I just stumbled on this email I wrote to some friends who were coming to visit, some 8 years ago. I read it and realized I still hold all these things to be true and important, and then I felt like sharing it again. So here it is. If you want to know what's going on in Hawai‘i today (with a view from the North Shore), check out Mixed Plate Special.

Number 10:  Simplicity. Life is boiled down to its simplest elements: eat, play, work, sleep. If you do these things, and you do them well, it's not hard to be content. Hidden meanings, alterior motives, secret agendas - why waste your time? The bus is called The Bus. The place where you buy food is Foodland. How much simpler can it get?

Number 9:  Pidgin. To take the latest example, the flight attendant says, "Whachu gonna have?" rather than "May I offer you something to drink?" You know, forget the formalities already. As many words as necessary, no more. Not "where do you live?" and "where are you now?" but "where you stay?" The use of "da kine" is so convenient. Plus, it requires that you pay attention to the conversation in order to know what the other person is talking about, and that's how it ought to be.

Number 8:  Lack of pretension. People aren't so quick judge each other by how they're dressed or what they do. When I was looking for a job, one guy suggested I try the McDonald's in Mililani. While this could be construed as an insult elsewhere, he was genuinely trying to help. There are no stupid questions. Forget the drab coat and tie - aloha shirts are far more attractive any day. It's really about who you are, not where you came from or where you intend to go.

Number 7:  Pride. One of the roots of the Hawaiian tradition, along with Aloha. A culture that is proud of its heritage. Where else do all the songs talk about how much the people love their land, their food, their way? Thesymbolism and the ceremonies, from lei to luau, keep the traditions alive. Storytelling (talk story) is still very important. Strong pride is a product of strong will, a characteristic that lends itself to living deliberatelyand without shame.

Number 6:  Waimea Bay. The sheer power in the winter. The veritable fountain of youth in the summer. The mana (spiritual force) of the peaceful valley. I've found no other place on Earth as soul-soothing as Waimea. It never ceases to impress me, every single time I pass by.

Number 5:  Diversity. The multiculturalism makes it feel as though you're living in another country. Japanese, Filipino, Brazilian, Portuguese, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Thai, and of course, Hawaiian influences arereflected in the customs as well as the cuisine. Rice with every meal, Spam Musubi and manapua at every 7-11 counter. Slack key, ukulele, reggae. The importance of family. Less prejudice, more open-minded perspectives.

Number 4:  Natural Beauty. Every single day, I appreciate how incredibly beautiful my surroundings are. There's never a day I don't notice it. The ocean, the mountains, the vast sky, the fresh air, the tropical breeze. Itfeels good to live here. The setting is conducive to so much fun - surfing under a full moon, diving with giant sea turtles, hiking to a waterfall - just to have the opportunity to do these things is something to be grateful for. During my morning stroll, I can stop and pick up a plumeria to stick behind my ear, and that's not cheesy, it's gorgeous. On the way to work I pass the cows, the sheep, horses, roosters, birds, rainbows. I love it. Having a tight bond with nature makes you a more beautiful person, naturally. Look how everyone glows...

Number 3:  Surfing. Perhaps the most physically demanding but spiritually fulfilling sport there is. It is grace, it is harmony, it is energy, it is style, and it is soul. Best of all, it is free and fair to everyone, and it inspires more freedom than any activity I have ever known.

Number 2:  Sunsets. Until I witnessed Hawai‘i sunsets, I was never fond of pastel colors. There is no better feeling than sitting out in the water as the big orange sun drops gently under the distant horizon. Then the skyundergoes massive transformations - layers of pink, red, orange, gold, purple, violet, and indigo that twist into each other - as dusk, then darkness, settles. Watching the performance, you feel obligated to sigh and thank the sun for yet another glorious day, applauding its curtain call, and wondering how this phenomenon occurs day after day. The colors in Hawai‘i are much bolder than in other places, as if you're seeing more clearly or know adegree of brightness you never knew before. There are more of every color.

Number 1:  Pace. I've always fought a battle against time. Growing older, beating a deadline, reaching a goal, getting to an appointment, whatever. Here, it's not the case. It's rather ironic that slowing down and enjoying the moments only makes time pass more quickly, like there's never enough to enjoy it all. I rarely wish time to move more quickly here; usually, I wish I had more. There's no pressure of a contrived sense of urgency. People don't deny themselves the pleasure of the moment. There is more living going on here than other places, and that's what it's all about - life is for living, right?