[altura]

Of course there are tons of wealthy tourists here in Maui but I’m talking the regular denizens who kind of seem like Island hippies.

Maui needs those tourists. They are the main industry and the only other one is a sugar cane refinery.

In fact, my own family needs the tourists as they buy the Maui Woodys my son-in-law makes (native wood framed sunglasses)

[alexander_busek]

Of course there are tons of wealthy tourists here in Maui but I'm talking the regular denizens who kind of seem like Island hippies.

Big Island snowbird here. Local haoles (at least in Puna) tend to cluster in three categories:

1) Older newcomers (middle class retirees from MN or WI) upon whose weight the move to HI has no real influence;

2) younger folks (especially men) drawn to HI by the year-round sporting activities (surfing, diving, hunting, etc.) that keep them slim and trim; and

3) druggies (who are often quite emaciated) - these might be your "hippies."

(And that's just my immediate family.)

But if by "brown" you mean "native" - there, I can't offer an explanation.

Regards,