Cook Island Pine would be my first guess. As you suspected, it is not a true pine. There are three commonly seen (In NA) related trees: Norfolk Island Pine, Monley Puzzle Tree, and Cook Island Pine. They are all in the Araucaria genus. Take a look at those and see if one looks like yours. read more
The waxy leaves of pine trees cannot transpire easily in a humid, hot climate, as they are designed for optimal water retention. Evolution has caused different species to adapt to their environment. even if we planted pine trees in tropical climates and bananas in mountains, they wouldn't survive long. read more
Be Like the Palm Tree. Psalm 92 says that the righteous will flourish like a palm tree (Psalm 92: 12). In his talk, Joel described a time he visited a community in the aftermath of a hurricane. Many houses were destroyed. Several trees were uprooted and broken to pieces. But he noticed the palm trees were still standing. read more