I wanted to write about this extremely important issue that relates to Hawaii in numerous ways. From the top of the mountain to the ocean and reef. Energy affects all of us, it could be the cost of our electric bill all the way to impacting the environment as a whole.
I had a meeting with Pai Kamana members and a guest speaker named Dr. Allen. He is a chemist instructor here at MCC. Anyway he came and spoke to our group for about an hour. He gave us a very brief overview of what we could do here on Maui with photo voltaic energy. He said that we could be world leaders in creating a plan to go green and create sustainable energy here in the islands. I really liked what he had to say, it really made sense and I want to help support this move towards a cleaner, cheaper and better world for all of creation. Dr. Allen had a lot of information about what we could and should demand as students to aid the energy crisis here on campus. I think that he would be a great guest speaker in our class, so that everyone could hear what he had to say. Basically new construction on campus is still using old technology and energy wasting methods instead of the new and better way of photo voltaic "green and free from the sun" energy. We could have a learning class that teaches and installs the photo voltaic panels on campus on every building. By doing this we would be able to reduce the energy bill at MCC and have all that extra money for scholarships or programs or classes or higher pay for our all important instructors. There is so much that we could be doing with "going green" and creating a sustainable future as well as energy. These students would then go out into the community and do the same. It would create jobs, businesses and a greener future for Hawaii and help everything with the trickle-down effect. Dr. Allen said that the Bill Gates of the future will be in sustainable energy and photo voltaics, this will be the wave of the future, why not be the leaders here on Maui. The main point that Dr. Allen said to us was that until we as a state CHANGE POLICY AND MANDATE NEW BUILDING LAWS THAT REQUIRE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SUSTAINABLE ENERGY AND PHOTO VOLTAICS, NOTHING WILL CHANGE. He said that we have to write to our legislature and demand the CHANGE IN POLICY AND THE PERMIT PROCESS, so that changes will occur. Until we do this as a whole it will not move fast enough to make much of a difference in our islands or life. This is a time where we all need to unite and make it happen for all of our future to improve as well as the earth.
There is so much to cover and I can not do justice on this blog, I am just providing a brief overview to this critical subject. I also got an email from Save Makena that relates to this same topic of discussion. http://savemakena@gmail.com :
This according to Savemakena.com:
*Maui needs to end its addiction to imported oil (palm oil or fossil fuel oil, they're both junk!) and start creating an economy in "Green Collar Jobs", and then we can also get off our dependency on development so we can save our special places instead of build them up!Go check out the renewable energy forum @ Kihei Community Center Tomorrow night at 6:30pm. Abengoa Solar, the world's largest solar electric plant is coming to present to Maui's public, legislators and candidates, their sustainable energy production.
1.) Tuesday, Oct. 28th, 6:30-9 pm: Renewable Energy Forum-Kihei Community Center- See attached Flyer. There will be a Q&A also.
I also found an article in the current issue of Maui Time Weekly: Here Comes the Sun: Harnessing Hawaii's Renewable Energy Resource. It is a great article and covers a lot of information relating to renewable solar, wind and wave energy here in the islands. The article also talked about the solar company Abengoa that will be at the forum at Kihei Community Center on October 28, 2008. The article talked about the many jobs that would emerge via this technology, the benefit to the environment as well as lower energy bills and our future. I like this move forward for Maui and Hawaii.
Here is a website that helps to explain what Photovoltaics are and how they work with the sun to produce electricity. http://www1.eere.energy.gov/solar/pv_basics.html This is put out by the US Department of Energy on Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. I truly believe that this is an issue that we all must learn about and help to enforce as "new policy" for our islands future. It just makes perfect sense! The oil is and will run out completely! Why not start the change process now? Before the oil runs out and we are left in panic mode. I want to be on this wave of change! Mahalo Annjulie
Monday, October 27, 2008
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Who to vote for in 08?
I am still undecided of who to vote for as far as the Hawaii candidates. It is really a tough issue because most of the time you go to vote and there are rules that make you vote within a certain party and do we really "know" the candidates? I mean they are mostly corrupt as far as I am concerned. For me, it is basically vote for the best of the bad because I do not know of any genuine politicians in America---they are all somewhat corrupt and biased. What if I like someone who is a republican even though I support Democrats in general and I am definitely voting for Obama for president--there is no way in hell I will support another Bush administration for the next four years. But I have some issues with Obama as well, for instance I heard him say that he would push the Akaka Bill and support it heavily, and I do not think the Akaka bill is good for Hawaii or Hawaiian people. I think that Obama most likely wants to aid the Hawaiian people and he probably thinks that the Akaka bill will help, but he probably has not really researched it entirely himself. So that is a huge fault and assumption on his part.
