Photo by Keith MayWhy people would leave Hawaii for Orange County seems to defy explanation, but at Chapman University—like many private Southern California colleges—it's the norm. Hawaiian students are one of the most visible student groups at the university. The Weekly recently spoke to some Chapman students during a meeting of the school's Hawaii Club to get some answers:
So what made you come to Chapman?
“One of my friends told me it was just like our high school (prestigious Kamehameha High) and that the environment was really personable. Plus, they gave me a lot of money.”
“I wanted to get the hell out of Hawaii and join America.”
How do you like Orange County?
“The weather is kind of like Hawaii, except it's less humid here. And the pollution here is horrible!”
“There're a lot of Hawaiians around the area, which means that we're never lacking of native food. And there're so many Hawaiian students at Chapman that it's like never leaving the islands.”
“It's different.“
Any disappointments?
“We went to Huntington Beach last weekend for the first time and were shocked to see that it was cold and disgustingly polluted. We didn't even know it was the worst one!”
“Most of the luaus here are not like the luaus in the islands. Too many pineapples.”
