Fresh Café was the recent scene of a all-ages, all-day
event, showcasing art and digital media workshops, slam poetry, bands, and
multi-media installations.
Arts as a reflection of community values stood at the forefront
of public discussion surrounding the newly released book, The Value of Hawai‘i: Knowing the Past, Shaping the Future.
Speaking with UH student organizer, Aiko Yamashiro, it is
clear that a commitment to those values is a driving force behind what is truly
an organic enterprise. Yamashiro, a graduate student in the English department,
has been working to promote a series of events intended to spur public
discussion and action.
“I was fascinated with the idea that a book could have such
an impact,” Yamashiro confided, “My concern is with how to bridge the gap and
make a difference.”
A Kane‘ohe girl and Castle HS alumni, Yamashiro has very
personal reasons for her involvement, “I believe that we only have so much
energy…Hawai‘i is my home and it’s my passion.”
The passionate efforts of Yamashiro and her cohort, Ara
Laylo, yielded a combination of workshops and outreach, sponsored, in part, by
FLUX Magazine, CMA HI, Hawai‘i Council for Humanities, University of Hawai‘i
Press, Hawai‘i Independent, and The Civil Beat.
Representatives and volunteers from various organizations
pooled their know-how and creative energies, forming an extended grass-roots
community hui - one based upon shared
values and a new vision for Hawai‘i.
In addition to voter registration and GirlFest outreach, the
public was invited by Kanu Hawai‘i organizers to make a commitment to their
community – with responses shared via continuous Twitter updates throughout the
day.
Highlighting the day, a panel of discussants shared their
mana‘o and responded to impromptu questions from audience members. The focus: the politics of arts in education
and the need to revision the future of Hawai‘i – from one with an emphasis on
the economy, to one built around the type of values that make Hawai‘i unique
amongst other world communities.
Board of Education candidate Kim Coco Iwamoto was quick to
respond to Abercrombie’s support of the traditional Youth Challenge program, as
a career path for troubled teens, many of whom are encouraged enter into the
National Guard program.
“Where is our Youth Challenge for artists?,” Iwamoto egged
the elder statesman, “We need an Art Corps armed with paint brushes and video
cameras…[to] construct and make beautiful things and not just [focus on]
killing people.”
Art professor Deborah Drexler, who has dedicated her career
to promoting the arts, fought back tears while sharing her own experience.
Drexler, whose son is due to graduate from Evergreen State and is anxious about
job prospects back in Hawai‘i, expressed concern about the lack of
opportunities in Hawai‘i and what she perceived as hollow UH administration
promises.
“All these years [at UH] I’ve been hearing, ‘we are in a
crisis right now’,” Drexler’s quivering voice stilled the crowd, “We’re promised
that things will get better…but enrollments are up and faculty is down.”
Time is of the essence, according to Richardson law
professor Mari Matsuda, who objects to what she refers to as the “elite flight”
from public to private schools.
“Students are scared to dream…their dreams are so small,”
lamented Matsuda, who decried the loss of state financial support for arts in
education. Matsuda pointed to a need to reinvigorate arts programs at all
educational levels, working to support arts as an integral part of the learning
process.
“The best way to [increase arts in education] is to put the
money back in the hands of working people,” insisted Matsuda, who pointed to a
“different vision” of Hawai‘i, “This is our Hawai‘i - we can do better.”
If you have questions about events, please E-mail The Value of Hawaii
Visit: www.valueofhawaii.com
for updates, resources, or book purchase.
UH Manoa Teach-In Series, Thursdays at
Kuykendall Room 410
•
Thursday, September 30, 12
noon-1:10 pm
The Value of Hawaii Teach-In Series at UH
Manoa: An Introduction
Featuring Carlos Andrade, Tom Coffman, Craig Howes, and Jon Osorio.