I really liked going to the forum last week to "meet the candidates" I thought that it was somewhat helpful as to making an educated decision on who to vote for. And actually I was surprised by one candidate Mickey Vierra R running for upcountry Maui district 12. I thought that he did a great job on answering questions and I liked what he had to say. I do not usually support republicans because they do not represent the working class such as myself in my opinion. However I did like what he had to say, but do I really know this guy? the answer is no! I decided to do some further research on him and actually not sure that I will support him. On this website called smart vote they did not have much of anything to say and I was left disappointed with this candidate, it is so hard to vote smart! This according to project votesmart website:
"Mickey Vierra repeatedly refused to provide any responses to citizens on the issues through the 2008 Political Courage Test when asked to do so by national leaders of the political parties, prominent members of the media, Project Vote Smart President Richard Kimball, and Project Vote Smart staff. "
I liked this website because it gives additional information on our candidates and helps to make a more informed vote. Http://www.votesmart.org/npat.php?can_id=109606
http://www.kalanienglish.com/
I also wanted to comment on Senator Kalani English. I grew up in Hana so I have known Kalani for many years and for the most part I like and support what he has accomplished and done for Maui in the past. I will also vote for him in the future because he is a good senator and supports critical issues that affect all of Hawaii in a positive way that I agree with. Such as invasive species. I went and spoke to him after the forum and he told me that he actually was instrumental in creating the Maui Invasive Species Committee which is now known as the Hawaii Invasive Species Committee and each island has their own chapter. In doing research, I have learned that invasive species is the single biggest threat to Hawaii and our future relating to impact. This according to Hear.org http://hear.org/
I really liked going to the forum last week to "meet the candidates" I thought that it was somewhat helpful as to making an educated decision on who to vote for. And actually I was surprised by one candidate Mickey Vierra R running for upcountry Maui district 12. I thought that he did a great job on answering questions and I liked what he had to say. I do not usually support republicans because they do not represent the working class such as myself in my opinion. However I did like what he had to say, but do I really know this guy? the answer is no! I decided to do some further research on him and actually not sure that I will support him. On this website called smart vote they did not have much of anything to say and I was left disappointed with this candidate, it is so hard to vote smart! This according to project votesmart website:
"Mickey Vierra repeatedly refused to provide any responses to citizens on the issues through the 2008 Political Courage Test when asked to do so by national leaders of the political parties, prominent members of the media, Project Vote Smart President Richard Kimball, and Project Vote Smart staff. "
I liked this website because it gives additional information on our candidates and helps to make a more informed vote. Http://www.votesmart.org/npat.php?can_id=109606
http://www.kalanienglish.com/
I also wanted to comment on Senator Kalani English. I grew up in Hana so I have known Kalani for many years and for the most part I like and support what he has accomplished and done for Maui in the past. I will also vote for him in the future because he is a good senator and supports critical issues that affect all of Hawaii in a positive way that I agree with. Such as invasive species. I went and spoke to him after the forum and he told me that he actually was instrumental in creating the Maui Invasive Species Committee which is now known as the Hawaii Invasive Species Committee and each island has their own chapter. In doing research, I have learned that invasive species is the single biggest threat to Hawaii and our future relating to impact. This according to Hear.org http://hear.org/
Mahalo AnnjulieThe invasive species problem in Hawaii. The silent invasion of Hawai'i by
insects, disease organisms, snakes, weeds, and other pests is the single
greatest threat to Hawaii's economy and natural environment and to the health
and lifestyle of Hawaii's people. Pests already cause millions of dollars in
crop losses, the extinction of native species, the destruction of native
forests, and the spread of disease. But many more harmful pests now threaten to
invade Hawai'i and wreak further damage. Even one new pest--like the brown tree
snake--could forever change the character of our islands. Stopping the influx of
new pests and containing their spread is essential to Hawaii's future
well-being.
