F.O.P (Fresh Off da Plane)

Day 163 and we still have water

How'd I wind up in the middle of the Pacific Ocean? This isn't Robinson Crusoe or even "Survivor."  But here I am, stranger in my own land, only it's not really my land.
Modern Hawaii is delicate and, of course, gorgeous. Yet, it's also an extremely complicated clash of cultures and classes that's always vacillating between aloha chill, acceptance and generosity to some pretty bitter underlying resentment that often bubbles up away from the hotels and golf courses. A lot of Hawaiians wish people like me -- meaning all new people -- never moved here after they had arrived. Whether that was 2,000 or 20 years ago. But most are just too darned nice to ever say it to my face. This still isn't NYC, kids.
How did a newspaperman from Duluth, Minn., get a job in Maui; and does he like paradise? Pure luck, baby! Also, an online job search, lots of work and some worldly experience, I think.
And, yes, of course, paradise is excellent. But surprise: It's pricey.
Milk for up to $8 a gallon; gas for nearly $4 a gallon; even sugar costs more here 'cause they gotta ship it to Cali to get processed and then ship it back. Even pineapple ain't cheap here (Evidently, the Far East even makes a cheaper pineapple.). The best deal is these awesome Portuguese sausages (a dietician's nightmare) in every store at two for $3.
Basically, it's impossible to walk into any grocery store, decent restaurant or gas station without dropping $40 or $50. It's amazing to me how consistent that is. There's a conspiracy in Maui to collect every $20 bill in the country, I think.    
So what does a Minnesota boy think of Hawaii; and why should anyone care?
The former challenge essentially means I prattle on about how cool phrases like, "da kine" and "all buss" are while occasionally complaining about the incredible phenomenon of road rage in what may be the most serene place in America (Oh, I think I just answered my own question.). 
The latter challenge is much more difficult. The first thing I was told when I got to the paper by one of my more colorful curmudgeon colleagues was, "Nobody give a **** how you used to do things back where you came from."
After five-plus months here, I have no illusions about whether to doubt that advice. Hawaii, in many ways, is a nation onto itself. Still, we are all Americans, and as Americans, we change things wherever we go, whether you or I like it. Good and bad. And no matter how much we endeavor to do what those ubiquitous bumper stickers ask and "respect da culture."
Mahalo