This interdisciplinary, qualitative study applies a critical lens to the field of education abroad, advocates for a more expansive and inclusive view of student mobility, and centers Hawai?i as a destination of choice for increasingly mobile students. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with fourteen students from the continental U.S. who participated in National Student Exchange (NSE) to the University of Hawai'i at Manoa (UHM). The research questions guiding this study focused on the ways in which the specificity of place, namely Hawai'i, shaped the assumptions and expectations of NSE students on exchange to UHM and informed their perceptions and experiences while here. The findings suggest ways in which exchanges, particularly to Hawai?i, can be more responsible, respectful, and reciprocal. As such, this research endeavors to contribute to the ongoing efforts at decolonization, both in the field of student mobility and in Hawai?i. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]