Despite the efforts of more than 20 state, federal, and private
agencies, unwanted alien pests are entering Hawai'i at an alarming rate - about
2 million times more rapid than the natural rate. In 1993, the federal Office of
Technology Assessment declared Hawaii's alien pest species problem the worst in
the nation. Hawaii's evolutionary isolation from the continents, and its modern
role as the commercial hub of the Pacific make these islands particularly
vulnerable to destruction by alien pests. Gaps in current pest prevention
systems and a lack of public awareness add further to this serious problem.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Are We "Celebrating" 50 Years of Statehood? According to the Government it is a Commemoration!
I wanted to research this to get informed and I am curious because I keep seeing the commercials on television regarding statehood and I wanted to dig deeper to maybe learn the "real truth" on this critical issue and how Hawaiians actually feel about it. I know in my heart how most feel, but is it portrayed in the media and history books...not at all until recently, and only some truths are general knowledge. You have to really get educated and research to find the "real truth" about Hawaii.
Over the years I have been studying and learning what I can about Hawaiian history because I am a citizen and I want to know the truth as much as possible. Relating to statehood, it seems that the public is not totally informed, visitors and mainland Americans have absolutely "no clue" when it comes to Hawaii and the many issues that surround it or the history in general. I think that the United States has bullied its way into Hawaii and just do what they please to benefit the military and the wealth of the U.S. The US knows exactly what they are doing since the overthrow of the kingdom. It has been a strategic plan to "acquire" Hawaii from the beginning!
The way the Treaty of Annexation was done in an "un-honest" way to say the least. The fact that 38,000 Hawaiians out of 40,000 total population were against annexation was completely ignored is horrifying. This is how the US works to get what they want. I am a born American, but that does not make me American in how I think! I think that there are many Americans that feel as I do and do not agree with the tactics of American Government, there are also many that are just ignorant and do not give a shit about any of the unjust committed by our government.
So I did some research (I want to do more) and what I have found is pretty ugly. It makes me and the country that I was born in look like greedy assholes that just do what ever it takes to gain more power and wealth including: Cheating, lying, killing, destroying, overtaking, colonizing, and of course tricking entire peoples and nations and kingdoms.
It is hard for me to even write objectively because everything is based on the above statements. The Native Indians have been nearly destroyed as well as the Hawaiian people.
So now back to "statehood", I have been seeing all of these commercials and I wanted to see for myself what people thought back in 1959 and today about statehood. Sure a lot of people were "for" and supported statehood or we would not be a state, but of course it was "achieved" in a sneaky way so that the native Hawaiian peoples voice was not heard because if it was we probably would not be a state, and certainly would not have been annexed.
This according to http://www.hawaii-nation.org/statehood2.html
Over the years I have been studying and learning what I can about Hawaiian history because I am a citizen and I want to know the truth as much as possible. Relating to statehood, it seems that the public is not totally informed, visitors and mainland Americans have absolutely "no clue" when it comes to Hawaii and the many issues that surround it or the history in general. I think that the United States has bullied its way into Hawaii and just do what they please to benefit the military and the wealth of the U.S. The US knows exactly what they are doing since the overthrow of the kingdom. It has been a strategic plan to "acquire" Hawaii from the beginning!
The way the Treaty of Annexation was done in an "un-honest" way to say the least. The fact that 38,000 Hawaiians out of 40,000 total population were against annexation was completely ignored is horrifying. This is how the US works to get what they want. I am a born American, but that does not make me American in how I think! I think that there are many Americans that feel as I do and do not agree with the tactics of American Government, there are also many that are just ignorant and do not give a shit about any of the unjust committed by our government.
So I did some research (I want to do more) and what I have found is pretty ugly. It makes me and the country that I was born in look like greedy assholes that just do what ever it takes to gain more power and wealth including: Cheating, lying, killing, destroying, overtaking, colonizing, and of course tricking entire peoples and nations and kingdoms.
It is hard for me to even write objectively because everything is based on the above statements. The Native Indians have been nearly destroyed as well as the Hawaiian people.
So now back to "statehood", I have been seeing all of these commercials and I wanted to see for myself what people thought back in 1959 and today about statehood. Sure a lot of people were "for" and supported statehood or we would not be a state, but of course it was "achieved" in a sneaky way so that the native Hawaiian peoples voice was not heard because if it was we probably would not be a state, and certainly would not have been annexed.
