[colorado tanker]

This POS has even more facts wrong. Palin did not go to Idaho from Hilo, but to Hawaii Pacific University in Honolulu, where she spent an entire semester. She then transferred to North Idaho College, near where she was born. Fairly interpreted, the comments just indicate she was feeling some culture shock and went to a cold climate, more rural environment where she felt more at home.

No one avoids Waikiki because they are uncomforable around Pacific Islanders; in fact millions of caucasian tourists flock there every year.

Note also the transfer from Hilo to Honolulu is perfectly natural. People who don't know Hawaii don't know Hilo is one of the rainiest places on earth. Honolulu, in contrast, has the wonderful climate most Americans associate with Hawaii.

[Hot Tabasco]

I know the wife of a Kansas farmer who years ago when they were high school sweethearts, got a full ride athletic scholarship in track to Kansas State. After three weeks there, she packed up her stuff and moved home and married her sweetheart.........It was a culture thing for her too.

[jobim]

I came out to UH Hilo 69/70 schoolyear, and then transferred to UH Manoa in Honolulu. As a Chicago boy, I can tell you it was culture shock, especially in Hilo, where the Japanese & Hawaiian populations were majority back then. And Hilo does get 125 inches of rain annually, highest total at sea level on earth. (It gets a ton of sun, too, just for the record and has been a wonderful place to live.)