The people and their remarkable spirit of aloha are exactly why I love Hawaii so much! I live in a very small town on the Jersey Shore that has evolved in this way (city people moving in and trying to not only change everything, but destroying all sense of our previous, almost Zen existence). Our little "neighborhood" on the NS reminds me of the way it used to be here. As my circle of friends expands on each visit, I am still in awe of the wonderful aloha spirit in which we are made to feel so welcome (and even missed while we are gone). When among my friends, I feel almost more at home then I do in my own house. I get ka'amaina discounts at many local stores as well; the money saved is nothing compared to the feeling I get from being offered them in the first place!

Cblaisd, there is no need to worry about us liking the "luxury tourist experience" more than the island itself. We actually don't like staying in hotels, being spritzed with Evian, or dressing up and going out to dinner. Hotels are for one-night getaways, for shopping and reminding you of the "other home" you want to get back to. Our (ok, our friends') little "shack" that we almost exclusively stay in on our visits is old and creaky, with more than its share of insects and vermin, but in a SPECTACULAR location. While we may never be able to afford a piece of property as fantastic, we just want a home within a mile or so of it. A place to get out of the rain with a comfy bed, an outdoor shower (and indoor plumbing), a barbeque, a bicycle, and some safe storage - that's all we want. The rest we can live without.

One of these days, the right property will be offered, and we will be ready to buy it. In the meantime, we will bide our time and continue to visit and look.

Robin