I once had an opportunity to take a job in Hawaii (actually, Oahu) but declined after I was warned by a friend, whose mother was native Hawaiian, that my two fair-haired high school age sons would have a very hard time being accepted. Paradise isn't worth that kind of grief.
It’s too bad that you deprived you and your family of a great experience. I lived in Honolulu for 5 1/2 years as a teen. It was a great experience. There are problems everywhere, and Hawaii isn’t any worse. I had friends who were White, Black, Hispanic, Samoan, and mixed. Like all schools there are cliques. Kids make friends and overcome adversity. Situations teach kids how to deal with life. The kids would have been fine. Thank God my parents decided to take us to Hawaii.