Facing Hawaii's Future: The Value of Hawaii

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.

What should I wear?

“What should I wear?” Women all over the world are waking up to this dilemma and continue to ask if the outfit they have on makes them look fat, or if they should wear the black heels or the gray heels.

Do women wear the heels because they’re cute? Or are they subconsciously buying into an industry because that is how society says they should look?

Normally we would not think of American women as being victims of colonization because they think that since they are citizens of a free country, every choice they make is based on what they want.

This is not the case.

Book review: Eating in the Light of the Moon

“Storytellers speak in the language of myth and metaphor, they tell us a truth that is not literal, but symbolic. If we hear the stories with only the outer ear, they can seem absurd and untrue, but when listened to with the inner ear, they convey a truth that can be understood and absorbed on a deeply personal level. In this way, stories help us connect with our inner world, to the natural rhythms and cycles of the earth, and to the power of our intuitive wisdom."

- Anita Johnston, Ph.D, author of Eating in the Light of the Moon

Artist in the House: Chris Mikesell

Name:

Chris Mikesell

Hometown:

Wherever I happen to be

Day Job:

Opinions Editor of Ka Leo O Hawaii, Staff Writer at Ka Lamakua, Quasi Militant Fat Guy Activist

Artist in the House: Priscilla

Who are you and what do you do? 

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME
oil on canvas
5 ft x 4 ft

I am Priscilla, I do large scale oil paintings, video and audio installation, and I am also a freelance graphic designer, Associate Design Editor for kalamakua.org and I work in the advertising department at Kaleo. 

Hometown: 

Los Angeles, California 

Artistic weapon(s) of choice:
I have several: Oil paint, graphic art, philosophy, photography, video installation, music, sometimes just charcoal on paper. All are equally important in my process and actually all work together. Painting is top on the list normally, but I choose to express myself through several media. I normally work on two or three projects simultaneously. I like to experiment across the board. 

Artist in the House: Megumi Abe

Name:

Megumi Abe

Hometown:

Kanagawa, Japan

Artistic weapon(s) of choice:

Cannon Cameras (SLRD/SLR)

“Day job”: 

UHM Art student; BFA in Photography (pending), Kapiolani Community College First Year Experience Peer Mentor, Ka Leo and Ka Lamakua Photographer

               

Finding the Blue Horizon: Eva Enriquez

Name: 

Eva

Hometown:

Madrid, Spain. I have been eleven years in US, five of them in Maui and Oahu.

“Day job”:

Full time UH Undergraduate BFA in Painting

And Geeks Shall Inherit the Earth

Poetry by Joseph Orias

And the Geeks Shall Inherit the Earth…

If life was Dungeons & Dragons, the character that I’d be

Would be a level five dwarf bard MC.

Charging into battle with a pen, pad and mic,

I’m slaying dragons, giants, trolls, and the like.

Winning verbal jousts with my verbal dexterity,

Each rhyme is a critical hit with max severity.

As for occupational skills, I’d be a wordsmith.

Instead of a spell book, a book of rhymes is all I’d roll with.

A long time ago in a galaxy not so far away,

There was a kid and he had so much to say.

The new hope for this rap game;

When the geeks strike back, things will never be the same.

Cutting down fools like I had a lightsaber,

Using the force of my rhymes for heavy labor.

And you’ll never sense in me much fear,

Because I’m trying to be the greatest to ever come around here.

One day I’ll grow huge like I was on red ‘shrooms.

Bringing back the Old School like I was raiding tombs.

Burning up the charts like I had a Fire Flower;

Just me and the DJ and our Wonder Twin power.

I’ve got a yellow star, its best you get out of the way;

I’m like the Juggernaut, b!tch, once you press play.

Don’t be fooled by the glasses, because I’m like Clark Kent;

A mild mannered student disguising a kid so hell bent

On being like Spidey and climbing up the charts;

First I’ll have your ears, and then I’ll have your hearts.

Because I’m just your friendly neighborhood MC.

And while they’re stuck on stage 1, I’m starting stage 3.

In the Game of Rap, I’m not using a cheat or code,

But if push comes to shove I’m going into God Mode.

Up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A.

And don’t worry I’m not screwing this up like Michael Bay.