This according to http://www.hawaii-nation.org/statehood2.html
The "Statehood Process" for Hawai`i was a double fraud. It not only failed to provide the correct set of choices to be voted upon. The process altered the "self" who could exercise "self determination." The qualified voters in this process were U.S. citizens who had resided in Hawai`i for at least one year. Since the American invasion and annexation and during its watch, thousands had migrated to Hawai`i, coming from the U.S., Europe, Asia and other Pacific Islands. Many were associated with the U.S. military's presence in Hawai`i. Others came for employment, education, opportunities or escape. These people who were or took up U.S. citizenship were all permitted to vote. But those who dared to declare themselves Hawaiian citizens, refusing to accept the imposed American citizenship, could not vote.
The Americans controlled education, economics, media, the judiciary as well as the internal political processes, managing in these years to continually squeeze the Hawaiian identity from public life. This practice of altering the "self" by maintaining control over transmigration, public education and economic dependence is familiar among colonial countries not wanting to lose their colonial possessions. France's conduct in Tahiti and New Caledonia and Indonesia's in East Timor, West Papua, and the Moluccas Islands are mirrors of the U.S.' conduct in Hawai`i.
Thus, 38 years after the Statehood vote in Hawai`i, the question of Statehood is being revisited, pried open, in fact, by this better understanding in Hawai`i of the rights which should have been accorded the "real" people of Hawai`i entitled to vote on such an important question.
This information is from from 11 years ago, but this is still being discussed today. Fifty years of statehood will be "commemorated" next August. The word "celebrated" is not used because according to The Honolulu Advertiser article: Statehood Commemoration Starts Leading Up to Hawaii's 50th Year is not "sensitive" to those who opposed it. http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080814/NEWS03/808140358/-1/RSS02
"The commemoration also will "be sensitive" to those in Hawai'i who have opposed statehood.The 25-member commission, for instance, has tried to avoid the use of the word "celebration," opting instead for the more neutral "commemoration." It has also promised to present all sides of the statehood story in its activities".
You can also go to http://www.hawaii.gov/statehood/ and there is a lot of information on the history of statehood plus the commercials that sparked me to research this topic as well as what the state plans are for the "commemoration" of 50 years of statehood. They "appear" to try to be somewhat biased, but not really! Mahalo Annjulie
Monday, October 6, 2008
It is all good today: Eastmaui Watershed Art Contest
Aloha and please enjoy,
I wanted to write about something that is both dear and positive to me. Last week was the annual art contest held by Eastmaui Watershed Partnership and Viewpoints gallery that highlights the native and endemic species on Maui. The contest not only brings awareness to all of us but it also brings a lot of beauty into our life.
I entered six photos and one painted ceramic plate, out of that, one photo was selected for the show. I am sure I did not place, but just to get selected was an honor. Out of 180 entries only 65 pieces were chosen including the elementary, middle and high school. My daughter also was selected for the elementary division with her painted ceramic plate "Hau hele wai" or the pink hibiscus of Maui. I was told by the biologist that this hibiscus is most common in Kipahulu valley, which is were I grew up (lower valley), so not only did I learn about the flower from the book "Growing Hawaii's Native Plants, but I learned even more from the biologist on hand at the gallery.
So I think that this is an absolutely awesome project that spreads awareness, creates money for the watershed, gallery, and artist and is a positive move forward for conservation on Maui. We have so many negative things going on right now in Maui and Hawaii, I wanted to focus on something good.
The show will be on display at Viewpoints Gallery in Makawao through October 21, 2008. If anyone is interested in native hawaiian habitat and species, I really encourage you to go and check it out. This project started as an idea and now has come full circle into a great success as an annual event. The art that was created in many different mediums, is absolutely astounding to say the least. I could have spent thousands of dollars, I wanted many of the artworks. This is also a chance for people to learn at the same time as getting maximum enjoyment either creating an artwork or simply going to view the work. Most of the pieces have a brief description about the species or scape, it is learning for all of us. The children love it too.
Some of the photos that I saw blew me away. It is a good way to get a glimpse of the fragile ecosystems and species that are not accessible to the average person. An extremely rare lobilia flower from the West Maui Bog.....wow incredible....how else would I ever have learned or even seen this flower if not for the art show/contest. It is a great cause and we all need to support these types of efforts hosted by the people and businesses of Maui/Hawaii.
