Jacked In: Tech and How It's Changing our Bodies and Our Spaces

And when I say "changing us," I mean our physical bodies and physical spaces. (We've already got enough people talking about how Facebook has changed our social lives.)

Have you ever heard of the transhumanist movement? Wikipedia it real quick and you'll find that there are a bunch of individuals out there who are looking for ways to modify their bodies and become more mechanical. Think of it as taking your own step in evolution. You know those medical leaps and bounds in prosthetic limbs? Some transhumanists believe that we'll start engineering limbs superior than our "real" ones. Once this happens, able-bodied people may elect to swap their limbs with man-made ones. I mean, there are already debates about whether prosthetic legs give athletes an unfair "advantage."

Pretty trippy stuff huh? I know if they invent amazing digital eyes, I'll definitely get rid of my yucky nearsighted ones.

Going Viral at the Reed Space HNL Shoot

by Loraine Ho, Creative Director


On July 3rd, tourists lounging near the Ilikai Hotel lagoon were treated to a surreal sight. The crew and talent behind the upcoming Reed Space HNL stop-motion video rushed across the sand, meticulously placing objects around the beach, pausing, shifting, and holding still for the each new frame. These long hours in the sun would culminate in a July 14th online video release to promote the designer book and clothing store, Reed Space.

Creative Director: Loraine Ho

Loraine Ho was the former EIC of Ka Lamakua for the 2007-2008 academic year. She just re-joined the Ka Lamakua staff as the Creative Director. She is also an undergraduate studying English and German.

If Loraine were an animal, she would be an ambiguously gendered unicorn. She is currently Very Concerned with queer culture, LGBTI issues, writing, and where to find her next coffee fix.

You can read more of her work here. 

HB444 Vetoed by Governor Linda Lingle

Words and photos by Loraine Ho, Ka Lamakua Creative Director


July 6 was an intensely emotional day at the state capitol. It was the deadline for Governor Linda Lingle to pass HB444 for civil unions with her signature, veto the bill, or let it pass without her say. 

Supporters of HB444 waived signs at the Beretania Street traffic and gathered on the first floor of the capitol, where Lingle's decision was broadcast over loudspeakers. Organizations that were present included the UHM LGBTI center, the GLBT Democratic Caucus of Hawaii, Pride Alliance, PFLAG, Da Moms ('Ohana for GLBT), the Japanese American Citizens League, and many others. Opponents of HB444 wore white shirts to represent purity and held a prayer and song session upstairs.

Musicians rock for sex abuse awareness

Written by Loraine Ho

I clambered up the stairs as rapid-fire bass riffs and guttural screams filled Anna Bannana’s. The bouncer marked me with the obligatory “under-21” black X marks on the backs of my hands.

All of this seemed routine, except for where my entry fee went that night. The Sex Abuse Treatment Center collected the proceeds from the [respect] show, to help abuse victims receive free counseling and medical care.

“Sexual violence is often shrouded in secrecy,” said Rachel Block, a representative of the Sex Abuse Treatment Center. Her co-workers sat near the stage bringing this problem to light by handing out free pamphlets, pens and stickers, all marked with the resounding theme—respect.

Staff members of the Sex Abuse Treatment Center pose.

Local rock bands O’D’M, Ciot’s B.F.F., Arson Recoil, The Malcognitas, A Hollow Union, and The 86 List provided a wall-shattering soundscape for the entire evening.

Block took to the mic in between sets, to describe the 600 men and women her organization sees every year. “Sexual violence does not discriminate. We provide counseling and a 24-hour hotline,” she detailed. Block also described their special section of ER at Kapi‘olani Medical Center, which is used to provide victims with forensic tests after rape.

Jennifer Mitchell, another SATC staff member, described how A Hollow Union initially approached them about hosting a benefit concert. This effort garnered the band attention from Midweek to KGMB9 News. In past interviews, lead singer Mike Higa and band manager Lee Miyashiro referred to personal experiences that made them empathetic to the SATC cause.

Higa and Miyashiro of A Hollow Union

While rock shows and awareness education may seem like an unlikely duo, they shouldn’t. If the high-energy success of the [respect] benefit is any indication, hopefully music fans will see more of these altruistic collaborations in the future.