Because I’ve got the touch, and I’ve got the power,

I’m the glimmer of hope in the darkest hour.

I may be small like Bumblebee, but don’t be fooled by my size,

Because I’m more than meets the eye, I’m a rapper in disguise.

So pass that Matrix of Leadership to me,

I’m Cybertron’s number one MC.

Faster than Blurr when it comes to a rhyme,

I’m going to change my name to Josephus Prime.

So don’t be scared, have no fear,

I have arrived, the underdog is here.

I’m building up an army for the revolution.

I’m leading the quest for our retribution.

It’s the g.W.o., the Geek World Order,

And we’re international; we’re not confined by borders.

Our powers reach into space with the Mars Rover.

With that said, we’ve got three words, “We’re taking over!”

So it’s useless to fight, it’s useless to fuss.

In the end, all your base are belong to us.

We aren’t stopping while there is work to be done.

Fanboys and geeks unite. ‘Til all are one!

 Joseph-Daniel Orias is studying Sociology and Filipino at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. He is an uber l33t nerd and can be found geeking out in every corner of UH Housing, doin work. He also enjoys acting, hip hop, and poetry.You can find more of his work here: http://joe-zen01.deviantart.com/

Playing to Lose with Pikachu

How I learned to stop worrying and love the pedometer
By Chris Mikesell

“Is 3000 steps enough to get a Munchlax?”
“No, you have to walk 8,000. Ten-thousand if your pokèmon is the wrong type.”

March 14, 2010 marked the beginning of the latest chapter of the Pokèmon game franchise’s fanaticism: the “HeartGold” and “SoulSilver” editions.

My inner 12-year-old is enraptured with each new edition – but my outer 26-year-old doesn’t mind the maelstrom of consumerism, cockfighting, and morality that Pokèmon is and has been to this day.

Don’t laugh. Pokèmon games have sold over 200 million copies combined over the past 14 years. They must be doing something right.

Stevie Ray Vaughan Forever

 By Rachel Wagenman

Replica of Elvis Presley's car above the bar

The tribute concert honoring Stevie Ray Vaughan and the 20th anniversary of his passing, started at 9PM on Friday August 27th at Hard Rock Café, and as soon as the doors opened, the house was already a rockin’.

Brain Waves: "Wake Up your Brain with Meditation"

This installment continues the discussion on how you can improve your performance in school and throughout the day.

Daniel Amen in his book, Making a Good Brain Great, and on his TV show "The Brain in Love" on PBS TV has made a very strong point about the value of increasing blood flow to all parts of the brain for improving interpersonal relationships and success in life. Dr. Amen uses brain imaging to determine blood flow to the brain. When blood flow increases to the brain it also increases to the heart and the rest of the body.

Lights, Music, LoveFest!

Words by Kaui Awong, Photos by Tracy Chan 

Wet ‘n Wild Water Park, in Kapolei, was recently transformed by love.

By day, it's the perfect haven for families. But, as night fell, the park became one big dance floor – complete with an intense rave full of pumping music, amazing light shows, and heavy traffic.

Held July 24th, the 12th annual Love Festival, dubbed locally as LoveFest, was truly an event for the modern-day hippie generation. The crowd was so massive that most attendees had to park along the streets near Kapolei Regional Park and make the trek above the freeway to the water park destination.

Headliners included: DJ Kaskade, who rocked the Electric Daisy Festival in LA this past June; DJ Z-Trip, with his post-modern style and sick beats; DJ Reza with his powerhouse trance and psychedelic bass-line. Even fellow DJs from KTUH made their appearances at this bash. DJ G-Spot spun along with DJ Tiko, Matt Lee, Nocturna, and Metal X to name a few.

I arrived about 10PM, inching my way thru the security checkpoints, with Z-Trip pumping sounds from stage two. Throngs of people congregated around the restroom area to quickly relieve themselves…only to find the lines there were mildly ridiculous.

After meeting up up with friends, we made the journey to the crowded headlining stage one. Awaiting Kaskade’s midnight appearance, fans were kept entertained by DJ Reza’s skilled mixes.