If you do not have time to go to the gallery just visit the website of Eastmaui Watershed Partnership. http://eastmauiwatershed.org/art/ breathtaking art to enjoy.
Part of the importance of this event is also to learn what is native and what is non-native and INVASIVE. I learned in Hawaiian Field Biology 105 that before human contact a new speceis made it to the islands and established itself about once every 97,000 years. Now with the plant and nursery busisness as well as florists a new species gets here on average, can you believe this, ONE TO TWO EVERY MONTH!!! We all need to learn about this terrible epidemic. Just in the past couple of years I myself have seen the Wiliwili tree nearly die out, the Ohia rust take over east Maui, stinging nettle engulf Haiku and other areas, bee mite in Oahu and now in Hilo, fireweed is completely out of control... It just goes on and on. It makes me so sad because we could stop this and step up on ag. inspection accross the state. We all need to be aware when buying and planting ornamentals. I feel that there should be a committee to assess what is being shipped here and also to studdy impact on the whole. For anyone who wants to do this on their own, you can go to Hear.org and they have a great website that will tell you about invasive, native, endemic, and non-invasive species. Hey, we all owe it to our children, the islands and the fragile environment. Hear stands for Hawaii ecosystems at risk. Please check it out and visit this website it is another great one.
http://hear.org/
Back to the art contest. I think that all of us as citizens of Maui and Hawaii have a responsibility to preserve and protect the fragile environment as well as its species. This is a great example of people doing just that and also at the same time making a huge impact on residents as well as the children. I was proud to even enter and for my daughter and I both to get selected tells me that I am learning and helping to do my part where I can. Together we can make a difference. Malama Wao Akua
Mahalo Annjulie
References are: Growing Hawaii's Native plants, The Eastmaui Watershed Partnership and Haleakala National Park employee and artist Mellisa Chimera. And Hear.org.
I wanted to write about something that is both dear and positive to me. Last week was the annual art contest held by Eastmaui Watershed Partnership and Viewpoints gallery that highlights the native and endemic species on Maui. The contest not only brings awareness to all of us but it also brings a lot of beauty into our life.
I entered six photos and one painted ceramic plate, out of that, one photo was selected for the show. I am sure I did not place, but just to get selected was an honor. Out of 180 entries only 65 pieces were chosen including the elementary, middle and high school. My daughter also was selected for the elementary division with her painted ceramic plate "Hau hele wai" or the pink hibiscus of Maui. I was told by the biologist that this hibiscus is most common in Kipahulu valley, which is were I grew up (lower valley), so not only did I learn about the flower from the book "Growing Hawaii's Native Plants, but I learned even more from the biologist on hand at the gallery.
So I think that this is an absolutely awesome project that spreads awareness, creates money for the watershed, gallery, and artist and is a positive move forward for conservation on Maui. We have so many negative things going on right now in Maui and Hawaii, I wanted to focus on something good.
The show will be on display at Viewpoints Gallery in Makawao through October 21, 2008. If anyone is interested in native hawaiian habitat and species, I really encourage you to go and check it out. This project started as an idea and now has come full circle into a great success as an annual event. The art that was created in many different mediums, is absolutely astounding to say the least. I could have spent thousands of dollars, I wanted many of the artworks. This is also a chance for people to learn at the same time as getting maximum enjoyment either creating an artwork or simply going to view the work. Most of the pieces have a brief description about the species or scape, it is learning for all of us. The children love it too.
Some of the photos that I saw blew me away. It is a good way to get a glimpse of the fragile ecosystems and species that are not accessible to the average person. An extremely rare lobilia flower from the West Maui Bog.....wow incredible....how else would I ever have learned or even seen this flower if not for the art show/contest. It is a great cause and we all need to support these types of efforts hosted by the people and businesses of Maui/Hawaii.
If you do not have time to go to the gallery just visit the website of Eastmaui Watershed Partnership. http://eastmauiwatershed.org/art/ breathtaking art to enjoy.
