I have not thought of anything to write in some time; I haven't been on my second field trip yet, although I will definitely go this weekend or next, and class has been canceled twice recently. I wanted to write about the guest speaker we had last time, who pounds poi, but I was more into listening to the conversation than writing down any notes, so I don't really know where to start.
I did, however, decide to go through my emails from Lc for inspiration and found the article on geothermal power.The article talks about how, when geothermal started here, it was protested against because the people who started it did not ask the community and the technology was not yet good enough to do it without a significant environmental impact. I found it very interesting that, not too long ago, geothermal was not seen as a renewable energy, but as another bad form of energy, comparable to oil and coal. The first attempt to drill for geothermal heat on the Big Island was called a "mismatch of science, technology, [and resource management]”. This is an example of how important it is to do things right in order to make progress. Even if a person means well, and an idea is good, and will eventually have the right effects, if you go about it the wrong way it is useless. Progress can only be made while maintaining a respect for the environment and the people who live there.
It is so important for Hawai'i to get off oil dependency. I don't know the details or all the pros and cons of geothermal, but it seems to be one of the more promising renewable energies out there, along with wind, solar and tidal power. None of these is the answer to all our problems of course, but if they are implemented in conjunction with one another, there's no reason Hawai'i can't become the leader in energy independence.
Speaking of wind power, drove to North shore the other day and there are brand new giant windmills in Kahuku! This was news to me, so I looked it up. Ground was broken over the summer (while I was home- out of the loop) and right now they are doing test runs, with expectations to start commercial operations early next year. I looked into it further and it turns out there was actually a sort of experimental wind project in Kahuku in the 1980s until the 1990s when it stopped operating. I guess they got the information they needed, because the project is up and running. When I saw them, I figured they were still testing them because they were not turning, and they were all pointed different directions. 30 megawatts for 8,000 homes sounds good to me! Power up- and off of oil!
Friday, November 12, 2010
Friday, October 22, 2010
Makua Valley
I knew Makua would be an interesting field trip. That's why I went in the first place, although it was not quite what I expected. I was hoping we would get to walk through more of the beautiful valley. I had heard that there was a designated path that had been checked for unexploded ordinances, but I was picturing it winding through the valley like a hiking trail. I hadn't realized how much of the area was actually damaged, and to such an extent, by the bombing. Even though the surrounding green hills look healthy at first glance, they are clearly full of debris and possibly live explosives.
It was a different experience for me to be in such proximity to the army and having them practically guarding us from something we couldn't see. You can almost feel the tension present in the area from the uneasy partnership that has been formed between the opposing parties of the army and the groups of people who are trying to restore the valley.
I never knew that after WWII, the U.S. had bases in Germany and other European countries, but were forced to clean them up and give them back. I heard what he was saying about giving Makua back to Hawai`i, but it does seem like a slightly different situation since Hawai`i is now a part of the U.S. (Plus Hawai`i is such a strategically valuable place for military bases, I'm sure nothing would make the country want to give it up) Maybe they feel they are still entitled to using the area. Or maybe it just makes it easier to ignore the people in your own country. It's not admirable, but it makes sense. They could have at least told the truth, though, instead of promising to give it back, then saying it is too dangerous (but at the same time not doing anything to clean it up).
Even though I wanted to see more of the valley, I was really glad we got to see heiau and get a bit of a cultural lesson out of the trip. The women guiding us sang the chant to ask permission to enter the valley. I've always been more logical than spiritual, but I can't deny that the wind has picked up every time I have seen someone sing that chant. Even if I am just an observer to something that seems foreign to me, that's as close to a spiritual experience as I have had.
It was a different experience for me to be in such proximity to the army and having them practically guarding us from something we couldn't see. You can almost feel the tension present in the area from the uneasy partnership that has been formed between the opposing parties of the army and the groups of people who are trying to restore the valley.
I never knew that after WWII, the U.S. had bases in Germany and other European countries, but were forced to clean them up and give them back. I heard what he was saying about giving Makua back to Hawai`i, but it does seem like a slightly different situation since Hawai`i is now a part of the U.S. (Plus Hawai`i is such a strategically valuable place for military bases, I'm sure nothing would make the country want to give it up) Maybe they feel they are still entitled to using the area. Or maybe it just makes it easier to ignore the people in your own country. It's not admirable, but it makes sense. They could have at least told the truth, though, instead of promising to give it back, then saying it is too dangerous (but at the same time not doing anything to clean it up).
