Going away for college is an exciting time for local students. But it can also be stressful. “Many students leave the Islands because they want independence, the opportunity to travel more freely, or just to see if they can ‘make it’ in a bigger pond,” says Alysa Tomasa, a counselor at Windward Community College.
However, Tomasa says getting into college is just half the battle. Staying in college is another challenge. Studies have found that mental health struggles, life changes, and financial stress are top factors for students to leave college. Here are three tips and resources to help Hawaii students attending college on the Mainland.
1) Make a plan
Life is unpredictable so it’s important to be prepared as much as possible. “There are a variety of reasons students return home and oftentimes it has to do with family kuleana,” says Tomasa. “Perhaps a grandparent was sick, or maybe it was too much of a financial burden. Sometimes it was good ol’ homesickness and just too much culture shock.”
Once you get to school, familiarize yourself with available resources. There’s often academic support (learning, writing, or math centers, tutoring, and workshops) and personal support (counseling and mental health services, peer support, and health centers).
Also, don’t be afraid to reach out to your network back home. Tomasa is grateful many of her students still keep in touch with her after graduation. “Many of them project a similar theme when they’re having a hard time adjusting,” she says. “They divulge how difficult it is, how homesick they get, and how the stressors of college, life, and family all weigh on their mental health.” So be sure to make a solid plan to help you cope with the various obstacles you could encounter so you’re prepared.
2) Embrace the differences
When Alexandria “Ali” Kanakaole graduated from Kalaheo High School in 2022, she attended Washington State University (WSU). Her original plan was to stay home for college, but since she received multiple scholarships to cover her full tuition at WSU, she decided to take a chance and move across the Pacific Ocean.
Of course, life in Washington state was different from life in Hawaii. “I was used to being surrounded by my big family, so living by myself and not knowing anyone was a huge shift,” she says. “It was overwhelming, and I had to quickly figure out how to be independent.”
One of the hardest times for Kanakaole was the holidays. “Being away from my family, especially during those times, was really tough,” she says. “But I found comfort in learning to cook more for myself, making new friends, and starting new traditions. I also made sure to stay connected with my family through calls and video chats.”
Kanakaole enjoying the snow.
3) Find the familiar
Since there were so many new experiences to absorb, Kanakaole wanted to find the familiar.
She joined her school’s Hawaii Club where she was able to meet other local kids going through the same experience of being away from home. She also made an effort to share her culture with the new friends she made. “It felt like a way to stay connected to home,” she says.
Get support
HMSA has a variety of programs and resources to support your health and well-being while you’re away at college.
- Well-being: Check out our Well-being resources and tools.
- Mental health: Whether it’s managing stress or coping with life changes, taking care of your mental health is important for your overall health and well-being. Learn more!
- Expert health advice, local recipes, and more: There’s much to discover on islandscene.com! And be sure to sign up for our newsletter to stay up-to-date with the latest health and well-being news.
To read more about Kanakaole’s college journey, check out home away from home in the summer 2025 issue of Island Scene.
