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Young people leave Maui for a variety of reasons

One hears often that the high price of necessities on Maui drives the young people away from their families and to the Mainland.

Certainly, the high cost of living here and the lack of good paying jobs contribute to the flight of vitality, enthusiasm and hope. However, there is something more fundamental at work here.

Young people are getting married later in life in general. This means their roaring 20s have been extended. Normal people, to an extreme extent, follow two natural promptings. One, they hectically, frantically and passionately search for, and pursue, potential mates. Two, to an exaggerated, undisciplined and excited degree, they break with traditions, conditioning and restrictions.

Regarding number one above, Maui is simply too small. There are many more people of the opposite sex elsewhere. Notably in big cities. Some young people perceive this, and the added freedom, when they attend Mainland colleges.

Regarding number two, Maui is simply too small. Young people rightly prefer to be wild, experimental, impulsive and overly expressive where they are unlikely to be recognized. Recognized by family.

Young people rightly want to be relatively anonymous when making fools of themselves, when engaging in dangerous activities, or when following the demands of biology instead of the dictates of conscience, reason, upbringing or tradition.

Raphael O’Suna

Haiku

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