10/26/10 Class Cancelled

Class is canceled today! Luckily, a few of my friends told me that class was canceled because I seriously would not have known. I would have been the only there and be like " what the..". Today we were suppose to get our mid-terms but that will have to wait until next week. Until then I will be reading over Ishmael and Eat Here. Our professor was unable to come to class today because her mother is sick. I hope everything goes well with your mother professor Cruz =)

10/19/10 Sweet Home Waimanalo

Instead of having class we visited Kevin's farm and restaurant. He should us his restored home that was once a home for hungry termites. He then should us the farm that was absolutely incredible. Too bad it was getting dark because I wanted to take a few pictures with the horses. After the tour of the farm we headed back to Kevin's restaurant where we had dinner. I order the bbq pork plate with sweet potato, "ono".

180 Degree South 10/12/10

In class we watched a video/documentary about Jeff Johnson as he retraces the epic 1968 journey of his heroes Yvon Chouinard and Doug Tompkins to Patagonia. I really enjoyed how this movie portrayed certain messages that were previously brought up before in class. In the video we got to see the negative impact of industrialization in communities around the world. What I found ironic is the fallen societies in the past. From what happen back then we should learn from their mistakes. But sadly enough it seems that a collapse is imment for our the future.

Anth 3115: 9/5/10

During class we had guest speakers Dr. Tong Castanba and Dr. Niklaus Schweizer. Dr. Tong Castamba talked about the top document at UH Monoa, The Bull Inter Caetera (Alexander VI) - May 4, 1493. He also explains to us why Columbus Day was changed to Discover's Day. Columbus followed the footsteps of Marco Polo. Columbus had an idea that the world was round. He landed on Guanahani in 1942 (took slaves). After Guanahani he then landed on Cuba which he thought was asia. Therefore.... he did not "discover" america. The encomienda was a system of slavery in which one would work for religion. During the encomienda, 7-8 million people died (we must rethink history). 1648 Treaty of Westphalia was based on discovery, which then became Law of Nations today. The Bull Inter Caetera today is transformed into a corporate domain. Dr. Niklaus Schweizer then talked to us after Dr. Tang Castabana. He talked about Binamu ma. 'Ai kapu means men and women cannot eat together. In November 15, 1913 this law was broken. 'Olohana was the right hand man of Kamehameha I. Palapula was the system of writing/reading. Kou was a fishing village in Hawaii. In Hawaiian history there was once a war between the missionaries and the Hawaiians which was called Kaua Kuloko.

Anth 3115: 9/28/10

We watched 2 videos. 1st video was about sustainability in our world today. 2nd video was from Machael Pollan. He talked about how plants were controlling us and the complexity of plants purposes. Machael viewed that when you give species what they want, they will grow.
Guest speaker was Kumu Ramsay Taum from Kailua. "Looking to the Past To Insure the Future" was his motto. He put a picture of an empty chair in the beginning of his powerpoint slide. It signified the person who we represent. The Hawaiian world view is circular - I belong... therefore I am! The maoli culture was developed in "isolation". Kumu taught us what Hawaii meant: Ha - breath of life; wai- water; i-relationship between people and things (spirit); Hawaii- belly button of the world. He also taught us many more hawaiian words that I already knew. Thanks Kumu Ramsay for visiting, good/fun/exiting presentation =P