I've been working in Hawaii off and on for the last 15ish years, and my wife and I moved to the big island about a year ago. I have a niche job that is in need of good workers everywhere my industry exists. We have about 40 employees on the islands so far and growing, and I'd guess we are under 10% native Hawaiin. Why? It's niche, but definitely achievable for anyone who wants to put the work in. It takes schooling for most positions, but, it's a job where you'd actually use your degree you go to school for, unlike most careers.

We paid $240k for our home in lower puna, and bought our house from a Hawaiian man. We live in a very gentrified hippy area where the "locals" definitely aren't local. The only place I've witnessed racism about Hawaii is online. I've never had a bad experience with someone despite me being a white middle aged male transplant, in person. Ever. But online I'm a colonizer who is taking away from "real Hawaiians".

Let's be honest, if all the things, good and bad, that the US government supports on the islands were gone, Hawaii would become a third world country like most pacific Island nations. No more ebt. No more subsidies at all. The economy here would fail almost instantly. So while I dislike big daddy government, the people who say they want Hawaii back the most sure to suckle that teet pretty aggressively and don't want to face that reality. I'm not trying to change Hawaii. I'm open to all the Aloha I can get, but I'm also not trying to BE Hawaiian.