At Midnight Kaskade jumped on stage throwing mixes from his recent album, “Dynasty”, while the crowd worked themselves up into a frenzy of dance and sweat – the hallmark of happy ravers. Too bad the high wouldn’t last. Following his initial set, Kaskade seemed to lose his initial swag and continued on into low intensity trance. Not quite what the fans were hoping for.

Back at stage two...DJ Soundsex [Miko] was heavy into his bass influenced session. Many lightshows, cups of water, and hugs were exchanged, as the music allowed everyone to transcend the physicality of LoveFest and enter the world of sound. Demonstrating power over his domain, DJ Soundsex deftly moved his subjects with his mastery of the beat.

LoveFest organizers estimate the crowd at more than 2,500, with approximately 1,800 under 21. If this is any indication of the future of this festival in Hawai‘i, its hosting will continue for many years to come.

As long as fans have a place to listen to bumping music, commune with their contemporaries, and enjoy their surroundings, Hawai‘i can anticipate more LoveFest in the future.

To see more, visit http://www.thelovefestival.com/2010/index.html

Q+A with Beefy, nerdcore superhero

By Chris Mikesell

Staff Writer

He’s a rapper, a nerd, a geek, and now with his new album, “With Sprinkles,” he’s also older and wiser. 
He is Beefy, a.k.a. Beef Thompson, a nerdcore rapper who, outside his concerts, assumes the identity of mild-mannered Kennewick, Washington resident and geek Keith Moore. 
I interviewed Beefy via e-mail to talk to him about his brand-new album, “With Sprinkles,” how things have changed for him since his last album, and how it feels to be a more mature version of the Beefy nerdcore rap fans know and love. 

Going gaga over Guggenheim

Words and photos by Eva Enriquez 

The UH Art Department offered a class a spring class on Professional Practices by Professor Debra Drexler. The class included a trip to one of the most exciting cities for art in the world: New York City.

A group of UH art students visited Nueva York, as I would say in Spanish, for eight days to visit its most important art museums and art galleries, and interview art critics, gallery owners and curators.

“We had class in the street” as artist, curator and writer, Robert Edelman said when he gave us a tour around one of the art districts.

I also come from a great city also, Madrid, and I think New York is the most stimulating city that I have ever been in. The noise of cars from the street, the sidewalks bustling with people, and the huge buildings allow this place to vibrate with its own chaotic rhythms.

Among all the visits to museums and galleries, my visit to the Guggenheim Museum was one of my favorites, and impacted me the most. Even though I had just flown in from Hawaii that morning and I was really jet lagged, I can't stop thinking about this architectural space!

The main show was called Haunted: Contemporary Photography/ Video/ Performance and journeyed to the past with dated technologies by contemporary artists.

When we first got into the museum, I felt enchanted by the rounded walls; similar to the feelings I had before when I went to Notre Dame cathedral in Paris or the Roman Coliseum. Seriously, the circular open structure grabbed my attention for a while, especially while I began to walk the lateral gallery space, which swirls with a gentle ramp four floors up.

Everything at the Guggenheim is masterfully done, allowing the viewer to experience the space while watching the exhibition. I looked over the lateral gallery's balcony over and over, feeling the movement and vibrant life of the building as if I was transported into a beehive. I wish I could let his architect Frank Lloyd Wright how I felt. Thanks anyway, Mr. Wright.

For more information, visit http://www.guggenheim.org/

Why Save Makua?

By Andrea DeCosta, Editor in Chief 

Photo by Megumi Abe

Ask many native Hawaiian activists about reasons for saving Makua Valley and it all comes back to one word. Kuleana.

In the Hawaiian culture, kuleana is often coupled with other cultural practices, such as ho‘oponopono, which allow individuals to find agreement with one another. Within the natural world, this balance has been sought in many areas of Hawai‘i – most recently, Makua Valley on leeward Oahu.

UH professor, Kahu Kaleo Patterson led his PACE485 class, “Topics in Peace and Conflict Resolution”, on a field trip to Makua Valley to demonstrate the value of ho‘oponopono within the larger community. In doing so, students are exposed to issues of sovereignty and reconciliation which have long divided the community.

Since 1943, the Army has controlled the valley, utilizing it for live fire training which many claim has undermined sacred cultural spaces and the fragile ecosystem. Militaristic use of native sacred lands has incited the ire of those families displaced by the military occupation.