The Sex Abuse Treatment Center’s 24-Hour Crisis Hotline can be reached at: 808 524-7273

Malachi at UH Campus Center

Photos taken by Loraine Ho



Listen to their music at:

myspace.com/malachihi


Click through to Malachi's performance at the Surf Sample Sale at Campus Center.
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Poetry Trees at Manoa Gardens

Photography by Tracy Chan and Loraine Ho.

On April 18, Ka Lamakua launched its second poetry event, Poet Trees, at Manoa Gardens. The venue came with access to new equipment on the cheap-- microphones, a 8-foot screen projector, sound mixer, and speakers. Since the event was an open-mic, we just needed the performers to appear.

Keith Fernandez induced mass hysteria .

After the audience was sufficiently soaked in alcohol, Keith Fernandez broke the ice by breakdancing to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.” With all the events going on that evening – a Hawaii Hall concert and Earth Day at the Sustainability Courtyard—Fernandez’s enthusiasm snagged new audience members and impromptu performers.

Poet Trees sustained its momentum for over three hours, drawing in a variety of guest performers and some of Ka Lamakua's regular contributors. Thanks to all who participated!

Dylan Little, musician/poet/photographer extraordinaire, provided onlookers with sonic waves of acoustic goodness.

Freestylers Bali Fergusson and Michael Hamilton get their karmic flow on.

Hawaii Slam competitor Jonathan Larson blew us away.

Ka Lamakua's Associate Editor Tracy Chan tells tales of misdeeds and tentacles.

Check out Poet Trees on Facebook for more visuals and stay tuned for the next Ka Lamakua event!

Veg Pledge Week

Article and photography by Loraine Ho.

Ravenous students are flocking to Campus Center nightly this week, to participate in the Veg Pledge and shovel down free vegetarian dinners. The UH Vegetarian Club has been concocting the gourmet delights in the squeaky-clean food lab at the Agricultural Science building.

Club members rushed about in chef jackets, hats and gloves preparing Tuesdays’ “Living Lasagna,” layered with zucchini, tomatoes, a pine nut spread, and a savory pesto made with basil, pistachios, and olive oil.

An Interview With Margaret Cho

Interview and feature by Loraine Ho

Provocative comedian Margaret Cho details her activist work and new stand-up tour over the phone with Ka Lamakua.

Listen to the entire sound clip HERE.

Mapped Features UH Facility and local artists

Written by Loraine Ho and Cynthia McCoy

On January 18, the crisscrossing streets downtown mirrored the interior of the First Hawaiian Center, where the Mapped art exhibition opened. People milled about, creating a traffic that joined these maps, connecting nine artists from New York, Maui, and Oahu.

Coconut Butter Mochi

Recipe tried, photographed, and eaten by Loraine Ho.

Details: Classic local snack popular at church gatherings, potlucks, and questionable house parties. This mochi is so heavy, it uses an entire whopping brick of butter. Best to consume if you seem particularly emaciated. Makes enough to feed an army.

Exclusive Interview with Hollow Union

by Tracy Chan and Loraine Ho

“What in the hell is it? It’s so good. It’s not punk, it’s not metal, it’s not anything that I’ve ever really heard,” said Lee Miyashiro, manager of A Hollow Union, about the band’s music.

After one of their tri-weekly rehearsals, the band sat down in a circle with us on the floor, calmly relating their stories. One would never guess that just a few minutes ago, this small room in the Vibe Asylum studio was wracked with howling screams, while gleaming instruments lurched back and forth in a tortuous symphony.

A Hollow Union induces involuntary head-banging. The urge to dance may explain why our photographers found it difficult to get clear and coherent pictures of these local metal virtuosos.

And yes. These guys rock the fuck out.

Itty Bitty Titty Committee

By Loraine Ho

Every lesbian in Honolulu may be in this audience, joked a speaker at the Itty Bitty Titty Committee screening. The film premiered in Hawaii last week Saturday at the Doris Duke Theatre, near the closing of the Girl Fest 2007 festivities.

Many recognize director Jaime Babbit from her 1999 claim-to-fame, But I’m a Cheerleader, which follows teenage misadventures in an ex-gay training camp. Babbit retires the coming-out theme with her newest film, Itty Bitty Titty Committee, which centers on an extreme feminist organization and the struggle to incite political change.