Hawaii: Paradise Island
Specific Purpose: To inform my audience about the physical geography, history and culture of Hawaii.
Central Idea: We will see that Hawaii is a special place, by looking at its physical geography, history, and culture.
Introduction
I. What comes to mind when you think of palm trees, beautiful beaches, luaus and hula dances?
A. Hawaii
B. The “Aloha” state.
II. Do you know what aloha means?
A. Aloha is the Hawaiian word meaning love.
B. It is also used to say hello or goodbye to visitors.
III. During my visit to Hawaii, I was able to learn a great deal about its geography, history and culture.
IV. Today I will like to share with you some of the geographical, historical and cultural values of Hawaii.
(Transition: Let’s start with the physical geography.)
Body
I. Hawaii is the only state made up of islands and islets formed from volcanoes.
A. It is the southernmost state in the United States
1. Located south of the Tropic of Cancer.
2. The only state located in the tropics, and the without territory on the mainland of any continent.
B. Hawaii has eight major islands that are inhabited.
1. Hawaii (known as The Big Island), Oahu (capital city is Honolulu), Maui, Moloka’i, Kaua’i, Lana’i, Ni;ihau, and Kaho’olawe are the eight islands that are inhabited.
2. The remaining 132 islets are uninhabited.
3. Has more than 70 state parks and recreation areas.
C. Hawaii has mild temperatures all year, and rainfall due to its rainforest.
1. Summer temperatures average about 82 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Winter temperatures average 77 degrees Fahrenheit.
3. The average annual precipitation in Hawaii are 110 inches.
D. &n...
... middle of paper ...
...p; Polynesian cultural center – traditions of different ethnic groups are displayed and performed.
4. Became a national tourist place.
B. Hawaii has its own alphabet and languages.
1. Official languages: Hawaiian and English
2. Alphabet consists of twelve letters: a, e, i o, u, h, k, l, m, n, p, and w.
Conclusion
I hope you see from the diversity of Hawaii’s geography, history, and culture why it is a special place to live as well as visit.
Thank you
Bibliography
Books
Hintz, Martin. “America the Beautiful: Hawaii”. New York: Children’s Press, 1999.
This author describes the geography, plants, animals, history, languages, and people of Hawaii, a state made up of Pacific islands.
Foster, Jeanette. Frommer’s Hawaii. New Jersey: Wiley Publishing Inc, 2004
In summary, the author of this book explains Hawaii’s tourism, as well as its traditions and cultures.
Fradin, Dennis Brindell. From Sea to Shining Sea: Hawaii. Chicago: Children’s Press, 1994.
This author discusses the wildlife, events, cultures and traditions of Hawaii.
Kuykendall, Ralph S. The Hawaiian Kingdom, 1854-1874: Twenty Critical Years. Honolulu: University of Hawaii, 1953. Print.
While sitting on the beach looking into the ocean, rubbing the sand and enjoying the beautiful weather at Cabana’s beach; in beautiful Hawaii on the west side of the island of Oahu is a blessing. Listening to “Hawaii 78” by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole at midday at three-thirty pm sparks a sense of uneasiness to a Native Hawaiian, Who are my ancestors? Who is Israel Kamakawiwo’ole? What is the land used for? Has Hawaii really changed, what is the difference between today and one hundred years ago? The importance of the logo “Ua Mau Ke Ea O Ka Aina I Ka Pono O Hawaii” http://www.netstate.com/states/mottoes/hi_motto.htm
The Hawaiian culture is known throughout the western world for their extravagant luaus, beautiful islands, and a language that comes nowhere near being pronounceable to anyone but a Hawaiian. Whenever someone wants to “get away” their first thought is to sit on the beach in Hawai’i with a Mai tai in their hand and watch the sun go down. Haunani-Kay Trask is a native Hawaiian educated on the mainland because it was believed to provide a better education. She questioned the stories of her heritage she heard as a child when she began learning of her ancestors in books at school. Confused by which story was correct, she returned to Hawai’i and discovered that the books of the mainland schools had been all wrong and her heritage was correctly told through the language and teachings of her own people. With her use of pathos and connotative language, Trask does a fine job of defending her argument that the western world destroyed her vibrant Hawaiian culture.
National Parks Service. "A Cultural History of Three Traditional Hawaiian Sites on the West Coast of Hawai'i Island." National Parks Service. http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/kona/history7a.htm.
...e" (Trask xix). This incident beautifully illustrates and signifies tourism's impact in American society. Like most Americans, this woman uses a discourse that has been shaped by tourist advertisements and souvenirs. The woman's statement implies that Trask resembles what the tourist industry projects, as if this image created Hawaiian culture. As Trask asserts, Hawaiian culture existed long before tourism and has been exploited by tourism in the form of advertisements and items such as postcards. Along with the violence, endangered environment, and poverty, this exploitation is what the tourist industry does not want to show. However, this is the Hawai'i Haunani-Kay Trask lives in everyday. "This is Hawai'i, once the most fragile and precious of sacred places, now transformed by the American behemoth into a dying land. Only a whispering spirit remains" (Trask 19).
