Trip to Maui

My wife and I took our second trip to the beautiful island of Hawaii at the beginning of October. It was a much needed respite from the hustle and bustle of everyday life back in Maryland. Our first vacation together was a trip to Kauai and Oahu, so we were excited to visit another island.

It feels wrong to refer to Hawaii as a state. It is its own land, with its own native people and customs. Hawaii’s history is intertwined with American history, yet it carries its own identity. During our visit, we observed the traditional street names that each resident pronounces with sincerity, whether they are Hawaiian or a transplant from elsewhere in the US.

I have to admit that the prevalence of non-Hawaiians living there felt unnatural. Why is there a town of all-white people in the middle of a place where the sun’s rays produce people of a darker hue? It can only be explained by a common phenomenon in our country - gentrification.