Crunk Juice is also the name of a 2004 album by Lil Jon and the Eastside Boyz.
Re: tying the porch roof into the main house... I'll add I'd also go with 5/8 CDX ply for the roof sheathing. That added 1/8 goes a long way to resist uplift , and as you know wind in your area is a BIG issue.
Before the thatch is placed on the roof, long brass screws are firmly inserted deep into the wooden roof laths. Twisted onto the screw is a long, heavy duty steel wire. Bundles of reeds are then placed onto the roof. Over the bound reed bundles steel rods are placed.