It's either a gift or a curse and I can't quite figure out which one it is exactly.
Shyness is not something that necessitates being fixed. That said, I know that your friends like you for you, so I'm sure someone would have cracked your shell eventually.
I think I'm going to stay in Hawaii for the time being. New York seems like a bit much for me, but if you want to hit the Big Apple, I'll come visit often.