14 Ways I am Livin' Hawaiian Style

I've been on the Big Island nearly 2 years now (come June 21st), and I can honestly say that it took me awhile to adjust back to Hawaii living. Even though I grew up in a culturally rich  environment on the island of Oahu, all the things I knew slowly faded away while dwelling on the mainland for the past 10 years. However, I realized the other day that I am back! Without even realizing it, I am living the new normal.
Here's a fun list of 14 ways I have adjusted to livin' Hawaiian style, without really realizing it:

• I feel exceptionally rude if I don't hug and kiss on the cheek, anyone that I come across.
• I see a giant cockroach in my kitchen at 3am and let it run away because I know there's 20 more just like it, so why bother.
• Sunscreen  is as much of a commodity as toilet paper and toothpaste.
• I can pronounce the words kanoelehua, puainako, and mamalahoa without skipping a beat.
• My friend serves raw fish (sashimi) and cabbage for lunch and I dig in like a starving cast-away.
• When a driver nicely waves me through traffic I don't get upset that he's going against basic, common-sense traffic laws.
• My kids rarely wear shoes anymore and I don't even notice or care.
• We buy Shoyu, Saimin, and SPAM in bulk and it doesn't gross me out. (okay, maybe the last one should)
• We don't go pee, we "make shi-shi". 
• If I don't go surfing once a week I get cranky and start jonesing for the ocean.
• I expect my family to give me leis on my birthday and Mother's day.
• I wore a mu'umu'u. Enough said.
• I don't cry tears of nostalgia when I see hula dancers or hear ukulele music.
• We are going on a huge, costly, family vacation this Summer........to Oahu.

Hope you enjoyed my list. A hui ho! Til we meet again.  Shoots then. Catch ya laterz. Aloha.