Shoes- and not offending Pele

Will regular sneakers be ok to walk/hike around in VNP, or do I specifically need hiking boots? I am taking a pair of closed toe H2O Keens, would this suffice?

Should I try to scrape out any traces of lava from the soles of the shoes I do wear, to leave as much behind as possible for Pele? I do NOT want to anger her!

Shoes- and not offending Pele

I%26#39;d wear boots if you have them but sneakers are ok too. The footing is uneven and boots give you more ankle support and traction. I am not sure about the Keens -- are those sandals? I%26#39;d avoid anything with open front, back OR sides. Your feet will could get scraped up. It couldn%26#39;t hurt to brush off your shoes when you leave if you are particularly concerned about angering Pele.

When I visited the Big Island, I went to VNP early one morning. In one of the steam vent, I saw a $20 bill! People leave food and drink offerings for Pele, and I guess money too. The bill was lying on a ledge not even a foot beyond the rail. There was no one around and I could have easily grabbed it, but I stopped and thought about it. Someone left that money for Pele. I%26#39;m not sure I believe in Pele, but I do believe in respect and I knew it wasn%26#39;t right to come to Hawaii and take something that someone meant for Pele. So I left the money. Later when I told my Hawaiian friends later they insisted that it was a test and I%26#39;d been chosen by Pele! Shortly after that an opportunity opened up for me to move to Hawaii, lucky me -- or it luck? I%26#39;ve been living here ever since. True story!

Shoes- and not offending Pele

If you would like to give offerings to Madame Pele please make sure it is Gin. Seriously.

rivera so you must have heard stories going the other way. Keens is what we wore everywhere, thankfully they are machine washable. Not to scare you but to caution you sharp rocks, needles/thorns, cockroaches, mice, etc.

Unless you%26#39;re hiking to the ocean entry or any hike longer than Kilauea Iki, regular tennis shoes should suffice. The ocean entry hike is strenuous enough to warrent boots and I don%26#39;t like hiking for more than about 3-4 miles in tennis shoes. Boots will provide more support and more protection.

I wouldn%26#39;t worry about picking out little pieces of rocks from the soles of your shoes. Just don%26#39;t purposefully take rock samples.

Gin !!!!! Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha (can%26#39;t stop laughing)

Thanks for the replies.

I live in the South, so I am quite used to cockroaches, waterbugs, etc!

I%26#39;m not sure exactly how far we%26#39;ll be hiking. . . I am trying to minimize luggage, you know how it is. . .

some soils in Hawaii esp Kauai can stain your shoes as well. Whatever is most comfortable for you for walking on uneven terrain. On beaches had to put up with gritty sand in keens but not bad

Yeah....the gin offering was funny.

I%26#39;m a vodka girl, myself...............

It may be funny....

But it is no joke.

Gin is by far the most common ';sacrifice'; left for Pele (tied up with a leaf of ginger).

While I have never left any myself (waste a good bottle of booze?), I have accompanied numerous kamaaina on their spiritual journey to either Halemaumau or the currently active vent to make their supplications.

Either raw or imu pork is the next favorite.

But the NPS frowns on it due to hygene and varmint concerns.

Why is Gin the favorite offering?