Even though I wanted to see more of the valley, I was really glad we got to see heiau and get a bit of a cultural lesson out of the trip. The women guiding us sang the chant to ask permission to enter the valley. I've always been more logical than spiritual, but I can't deny that the wind has picked up every time I have seen someone sing that chant. Even if I am just an observer to something that seems foreign to me, that's as close to a spiritual experience as I have had.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
I get schooled in the Hawaiian language
Our guest speaker Kamu Ramsay Taum showed us that, hidden in the Hawaiian language, are patterns which dictate the right way to live and be in tune with the environment and the community around us. Whether these patterns are seen simply because we look for them, or the language was consciously crafted this way, it is plain to see they exist, and I found it fascinating.
Vowels = Elements of the language
A = fire
E = wind
I = water
O = earth
U = the human element (the spirit of man)
Ma = feminine Na = masculine
when ma and na come together, they make the life power, mana.
MAlaMA- to care for, (feminine) nurturing
"na" - more/ plural
" 'ai"- (fire and water) steam, life energy, food, to feed
'ai + na = " 'aina"- land, that which feeds us
"ha"- shared breath, breath of life, etc is in so many important words
"i" - self/ subconscious?
HA + WAI + I
This was how he brought it all together- the name of this place also, in a way, contains its mission statement for how to live in harmony.
I hope I got all that right... please correct me if I'm missing the point!
Vowels = Elements of the language
A = fire
E = wind
I = water
O = earth
U = the human element (the spirit of man)
Ma = feminine Na = masculine
when ma and na come together, they make the life power, mana.
MAlaMA- to care for, (feminine) nurturing
"na" - more/ plural
" 'ai"- (fire and water) steam, life energy, food, to feed
'ai + na = " 'aina"- land, that which feeds us
"ha"- shared breath, breath of life, etc is in so many important words
- aloHA
- maHAlo
- 'oHAna.... earth + life + more (future)
- poHAku... darkness + life... first breath from which we came
"i" - self/ subconscious?
HA + WAI + I
This was how he brought it all together- the name of this place also, in a way, contains its mission statement for how to live in harmony.
I hope I got all that right... please correct me if I'm missing the point!
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Ted Talks
I like that we watch a lot of Ted talks videos in this class. I had been introduced to these in ANTH 2000 with a talk about education by Ken Robinson. That video actually crossed over into my writing class because it prompted me to choose education reform as my research topic for the semester.
I have been meaning to just go on the website and search around; I might find some additional interesting videos on my own.
Some things I have liked about/ taken away from the Talks we have watched so far in this class:
"[Rules] prevent disaster, but what they ensure in its place is mediocrity"
-Barry Schwartz
Michael Pollan: Plant's Eye View
I keep hearing about Michael Pollan's books such as The Omnivore's Dilemma and In Defense of Food. I am interested in the subject and have been meaning to read his books- one of those things you want to do but never make time for... I also just found out that he teaches at UC Berkley, which means he lives somewhere close to my area. I have a good friend who is attending Berkley for Environmental Studies, so I told him that Michael Pollan teaches at his school and that he should try to get a class with him. I would, if I was there.
This was kind of a fascinating subject to hear someone talk about- it sounds really crazy but he might actually have something there.
-plants might actually be manipulating us on a biological level, which would make agriculture not an invention but a co-evolutionary process.
-Descarte's theory that awareness separates subjects from objects has led us down a path to believing we have dominion over environment
-Human consciousness may not be the end of creation
-where we have our advanced brains and self-reflection, plants have biochemistry and have perfected it to an insane level
Michael Pollan puts himself out there by asking, "what if the corn is using us to take over the world?" Humorous, but (I think) believable.
He also states that he has another book out called the Botany of Desire, which is also now a documentary. Now I really want to watch it; it is added to my mental list of things I have heard about in this class that I need to check out. Along with the Hunt for Red October and the Value of Hawai'i.
I have been meaning to just go on the website and search around; I might find some additional interesting videos on my own.
Some things I have liked about/ taken away from the Talks we have watched so far in this class:
"[Rules] prevent disaster, but what they ensure in its place is mediocrity"
-Barry Schwartz
Michael Pollan: Plant's Eye View
I keep hearing about Michael Pollan's books such as The Omnivore's Dilemma and In Defense of Food. I am interested in the subject and have been meaning to read his books- one of those things you want to do but never make time for... I also just found out that he teaches at UC Berkley, which means he lives somewhere close to my area. I have a good friend who is attending Berkley for Environmental Studies, so I told him that Michael Pollan teaches at his school and that he should try to get a class with him. I would, if I was there.
This was kind of a fascinating subject to hear someone talk about- it sounds really crazy but he might actually have something there.
-plants might actually be manipulating us on a biological level, which would make agriculture not an invention but a co-evolutionary process.
-Descarte's theory that awareness separates subjects from objects has led us down a path to believing we have dominion over environment
-Human consciousness may not be the end of creation
-where we have our advanced brains and self-reflection, plants have biochemistry and have perfected it to an insane level
Michael Pollan puts himself out there by asking, "what if the corn is using us to take over the world?" Humorous, but (I think) believable.
