Being Hawaiian is more than just an identity — it’s a deep connection to place, community, and culture. For many young Hawaiians, the decision to leave the islands for education or opportunity on the mainland is incredibly difficult. It often means stepping away from everything familiar in order to grow in unfamiliar spaces. But in that distance, something powerful happens. Living away from Hawaiʻi often deepens our appreciation for home. The values we were raised with — aloha, kuleana, mālama —