Operating under a lease with the state through 2029, the Army appears intent on maintaining their position at Makua and improving their public image. Under the direction of Col. Matthew Margotta, the Army has formed a coalition of organizations and individuals that represent the community, with plans to work together toward a resolution. For many, this resolution cannot come soon enough.

Descendant of displaced residents and long-time activist, William Aila, points to a five-generation plan for restoration. Aila, a member of Hui Malama of Makua, refers to efforts which would turn the area into an economic engine for the Waianae coast, “They already made a promise to return it and we do want it back.”

In a recent AP release, Aila was critical of the coalition and frustrated at being left out of the process. “It’s great for PR,” said Aila, “to give the impression that things are hunky-dory here in Hawaii. But it doesn’t reflect the reality on the ground.”

That reality includes what some claim is the desecration of three heiau’s, a devastating “planned” brush fire in 2003 that consumed half of the 7-mile area, and the newly discovered human bones which are indicative of more burial sites. These factors form the underpinning of the conflict, as well as the source of "kuleana", or responsibility, so heavy on the minds of many within the community.

According to Aila, “Saving Makua is important to demonstrate our kuleana, honor our ancestors, and honor the generations that have yet to come.”

To learn more, visit http://www.maoliworld.com/group/savemakua

Ernest Hemingway and the Geography of Memory

August 12 - UH Manoa Center for Biographical Research

12pm-1:15pm

A seminar by Mark Ott, author of A Sea of Change: Ernest Hemingway and the Gulf Stream and coeditor of Ernest Hemingway and the Geography of Memory. Dr. Ott received his PhD in American Studies from UH-Manoa and is a former faculty of Punahou.

Info: Craig Howes, (808)956-3774
To purchase your copy, visit http://upress.kent.edu/books/Cirino.htm

Poetry, Man

Darron Cambra, Education Director
for Youth Speaks Hawai’i
Photograph by Priscilla Ortiz

WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT DO YOU DO?

I am the Arts and Education Director for Youth Speaks Hawai’i and the program’s founder of the Substitute POET program. I have been an assistant coach for YSH’i’s travel squad for the last 5 years, including back to back champions of Brave New Voices in ‘08 and ‘09; we leave for LA Sunday to defend our title. I have also been running the writing workshops for YSH’i on Wednesdays at ARTS at Mark’s 4:30p-6p. for the last three years. 

I also perform around town for events, concerts, classrooms, and shows. Self-released a book and CD titled, TRUE Confessions of a Compulsive LIAR, in its third printing and have a second collection on its way.

Painting with Pudding

by Taressa Ishimi, Staff Writer


Childcare is no easy task by any stretch of the imagination, it is a constant stress test... not to mention a persistent tug on your sense of sanity. Which is why I have decided to write this hopeful series of pieces.

Always on the look out for activities enjoyable for kids and adults alike I want to help you to deal with any and all parenting issues and to help you find activities that don't require you to have yet another nursery rhyme trapped in your head on infinite loop.

Conservation Week 2010: Now is Your Time To Explore Your World!

By Kaui Awong, Staff Writer


Now is the time to put down the remote control, get up off your butt and explore the natural world you born into. The last week of July marks Conservation Week in the state of Hawai‘i where different events are held to raise public awareness of issues surrounding its natural environment.

Conservation Week runs from July 25 - August 1 so get out of the house to learn little, or at least look outside your window at Hawaii’s clear blue sky, or lush mountains or crystal clear ocean! We live in a beautiful place, and we should try to keep it that way.

Events during the week range from a Tropical Plant Nature talk at Ho`omaluhia Botanical Garden to photography exhibits at the Contemporary Museum at First Hawaiian Center.

We are tiny tiny explorers in a big big world.

Nu'uanu Pali Drive

Revolutions in Music

by Rachel Wagenman, Staff Writer


No one could have put it better than The Beatles when they brought us to our feet with, “You say you want a revolution? Well, you know. We all want to change the world.”



For decades, music has acted not only as an outlet for many artists emotionally, but also as an outlet to voice their opinions on social and political issues—to comment on society and rally people together and unite under a cause.