He also states that he has another book out called the Botany of Desire, which is also now a documentary. Now I really want to watch it; it is added to my mental list of things I have heard about in this class that I need to check out. Along with the Hunt for Red October and the Value of Hawai'i.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Kevin's Farm and the Green club
I talked to Kevin Vaccarello after he spoke to our class, because I thought the Green club at HPU would love to help out or take a tour of his farm. I am also very excited to take the tour with the class, but I wanted to share it with the Green club and give them the opportunity as well.
I have been an active member of Green club since last semester and I am a co-head of the Recycling committee for the Hawaii loa campus. My friend Danielle and I started it last year because we noticed the Green club was working really hard to get paper recycling for the downtown campus, but there was no one in the club who knew much about the HLC, and no one on the HLC had created an effective and lasting paper recycling service. Apparently some students had tried years ago, but with the student turnover it fell flat. When we came into the picture, the campus had no paper recycling whatsoever, which is ridiculous for a school in Hawaii that claims to be employing sustainable ideas.
We decided to change that, and last year I discovered how much work it really takes to get something like this off the ground. This year we have much more support and hope for the program. The Green club is also taking on the garden project and hoping to create a closed-loop system- food from the garden supplying the dining commons, and the food waste being composted back into the garden. Dr. Primavera is also expanding his aquaponics facility and we have been hoping to be involved in that or learn about it.
The club is also hoping to do more community-oriented projects this year. That said, I knew as soon as Kevin started talking that the Green club would take a huge interest in his farm. I told our president about it at the meeting a couple of days later, and it turns out he knew exactly who Kevin was and a little about what he is doing. He thought it was great that I talked to him and asked me to email him about helping with his farm. I'll let you know how it plays out.
I have been an active member of Green club since last semester and I am a co-head of the Recycling committee for the Hawaii loa campus. My friend Danielle and I started it last year because we noticed the Green club was working really hard to get paper recycling for the downtown campus, but there was no one in the club who knew much about the HLC, and no one on the HLC had created an effective and lasting paper recycling service. Apparently some students had tried years ago, but with the student turnover it fell flat. When we came into the picture, the campus had no paper recycling whatsoever, which is ridiculous for a school in Hawaii that claims to be employing sustainable ideas.
We decided to change that, and last year I discovered how much work it really takes to get something like this off the ground. This year we have much more support and hope for the program. The Green club is also taking on the garden project and hoping to create a closed-loop system- food from the garden supplying the dining commons, and the food waste being composted back into the garden. Dr. Primavera is also expanding his aquaponics facility and we have been hoping to be involved in that or learn about it.
The club is also hoping to do more community-oriented projects this year. That said, I knew as soon as Kevin started talking that the Green club would take a huge interest in his farm. I told our president about it at the meeting a couple of days later, and it turns out he knew exactly who Kevin was and a little about what he is doing. He thought it was great that I talked to him and asked me to email him about helping with his farm. I'll let you know how it plays out.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Day 1
I have been excited for ANTH 3115 all summer because it sounded really interesting, and because I was glad to have Dr. Cruz as a teacher again. (Also because my other classes this semester are more general and not very exciting!) Of my required classes, this is one that I was actually looking forward to. I want to know more about how cultural issues affect environmental issues and vice versa. I am also looking forward to studying nutrition and the food industry, because I want to know more about it from an academic standpoint as well as to personally eat better.
I like that Dr. Cruz always offers a lot of field trips. Going out and seeing the things you are learning about in the real world is one of the best ways to learn, and it is also great to see some parts of the island I might not normally get a chance to visit. I have been to some of the places before, in ANTH 1000, such as Mokauea Island and the Likeke trail. I may decide to go a second time, or I may try to focus more on the trips I have not been on. Since there are so many, I may end up going on more than 2 trips- I want to take advantage of the opportunity to go to some of these places. I especially want to see Makua valley. I also want to go to one of the heiaus, and help with at least one of the restoration projects. After all, as an Environmental Science major and an active member of the GREEN club at HPU, conservation/ restoration is something I will be doing a lot during my college career and beyond.
I like that Dr. Cruz always offers a lot of field trips. Going out and seeing the things you are learning about in the real world is one of the best ways to learn, and it is also great to see some parts of the island I might not normally get a chance to visit. I have been to some of the places before, in ANTH 1000, such as Mokauea Island and the Likeke trail. I may decide to go a second time, or I may try to focus more on the trips I have not been on. Since there are so many, I may end up going on more than 2 trips- I want to take advantage of the opportunity to go to some of these places. I especially want to see Makua valley. I also want to go to one of the heiaus, and help with at least one of the restoration projects. After all, as an Environmental Science major and an active member of the GREEN club at HPU, conservation/ restoration is something I will be doing a lot during my college career and beyond.
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