Part of the importance of this event is also to learn what is native and what is non-native and INVASIVE. I learned in Hawaiian Field Biology 105 that before human contact a new speceis made it to the islands and established itself about once every 97,000 years. Now with the plant and nursery busisness as well as florists a new species gets here on average, can you believe this, ONE TO TWO EVERY MONTH!!! We all need to learn about this terrible epidemic. Just in the past couple of years I myself have seen the Wiliwili tree nearly die out, the Ohia rust take over east Maui, stinging nettle engulf Haiku and other areas, bee mite in Oahu and now in Hilo, fireweed is completely out of control... It just goes on and on. It makes me so sad because we could stop this and step up on ag. inspection accross the state. We all need to be aware when buying and planting ornamentals. I feel that there should be a committee to assess what is being shipped here and also to studdy impact on the whole. For anyone who wants to do this on their own, you can go to Hear.org and they have a great website that will tell you about invasive, native, endemic, and non-invasive species. Hey, we all owe it to our children, the islands and the fragile environment. Hear stands for Hawaii ecosystems at risk. Please check it out and visit this website it is another great one.
http://hear.org/
Back to the art contest. I think that all of us as citizens of Maui and Hawaii have a responsibility to preserve and protect the fragile environment as well as its species. This is a great example of people doing just that and also at the same time making a huge impact on residents as well as the children. I was proud to even enter and for my daughter and I both to get selected tells me that I am learning and helping to do my part where I can. Together we can make a difference. Malama Wao Akua
Mahalo Annjulie
References are: Growing Hawaii's Native plants, The Eastmaui Watershed Partnership and Haleakala National Park employee and artist Mellisa Chimera. And Hear.org.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Hawaiian Water Rights Restored Now! Water Flow Return Needed for Native Speceis Survival
I attended the State Commission on Water Resource Management hearing at Haiku on Wednesday, and gave public testimony. It has been a long time coming for this issue to be heard and dealt with for the Hawaiian people of Maui. According to The Maui News, at issue was a 7-year-old petition filed by the Native Hawaiian Legal Corp. on behalf of Na Moku Aupuni O Koolau Hui and taro growers to restore water currently diverted by East Maui Irrigation Co. for the Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co.
The taro farmers have been in a long battle to restore a minimal water flow to at least 27 streams of east Maui. The instream standards recommended by state Commission of Water Resource Management staff included the following in particular; Honopou, 1.7 million gallons a day, Hanehoi, 1.72 million gallons a day, Piinaau, 3.56 million gallons a day, Waiokamilo, 3.17 million gallons a day and Wailuanui, 1.97 million gallons a day. Weather this is enough water for the taro farmers and for the ecosystem of the stream biota and species to survive remains uncertain. At least it is a start and if granted, this will be a historic ruling for our entire state.
I started attending MCC in 2005 and everything that I have since learned supports a mandatory minimum water flow, that runs to the sea. Skippy Hau, our state stream biologist for Maui County has been conducting data studies since 1989 on Hihiwai in particular, as well as O'opu and Opae in relationship to the stream flow (or no steam flow). He told my class that not only the Hihiwai and other native species of the stream are in grave danger of becoming extinct (without flow to the sea), but also our reef and limu species are extremely threatened without the streams providing the life-line of nutrients from the mountain to the ocean. Skippy Young from Hana also supported this issue of the native biota and species and brought it to the attention of the commission regarding the reef (he was the only one to mention the health of the ecosystems including the reef, limu, and ocean species). It is all connected and is in severe threat of dying.
Skippy Young testified first and then many followed, including myself. I was totally impressed with everyone who testified on behalf of the return of stream flow. Charles Villalon, testified on behalf of the reinstated Hawaiian government, demanding stream restoration, and disputed the state's authority to take the water at all. I felt that this meeting was extremely powerful, and I commend those who did testify because they hit the commission with smart intellect and the Hawaiian Kingdom Constitutional rights.
Thank you for coming and listening to all of us, as this has been a long time coming. My name is Annjulie Vai, I grew up in Kipahulu, I am a full time student at MCC, taking business and Hawaiian studies. Some of you are doctors and you all look like really intelligent people to me, so you do not need all of us to tell you to restore the water to the streams, this is a no-brainer, you know what to do, all of you. I said that I wanted to commend Skippy Young for bringing the marine life and reef into the discussion because no one had even mentioned that aspect of the equation. I told them that everything that I have been learning at school supports the stream flow and that Skippy Hau is the only person collecting data since 1989 (almost 30 years) and that he says that the reef and species are dying without the nutrients from the stream. I said all of you have a bottle of water to drink, it has been a long day, you need the water to survive, well so does the stream and everything in it all the way to the sea. Our babies need water to survive, our farmers, our taro, and pretty much everything on earth. I said look at all of the unjust that the Hawaiian people have endured in the past, this is your opportunity to do what is right. Please return the water now.... Thank you.
