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...
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...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.
Ii, John Papa., Mary Kawena Pukui, and Dorothy B. Barrère. Fragments of Hawaiian History. Honolulu: Bishop Museum, 1983. 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
A small company of thirty-four New England missionaries came to Hawaii between 1820 and 1930, were the first modern immigrants. (Lind p.59) Missionaries were powerful agents of cultural destruction, coming to Hawaii to settle and teach their ways and beliefs. Bloodthirsty priests and despotic chiefs had ruled one reason for missionaries arriving and settling in Hawaii, due to the fact that they believed ancient Hawaiians. (Trask p.14) Bringing along cultural havoc by establishing a western style educational system, which included the first textbook as the Bible. The most critical change was in the use of language as a tool of colonization. Language had once been inseparable from the Hawaiians and their history by communicating their heritage between and among many generations, now came to be used as the very vehicle of alienation from their habits of life.
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.
Tabrah, Ruth M. Hawaii: A Bicentennial History. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 1980.
1.) How did the arrival of American missionaries in Hawaii affect the lives of Native Hawaiians?
...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).
Hawaii is rated as one of the top tour destinations in the world. Nearly 8 million tourists visited the islands annually, and eighty-two percent of these tourists traveled to there for the purpose of vacation, honeymoon, or to get married. (Beal). Hawaii is generally viewed as a place to escape from
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.
Brown, DeSoto. "Beautiful, Romantic Hawaii: How the Fantasy Image Came to Be." The Journal of Decorative and Propaganda Arts. 20 (1994): 252-271.
...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).
Hawaii has some of the best shops in the world. Hawaii is FAMOUS for its beaches the beaches are breathtaking. The beaches are the greatest places to surf, snorkel, stand up paddle board and swim etc. Honolulu, Hawaii is the 8th healthiest city.
Hawai'i is a land full of diverse people and ideas, starting from the Polynesians who decided to cross the ocean to settle and form the traditions practiced today by the Hawaiians. Unlike many other states, the beliefs of Hawai'i have managed to stay alive. Its unique culture is what attracts tourists most. Many people see it as a vacation spot, full of fun attractions and say, “When I go to Hawai'i I'm going to get some Hawaiian tattoos, they look so cool!” or “I'm going to buy a hula skirt, they're really pretty!” But all those hula dances and tattoos are not just for show. People do not know that there is more to it than ink or hip swaying; behind every hula skirt and every tattoo there is a story. Hawai’i’s culture consists of the significance of its dances, tattoos, and traditions that give Hawaiians their unique lifestyle.
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.