I am knowledgeable on this because 2 of my Hawaiian friends went back to Hawaii to work for Big 8 firms and their kids went to Punahou High and later to the mainland for private colleges. My brother in laws kids or my nephew and niece the same…Punahou and then private colleges in the mainland. For some, going to UH for 2 years (commute from home) and then transferring to college in the mainland is a cheaper alternative.