My resources are:
The Maui News, Historic ruling looms for restoring streams, published on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2008. By Chris Hamilton.
Public testimony by Skippy Young, Hana resident and Native Hawaiian as well as Charles Villalon of Keanae also Native Hawaiian.
Biologist Skippy Hau and what I learned from Hawaiian Field Biology 105 & Botany 105.
The taro farmers have been in a long battle to restore a minimal water flow to at least 27 streams of east Maui. The instream standards recommended by state Commission of Water Resource Management staff included the following in particular; Honopou, 1.7 million gallons a day, Hanehoi, 1.72 million gallons a day, Piinaau, 3.56 million gallons a day, Waiokamilo, 3.17 million gallons a day and Wailuanui, 1.97 million gallons a day. Weather this is enough water for the taro farmers and for the ecosystem of the stream biota and species to survive remains uncertain. At least it is a start and if granted, this will be a historic ruling for our entire state.
I started attending MCC in 2005 and everything that I have since learned supports a mandatory minimum water flow, that runs to the sea. Skippy Hau, our state stream biologist for Maui County has been conducting data studies since 1989 on Hihiwai in particular, as well as O'opu and Opae in relationship to the stream flow (or no steam flow). He told my class that not only the Hihiwai and other native species of the stream are in grave danger of becoming extinct (without flow to the sea), but also our reef and limu species are extremely threatened without the streams providing the life-line of nutrients from the mountain to the ocean. Skippy Young from Hana also supported this issue of the native biota and species and brought it to the attention of the commission regarding the reef (he was the only one to mention the health of the ecosystems including the reef, limu, and ocean species). It is all connected and is in severe threat of dying.
Skippy Young testified first and then many followed, including myself. I was totally impressed with everyone who testified on behalf of the return of stream flow. Charles Villalon, testified on behalf of the reinstated Hawaiian government, demanding stream restoration, and disputed the state's authority to take the water at all. I felt that this meeting was extremely powerful, and I commend those who did testify because they hit the commission with smart intellect and the Hawaiian Kingdom Constitutional rights.
I had prepared written testimony, but once I heard many others give testimony for and against the stream flow, I decided to go off the sleeve and concentrate on the core issue of native species being threatened. From what I can remember this is what I said:Under the State Water Code, the commission is charged with balancing the needs of stream life and ecosystems, along with wildlife, recreational uses, aesthetics and Native Hawaiian rights, against the need for water from streams for agricultural and domestic uses.
Thank you for coming and listening to all of us, as this has been a long time coming. My name is Annjulie Vai, I grew up in Kipahulu, I am a full time student at MCC, taking business and Hawaiian studies. Some of you are doctors and you all look like really intelligent people to me, so you do not need all of us to tell you to restore the water to the streams, this is a no-brainer, you know what to do, all of you. I said that I wanted to commend Skippy Young for bringing the marine life and reef into the discussion because no one had even mentioned that aspect of the equation. I told them that everything that I have been learning at school supports the stream flow and that Skippy Hau is the only person collecting data since 1989 (almost 30 years) and that he says that the reef and species are dying without the nutrients from the stream. I said all of you have a bottle of water to drink, it has been a long day, you need the water to survive, well so does the stream and everything in it all the way to the sea. Our babies need water to survive, our farmers, our taro, and pretty much everything on earth. I said look at all of the unjust that the Hawaiian people have endured in the past, this is your opportunity to do what is right. Please return the water now.... Thank you.
My resources are:
The Maui News, Historic ruling looms for restoring streams, published on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2008. By Chris Hamilton.
Public testimony by Skippy Young, Hana resident and Native Hawaiian as well as Charles Villalon of Keanae also Native Hawaiian.
Biologist Skippy Hau and what I learned from Hawaiian Field Biology 105 & Botany 105.
Monday, September 22, 2008
On Being Hawaiian
According to Jon Osorio, being Hawaiian is ultimately about not wishing to be anything else. I do agree with this statement, but I would like to explore further. What do you say to a non-Hawaiian who has been born and raised in Hawaii, in the traditional old way (Kipahulu off the land), but is not Hawaiian by ethnicity? Am I then considered to be Hawaiian at heart? I mean I do not consider myself to be American in the way that I think even though I am white!
