From Hawaii going to Scotland in March 2017 ...

Anything but cotton and medium weight with the right boot/shoe would be fine. No slippers.

One fast drying solution is liner socks combined with a medium weight synthetic or wool socks. Wash liner socks nightly, heavier socks as needed (e.g. when they get soaked and need to be dried).

https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/socks.html

Outdoor activities are tough on feet, so a pair of high-tech socks is
your first line of defense for dry, comfortable and blister-free feet.
While "technical socks" might sound funny, there's no denying the big
improvement they make over your old all-cotton tube socks.

This article compares your choices.

They are quite expensive, but I love my SmartWool socks from REI. I wore them on an extended hiking trip to Utah this year and they were great. Now I'm wearing them indoors because they're so comfortable.

OMG - I suppose it is true.
This forum is full of misconceptions from people in different cultures who have been subject to misinformation and scare stories from the media, and posts by people who find it difficult to envisage that things can be different but no better or worse, just different in other parts of the world.
But yes, you have shown me up. As a northern European I just cannot envisage the concept of not requiring to wrap up in winter. For me, over 25°C is hot and below zero is normal for winter. Wearing sandals (and no socks) is a luxury for 1-2 weeks in the summer, or on holiday. Today is 10°C, the first time I put on a coat since the summer.

Yokos, seriously, I suggest you go into the first supermarket or shoe shop you find in Scotland. You will find plenty of choice.

I like my Smart wool socks. You still need to bring more than a couple of pairs with you as even though they dry faster than standard wool socks, they won't always dry as fast as you would like them too. :) And there are different weights of smart wool socks. There are lighter weight ones that are perfect for just touring in Scotland, heavier weight ones that are good for colder weather, and then there are the hiking weight ones.

Pam

As Chris F suggested, sometimes it makes more sense to buy items in the place you will need them rather than thinking you need to bring everything from home -- wool socks in Scotland are ordinary every day purchases, but in Hawaii they are specialty items, with limited expensive availability.
EDIT - I wear wool socks from Costco, probably available by mail although not in Hawaii warehouses.

Socks and boots/shoes go hand in hand with one complementing the other. Proper fit requires the two (socks and boots/shoes) to work together with thick socks in tight shoes being as bad as thin socks in loose fitting shoes.

Buying (and trying) new socks after feet on the ground is a risk. Testing the sock boot/shoe combination in Hawaii would be safer than testing out new socks after landing in Scotland.

I should add that waterproof but breathable boots/shoes with thin/thinner wool socks will keep your feet warmer than non-water resistant shoes with thick socks. Dry feet stay warmer than wet feet.

And properly fitted boots with light socks will keep your feet warmer than boots that fit tight with thick socks. Tight fit constrains blood flow leading to cold feet.

the weather will not be that cold in March, what are you going to be doing when in Scotland?
if it is just walking about in cities and towns then any socks will do,Primark do a pack of 5 socks for about £5, just use them and chuck them away when you leave.
Now if you intend going out into the countryside or hill and mountain then that is a whole different matter

https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Mens-Socks/Hi-Tec-Walker-Lightweight-Walking-Socks-Twin-Pack/B01EMORBVK/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1478508658&sr=8-10&keywords=hi+tec+walking+socks
this is the most recent walking socks I have , got 2 pairs free with a new pair of Hi-Tec walking shoes.

I work in the outdoor industry....so I use good socks for hiking and travel. You might look into the follow brands:

Darn Tough (made in the USA)
Smartwool

To keep you feet warm, wool is the best. Merino wool is not itchy. Cotton is NOT recommended. If cotton socks get wet, they stay wet, and your feet get cold.

For socks to work, you should also invest in waterproof footwear.

Wow, I've learned a lot just on socks!

We won't be doing any hiking/camping, although we plan to do lots of walking. This is a leisure trip, our first visit to Europe.
Mahalo all for your input I appreciate your suggestions and referrals.

Now that you've learned a lot about socks, consider a cap for your head and gloves for your hands to reduce heat lost through extremities. March is early spring. Think of Edinburgh March weather as similar to the that of the climate at the summit of Haleakala in March. UK Met Office climatically data for Eastern Scotland reports Edinburgh March temperatures as:

Extreme High: 22.5C/72F
Mean High: 10C-50F (Vs. Haleakala Summit average max of 51F)
Mean Low: 3C/37F (Vs. Haleakala Summit average MIN OF 35.8f)
Extreme Low: -11C/12F

yes, a decent windproof water proof jacket is needed as a decent hat and gloves but many of these can be picked up fairly cheaply in the city. Can be pretty chilly early morning /late evening so layers of clothes is the best way to go. when the wind get up as if often does then you really do need the windproof jacket

Unclegus' "can be picked up fairly cheaply in the city" comment brings to mind my days working Firsco (the city refered to by its resident's as "The City"). We could pick out the out of town summer tourists by their shorts and newly purchased Fisherman's Wharf souvenir sweatshirts. (Mark Twain is often said to have said: "The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco." )

I've lived in Hawaii and I understand your viewpoint.

