Eat, Drink, and Be Merry...

Honolulu is a notoriously expensive place to live. I currently have a one-bedroom for about $1800. Considering the nice neighborhood and excellent location, this is a steal. While rents in New York ($2200) or San Francisco ($3600) run higher, necessities like food and fuel are exorbitantly taxed in the islands and wages are disproportionately lower. And yes, these thoughts run through my mind as I sip my morning brew and check the surf from my patio.

A few weeks ago, I had friends over for dinner. As close as we are, we have very different political views. We all agree that Hawaii can be better but we disagree on how it should happen. So naturally, politics is always an inescapable topic of conversation over Instagrammable table spreads of locally sourced meat, raw seafood, imported cheeses, flowers and flickering candles.

This particular night, I explained to my friends why I voted for Donald Trump. First of all, I liked the fact that he wasn't a part of the "establishment" (i.e. a non-politician) and that he wasn't afraid to "tell it like it is". Secondly, I liked the idea that he wanted to do two things: 1. Build a wall (and build it tall); 2. Tighten Immigration.

When I was living in Manila, Philippines during the early 2000s, I remember the 9/11 cover of the Manila Times showing the World Trade Center on fire - it was horrific. Shortly thereafter, a prominent Islamic Group, the Abu Sayyaf, issued a bounty of PHP 1M (USD 20,000) on any Western's decapitated head. I stayed inside my apartment for nearly a month. In the ensuing year, bombings by Muslim terrorists frequently went off in crowded places such as malls, buses and rail stations. Graphic video and photos are not normally censored by Filipino news outlets and thus, to this day, I still see body parts strewn all over the walls along the Manila Rail Transit.

Most Americans are insulated from hardship and will never experience this kind of terror. Our society has advanced to the point where we suffer from 1st World Problems like Uber arriving at the wrong street or a mobile Starbucks order getting mixed up (upsetting, I know); but this is why liberals don't see a problem with immigration. They cannot conceptualize reality outside of their Safe Space. Those of us who've lived in places stricken by war or government instability understand that we cannot just turn the other cheek to these kinds of threats.

And this is why I, along with millions of others, voted for 45. He gets it. It has nothing to do with Mexicans or Muslims; it has everything to do with protecting Americans who live in America - the same way anyone would protect their spouse, their children and their beloved pets. As Diamond and Silk said, “Trump is not a racist. He's a realist. The only color he sees is green and he wants you to have some of it.”

I love to travel. I enjoy new and different cultures. I've been all over Southeast Asia and I've noticed that many countries have their own tight immigration policies. For example, the Philippines doesn't allow foreigners to buy land (and soon, neither will New Zealand). Does this upset me? No. I respect their laws and understand that they have a responsibility to protect their people and their national interests.

In a similar vein, it would be absurd if I left my doors unlocked and put word out that my place was a crash-pad for the destitute and weary. We all know the importance of being selective about who we let into our homes and most of us either lock our doors or have multiple security features. It's only common sense that the US secure its boarders and chooses who comes in.

So let's raise our glasses and toast to the living in Hawaii and all the freedoms we enjoy as American citizens. As it is with my friends, we don't always agree, but we don't let politics get in the way of our friendships and having a good time.

Cheers!