When I started school in Hana, I was the only haole in the class and it was very challenging to fit in and be happy because I was racially discriminated many times daily for years because of my skin color. As the years went on I made friends with all my classmates and became best friends with a girl from Keanae, after that nobody gave me a hard time and I was excepted as an equal. I had to pay my dues and earn the respect and prove myself. Most people that know me well know that I am extremely passionate about the plight of the Hawaiian people.
From my point of view, I do not feel like I am a "wanna be Hawaiian", I feel that I was raised here and understand the big picture of what took place in history; I feel for the Hawaiian people so much I cannot put it into words exactly. Of course when I was little I so wanted to be Hawaiian to fit in and be excepted, and I always wished that I had brown skin, even now because white skin sucks, burns and wrinkles ha ha ha...
I have learned and continue my quest of knowledge about Hawaii and this place because I feel that if you live here it is an obligation to learn about the host culture and respect and protect at the same time. Also I love and Cherish all things Hawaiian.
P.S. I am not sure about the sources and citation but I will definitely get clear on what you expect and do so from now on.
Mahalo Annjulie
When I started school in Hana, I was the only haole in the class and it was very challenging to fit in and be happy because I was racially discriminated many times daily for years because of my skin color. As the years went on I made friends with all my classmates and became best friends with a girl from Keanae, after that nobody gave me a hard time and I was excepted as an equal. I had to pay my dues and earn the respect and prove myself. Most people that know me well know that I am extremely passionate about the plight of the Hawaiian people.
From my point of view, I do not feel like I am a "wanna be Hawaiian", I feel that I was raised here and understand the big picture of what took place in history; I feel for the Hawaiian people so much I cannot put it into words exactly. Of course when I was little I so wanted to be Hawaiian to fit in and be excepted, and I always wished that I had brown skin, even now because white skin sucks, burns and wrinkles ha ha ha...
I have learned and continue my quest of knowledge about Hawaii and this place because I feel that if you live here it is an obligation to learn about the host culture and respect and protect at the same time. Also I love and Cherish all things Hawaiian.
P.S. I am not sure about the sources and citation but I will definitely get clear on what you expect and do so from now on.
Mahalo Annjulie
Sunday, September 14, 2008
The first reading: Malcome X: my reaction
Aloha Everyone or Anyone,
I really enjoyed the first reading on Malcome X. It was very refreshing and different material than I usually read. I learned alot about the history of America and insight that I would have never known about. Thank you for bringing this reading to my attention because I do not think that I would have gone out and read this otherwise and now I will certainly read more of Malcome X and what he had to say. I thought that he was extremely articulate and presented a clear view from his perspective and was able to pass an insightful point of view on to the reader to help and understand the past.
I think that Malcome X presents his material in a way that the average "white person kind of has to relate to as well as acknowledge" took place not too long ago. It was an eye opener for me to read this and I really liked the fact that he took the time to educated himself and had concrete evidence to back up all his writings as hard as it may be to swallow these issues are real and it is part of the history of America. I think that Malcome X does an excellant job of arguing his position on many topics of discussion throughout the reading and you have to agree that he is correct about the many unjusts that have taken place throughout world history. What a great human being, what a loss that he was murdered.
I really enjoyed the first reading on Malcome X. It was very refreshing and different material than I usually read. I learned alot about the history of America and insight that I would have never known about. Thank you for bringing this reading to my attention because I do not think that I would have gone out and read this otherwise and now I will certainly read more of Malcome X and what he had to say. I thought that he was extremely articulate and presented a clear view from his perspective and was able to pass an insightful point of view on to the reader to help and understand the past.
I think that Malcome X presents his material in a way that the average "white person kind of has to relate to as well as acknowledge" took place not too long ago. It was an eye opener for me to read this and I really liked the fact that he took the time to educated himself and had concrete evidence to back up all his writings as hard as it may be to swallow these issues are real and it is part of the history of America. I think that Malcome X does an excellant job of arguing his position on many topics of discussion throughout the reading and you have to agree that he is correct about the many unjusts that have taken place throughout world history. What a great human being, what a loss that he was murdered.
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