What are the people like in Hawaii?

Answer 1

Maui's "permament" population is only around 130,000. That's less than attended Woodstock in 1969. Any several of them seem to have come directly from there maybe via California, Oregon or Washington state. But overall my experience is that while they have as many kinds of problems as everywhere in society, Maui residents seem to have the "aloha spirit" -- meaning I have yet to find myself anywhere and not feel perfectly safe and welcomed. I've walked on the beach alone at night and people say hello to you. I've come across community events and have been welcomed to join in. If you open your heart to them, they open to you. Some times the honesty is arresting -- when a hotel worker tells you he or she is so luck to have a job in this enconmy.... Stopping and talking to anyone is an easy thing to do and you never know whose life story you'll get next. Now you can say they recognize that tourism is their biggest revenue producer so it stands to reason, but that can be "stilted" and rarely have I seen anything but genuineness when it comes to the way people behave toward one another. That doesn't mean there aren't bar fights, thefts, drug problems or what have you. But the only places I've seen gates or bars are the expensive estates in the "exclusive" areas. Then again when you live on an island the likelihood is that you can figure on running into the same people more often; most of the "towns" are small, so there's a small-town friendlieness or at least realization if you tick too many people off it won't be good for you kind of understanding.

Answer 2

Some of the nicest people I have ever met. Of course, not everyone is the same, but they are friendly, fun loving, a little shy. They have a very strong sense of ohana (family). Get away from the tourist areas, and meet people on their own ground- the grocery store, library, fishing, having coffee at the Zippy's coffee shop. Many people work in the tourist trades, supporting the military, and in agriculture, but you will find construction workers, nurses, teachers, car mechanics, car salesmen- just like anywhere else. Your family heritage may vary depending on whether your family was Japanese, Chinese, Filipino, Polynesian, or Haole (Caucasian)- but all have been very nice people.