•
Thursday, October 7, 12
noon-1:10 pm
Business, Military, Tourism, and Hawaiian
Sustainability Featuring Lowell Chun-Hoon,
Kathy Ferguson, Davianna Pomaika‘i McGregor, Ramsay Taum.
•
Thursday, October 14, 12
noon-1:10 pm
Government, Prisons, Law, and Public Education Featuring
Chad Blair, Kat Brady, Meda Chesney-Lind, Melody Kapilialoha MacKenzie, Mari
Matsuda, and Neal Milner.
•
Thursday, October 21, 12
noon-1:10 pm
Ways of Life: The Arts, Race, Homelessness, and
Agriculture Featuring Marilyn Cristofori, Charles
Reppun, Trisha Kehaulani Watson, and John P. Rosa
•
Thursday, October 28, 12
noon-1:10 pm
The Land, Preservation, and Health
Featuring Henry Curtis, Sara Collins, Dana Naone Hall, Deane Neubauer,
and Kapua Sproat.
Free! Selected Essay at
Civil Beat www.civilbeat.com:
• July 26 — The three major themes of the book by Craig Howes; the
book's connection with an earlier collection of essays, "The Price of
Paradise," by Chad Blair; and government by Chad Blair
• Aug. 2 — Hawaiian issues by Jonathan Kay Kamakawiwo‘ole Osorio
• Aug. 9 — Economy by Sumner La Croix
• Aug. 16 — Tourism by Ramsay Remigius Mahealani Taum
• Aug. 23 — Agriculture by Charles Reppun
• Aug. 30 — Reinventing Hawaii by Tom Coffman
• Sept. 6 — Military by Kathy Ferguson and Phyllis Turnbull
• Sept. 13 — Law & Courts by Melody Kapilialoha MacKenzie
• Sept. 20 — Public Education by Mari Matsuda
• Sept. 27 — University of Hawaii by Neal Milner
• Oct. 4 — Prisons by Meda Chesney-Lind and Kat Brady
• Oct. 11 — Climate Change by Chip Fletcher
• Oct. 18 — Energy by Henry Curtis
• Oct 25 — Water by D. Kapua'ala Sproat
Listen and Participate:
•
Thursday, October 7,
5:30-7 pm. Public Education and the University in Hawaii
. A “Beatup”/Meetup
talk-story session with Mari Matsuda and Neal Milner.
Civil
Beat offices — 3465 Waialae Ave., # 200 (CPB building)
Free
and open to the public, RSVP required beatup@civilbeat.com
•
Wednesday, October 27
11:30-1:00 Kaneohe Business Group Luncheon — Craig Howes and Jon Osorio
•
Wednesday, October 27,
evening (TBA) The Price of Paradise and The Value of Hawaii. Additional details
TBA
•
Thursday, October 28, 3:30
pm The Value of Hawaii for the Hogan Policy Forum
. Featuring co-editors Craig
Howes and Jon Osorio, at the Pacific Club.
Invitation required
•
October 28, 5:30-7:00 pm
The Climate, Energy, and Water in Hawaii
. A “Beatup”/Meetup talk-story session
with Chip Fletcher, Henry Curtis, and D. Kapuaala Sproat.
Civil
Beat offices — 3465 Waialae Ave., # 200 (CPB building)
Free
and open to the public, RSVP required beatup@civilbeat.com
•
November 10, 3:00-6:00 pm
Panel discussion on Violence Against Women and Hawaiian Issues
. More details
TBA; co-sponsored by Girl Fest Hawaii
Monthly public discussions at Chaminade University:
Date
|
Topic
|
Author
|
Sept 16
|
The Economy
|
Sumner La Croix
|
Oct 14
|
Domestic Violence
|
Susan Hippensteele
|
Nov 18
|
Homelessness
|
Trisha Kehaulani Watson
|
Dec 09
|
Prisons
|
Meda Chesney-Lind and Kat Brady
|
Jan 13
|
Public Education
|
Mari Matsuda
|
Feb 10
|
Social Services
|
Susan Chandler
|
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