Brown, DeSoto. "Beautiful, Romantic Hawaii: How the Fantasy Image Came to Be." The Journal of Decorative and Propaganda Arts. 20 (1994): 252-271.
Jovik, Sonia P. and James O. Jovik. (1997). “History.” Atlas of Hawaii. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, p.408.
In the 1960s-1970s the Hawaiian Renaissance and growth of the Hawaiian Sovereignty Movement began. During this time there were small, yet important events that sparked a completely new understanding for the Kanaka Maoli. In the past, being a Hawaiian was not something to be proud of; many did not even have much knowledge on what being a Hawaiian really was. As Hawai‘i became more colonialized and heavily influenced by various cultures, the quality of being a Hawaiian slowly but terrifyingly disintegrated. It seems that right after statehood there was a sense that a new era would come. This era known as the Hawaiian Renaissance encouraged many individuals to become more motivated and educated on the history of Hawai‘i. Especially for Kanaka Maoli, the Hawaiian Renaissance ignited a fire of revival and perpetuation for a culture that was nearly extinct. In many ways the Hawaiian Renaissance has been the defining moment because during this time sovereignty, protest, and revival were the key players in further strengthening Hawai‘i and hopefully moving it towards independence.
Hawai'i's rich culture and history started with the arrival of the Polynesians to the islands between 300-500 A.D. After settling they adapted to the islands and began to create a society. But hundreds of years later in 1778, the western world came to put a stop to the Hawaiians lives. Captain James Cook and his crew were the first to arrive, setting off a chain of events that rid the Hawaiians of their lifestyles. Christian missionaries banned tattoos and hula dancing, getting rid of the people's culture. Diseases brought from the west killed hundreds of civilians. Hunters, whalers, fur traders began ravishing the islands of its animals. In the nineteenth century sugar plantations were created, and the U.S. overthrew their queen and her kingdom, making Hawaii American territory. A naval base was soon set up in Honolulu, only to have it attacked, launching the U.S. into WWII. Years after the attack, Haw...
Tabrah, Ruth M. Hawaii: A Bicentennial History. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 1980.
Hawaii is the United States most recent and 50TH state. Hawaii joined the United States in 1959 and is located in the Pacific Ocean 2,100 miles southwest of the mainland United States. Hawaii is the only state in the United States that’s composed of islands and it is the only state not located on the continent of North America Hawaii is an island chain of eight major islands, several atolls, numerous smaller islets, and undersea seamounts in the North Pacific Ocean that extends 1,523 miles long. There are an estimated 1.4 million people that reside in the state of Hawaii. The eight main islands in Hawaii including Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Lānaʻi, Kahoolawe, Maui and the Island of Hawaii. The language that spoken in this state are mainly English and Hawaiian. There are multiple reasons why Hawaii is very diverse, from the cuisine to culture than other states in the United States.
...Hawai`i’s economy is very dependent on tourism, however many locals are possessive of their land, and as they stereotype tourists, many do not accept others as they have a unity for their own. Numerous individuals feel the desideratum to fit the local stereotype because they prefer not to be labeled as a “haole”. It becomes tough and rather intense for an individual, because becoming haole betokens that you forgot and disregarded the local or Hawaiian quality values and ways of routes, as well as the flowing stream of life in the islands. We need to remind ourselves that regardless of where we emanate from, our skin tone, race, physical characteristics, and so forth, everybody ought to acknowledge just for who we/they are and treat one another like 'ohana and show "aloha", and subsequently, we can determinately verbally express "This is it. This is Paradise" (33).
The Polynesian peoples have a lifestyle quite different than that of any other culture, as living on an island requires a level of flexible adaptability in order to cope with such a different, sometimes difficult environment. We see the way diverse cultures build their lives around their circumstances and how they respect them in their cultural myths and stories. The Polynesian legends emphasize the physical environment that they live in. They are quite different than any other region in the world, but the beauty and individuality of the Polynesian culture is prominent as seen in their mythology.
When people think of Hawaii, some of the things that comes to mind are the hula dancers, coconuts, surfing, pineapples, and the beautiful weather. This beautiful place holds a lot of history and heritage. It was discovered by Captain James Cook who was the first European to discover Hawaii. This discovery made by James Cook sparked interest in the British government as well as the United States. What led to the annexation of Hawaii had a huge impact on those who inhabited it, and the United States. The annexation of Hawaii is significant because it increased the United States military power, allowed economic gains in Hawaii, and ultimately changed the culture and history of Hawaii.
The people and the culture make you appreciate the type of paradise tat you are in. The houses aren’t the best and the schools aren’t the biggest. But everyone seems to be happy with what they have. There seems to be a type of brotherhood that the Hawaiians have. They may not show it but you do receive that kind of vibe when you interact with them. I gathered the fact that Hawaiians, as a society, look after each other, irregardless if they know each other or not. With that attitude, you can learn to appreciate what you have.