The hooks are on the front side at the top of the shorts, just a little plastic piece on each side- don't feel them at all and then the back velcro's on(also don't feel it) so you can take the straps off completely or just pop off the front.
When on, you don't realize that they can come off, it all seems to be one solid piece.
so I guess the answer would be, you only know they are there when you need to try and find them!