people to remove their shoes when they come into my house...I think some people find that rude!
Jennifer - you can buy signs here to hang by the front door - it's very commonplace.
My friends in Austin have adopted that custom...I always wondered why they have a sign by the door similar to your first picture. They both are native Texans, so it puzzled me for a while, but found out soon that they absolutely love Hawaii (Kauai-to be exact) and that's where they had their wedding. Now they have two rentals in Kauai, a very nice oceanfront condo and a lovely house a little removed from the water.
Lydia - your friends are very lucky to have 2 homes on Kauai. I hope you get to visit them over there and practice taking your shoes off.
good
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