Anth 3115 - 11/23

In class we talked about tattoos. We talked mainly about tribal Hawaiian tattoos. In early Hawaiian history tooth removal and scaring were used as a way of mourning for the death of loved ones. From my understanding they probably did this (physical pain) to counteract with the mental/ emotional pain. Not only did people who mourn have tattoos but also Hawaiian warriors and women were also tattooed themselves. If someone wanted a tattoo back then all they had were what ever was around. Ironically people in prison, got tattoos without given the proper tools of tattooing. They had to use what ever they had around =)

Anth 3115 - 11/16/10

Guest speaker Ramsay Taum came to our second class to talk about our connection with nature. He began class with "messages in water". This made me wonder how it is even possible for our moods to affect the different shapes of frozen water crystals. For example, an ice crystal around hate will be shaped differently comparing to an ice crystal around love. We also in class not just talk about this kind of significance with ice crystals and water but also other natural things (land, earth, ect.) As interesting as it may be science cannot really explain to me why these kinda things can even happen. It is almost as if the "aina" has its mind of its own. Thankyou Kumu Ramsay for coming back and talking to us again.

Anth 3115: 11/2/10

Our guest speaker for class was Daniel Anthony. He was born and raised in Waianae. He explained how he runs a family owned business that makes poi 'traditionally". Unfortunately, the government told Daniel that this was not safe and that it cannot be FDA approved. Having to make poi under the FDA rule is a lot safer but having to make it traditionally is what makes poi, poi. Personally, I see it as if one were to choose between eating either poi or paste. In our society today we survive by consuming goods and ect. Many of our problems can be solved if we stopped consuming. The problem is that everyone is a consumer.