Spreading Aloha Through Saying Goodbye

by Keli‘i Akina, Ka Wai Ola, March 1, 2025

In 2023, Hawaiʻi Public Radio (HPR) published an article entitled “More Native Hawaiians flock to mainland cities and leave Hawaiʻi, citing high costs.”

Like a growing number of similar articles in Hawaiʻi media, the HPR piece told stories of Hawaiians who have moved away from the islands for economic reasons. This includes Lindsay Villarimo who says she could stretch her paycheck farther in Las Vegas with cheaper rent and groceries and no state income tax. And Terry Nacion who “left Hawaiʻi for Las Vegas in 2003 because homeownership felt unattainable.”

There’s a bittersweet story about Hawaiians leaving their homeland. While many feel the pain of displacement, we can also look at it in a different way – focusing on their strength and ability to adapt, which has been part of Hawaiian history for centuries. Instead of seeing their move to the mainland as a loss, we can see it as a sign of adaptability and their ability to carry the aloha spirit wherever they go.

Trustee Akina with the Farias ʻohana. Many members of the Farias family have migrated from the Waiʻanae Coast to the Washington, D.C., area bringing the aloha spirit with them. – Courtesy Photo

As more Hawaiians move to the continent to achieve financial goals, they’re not abandoning their homeland – they’re sharing their culture, values, and unique perspective with new communities. Take the many hula hālau in cities like Las Vegas, for example! The migration of Hawaiians is really the spread of aloha – bringing warmth, compassion, and love wherever they go. They remind us all of the importance of connection and respect for the land.

For Hawaiians, moving to the continent also brings opportunities to build generational wealth. With more affordable real estate options, families are able to provide a home for their extended relatives and future descendants.

Take, for example, Johnette Faagale, a former Waialua resident, who dreamed of owning a home but saw her parents struggle to do so. She knew that dream wouldn’t become a reality in Hawaiʻi, so she moved to Washington State for better opportunities. In June 2020, she and her family finally bought a home in Vancouver, WA.

Hawaiians have always found ways to thrive and build community, no matter where they are.

The history of Hawaiians is one of incredible resilience and strength. Our ancestors were skilled navigators, sailing across vast, treacherous oceans to reach the Hawaiian Islands, thousands of miles from other lands. These journeys were driven not just by need, but by a deep desire to explore, adapt, and thrive. This spirit of exploration and determination has defined Hawaiians for generations and continues today.

The Hawaiian diaspora is not about defeat, but transformation and growth. It’s a story of the spreading of the aloha spirit. Furthermore, adaptability is necessary for a nation to continue to exist and prosper. Hawaiians leaving the islands continues a rich legacy of exploration, strength, and cultural exchange. They show the power of the human spirit to overcome adversity and thrive anywhere, sharing aloha’s values of love, respect, and unity with the world.

E hana kākou! (Let’s work together!)