I was stationed there in the mid 80s with the 25th ID and ALL the locals had food stamps. I would go to a grocery store and a 1/2-3/4 of a standard paper grocery bag would cost around $40 and this was with NO fresh fruit (unless it was pineapple) vegtables or meat. Take away tourism and military and to be mean, take the pineapple and sugar and then you got NOTHING but sandy beaches left.
that is true! I lived there from 84-88 and the “locals” were mostly in govvie housing.
and mostly hated us white folks. and we were poor too, so i do not get the hate.
first time I ever saw a ‘spam roll’ was a country store in Kalapana.
Lots of papaya growing wild on the big island too.
Along with that pakalolo...