Drying quickly is a relative term, but Wigwam cable knit knee socks are warm without bulk and I find they dry faster than thicker woolens. https://www.amazon.com/Wigwam-Womens-Cable-Knee-Socks/dp/B00G33S9VK

Compared to what you're used to in Hawaii, weather in Scotland in March will be COLD. Spring doesn't really come until May. I suggest planning some time to go shopping on your first day. Assume you arrive in either Glasgow or Edinburgh? Both cities of course have many good clothing shops. Warm clothing and rain gear might even be on sale in March as the shops make room for lighter summer wear.

My Scotland wardrobe (in May, twice) consisted of the aforementioned wool socks, low-heeled knee-high leather boots (the kind you can tuck in your jeans and also wear with tights with a dress), a cashmere or alpaca sweater with a couple of layers underneath, jeans or wool slacks, a warm knitted dress for evening, a trench coat with button-out quilted liner, alpaca scarf, packable rain hat, fingerless gloves. Spray everything well with Scotchgard before using. And a collapsible windproof umbrella, though the sideways rain sometimes makes umbrellas useless. This was not for any serious hiking, just your average tourism that included short walks of perhaps half an hour, up to a castle or a stone cairn, or along a street such as the Royal Mile.

Edgar in Edinburgh you can tell the tourist by their very cheap disposable plastic ponchos that are as much good as no good.
there are several shops in the city centre where socks hats etc can be bought, on Princes street there is a big Primark shop, low quality but and will do the job for you, Mountain warehouse have a small shop on Princes street and do decent quality outdoor items at discount prices mainly own brand stuff. bought quite a few things out of there , just off Princes street is Trespass again a specialist outdoor shop , all own brand but decent enough at decent prices.Nearby Rose street has Cotswald outdoor , NeviSki and Tiso shops, all real specialist outdoor hiking/climbing/ skiing shops with prices to match.

Thanks Edgar, I'll keep a note on these local shops while in Edinburgh!

Unclegus --- I worked for Trespass ! I was their rep in the US for a few seasons....got a quick trip to Glasgow for a sales meeting in 2001 ---right after 9/11. The owners were great, but I didn't have a chance to see the city. I will now, going back in 2017 for holiday!

Out of nostalgia I will try to find their company store-- I still see the product in the US, but I no longer represent the line.

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=trespass+edinburgh&rls=com.microsoft:en-GB:IE-SearchBox&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7MXGB_enGB534&gfe_rd=cr&ei=yY8kWISECIT38AfMyKn4Dw&gws_rd=ssl#q=trespass%20glasgow&rflfq=1&rlha=0&rllag=55842503,-4297051,3687&tbm=lcl&tbs=lf:1,lf_ui:4,lf_pqs:EAE&fll=55.85696457511659,-4.2723418253661975&fspn=0.03637158107846972,0.058108435925936064&fz=14&oll=55.85012335,-4.31156645&ospn=0.06475855266435815,0.1342435553420689&oz=12&qop=1&rlfi=hd:;si:
they have a couple of places in the main shopping area of Glasgow and in Edinburgh there is at least 4 outlets.

Any friends on the mainland near Costco? Their merino wool socks are great and economical. I wear them all the time.

Aloha! We're heading to Scotland in May and would love to hear your experiences when you get back. Mahalo nui loa!

Would the suggestions listed for March be the same for May or would lighter bet a bit better? We're hoping to travel with just carry-on luggage. Itinerary includes AMS, Edinburgh with a day tour to Oban, and then on to London before taking a train back to AMS for our flight back.

I realize that the thread is several months old, but hoping the OP is still following.

should get away with lighter stuff in may but it still can get a bit cold at night

I live in a warm climate, never wear wool. I brought a packable down jacket and vest. Both stayed packed I agree with Unclegus. Shop in Edinburgh. There are fantastic outdoor shops on Rose Street. I liked Tiso. . My raincoat and layers were perfect. Also, purchased some good socks and shoes at Tiso. Now all my Scotland stuff lives in a suitcase for the next trip.