>but in Hawaii there's also a very
>strange/strained dynamic between locals and "expats" or
>non-locals.

The anti-non-local or pro-Hawaiian attitude is strongest among Hawaiians, and only about 6% of the state population are Native Hawaiians and about 25% are part-Hawaiians.

At worst, I'd say the overall sentiment as a state is neutral towards non-locals.

New/newish residents tend to live in certain areas. In that sense, the non-local thing is largely a non-issue.


>Lots of Asian diversity but not a huge population of black
>folks.

The mixed ethnicity thing is pretty amazing here. In 2010, 23.6% of island residents were mixed. In 2010, almost 1/3 of marriages were interracial which is almost 4 times the national average. A lot of the most beautiful people I've met have Hawaiian-Asian-European blood. Lots of people with Portuguese (from the sugar plantation days/pre-statehood/early statehood days) blood here as well.

From the 2010 census (Race alone or in combination with one or more other races):
-Asian 57.2%
-White 42.2%
-Native Hawaiian or other PI 25.2%
-Black 2.9%
-Native American 2.5%

2010 census:
-Latinos 8.8% of state population


This is a great article on the pros and cons of living here (including the cost of living) : http://www.honolulumagazine.com/Honolulu-Magazine/April-2012/Is-Hawaii-Worth-It/index.php?cparticle=1&siarticle=0#artanc