by Donald B. MacGowan

Pu'ukohola at Sunset Kohala, Hawaii: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

Whether you visit the Big Island for a few days, a couple weeks or a few months, you want to make the most of your time in Paradise. With such a wide variety of natural and commercial attractions, it is natural for the visitor to get a little overwhelmed in the “Option Overload” and not be able to make a balanced and informed decision on what they want to do and how best to spend their time.

Even choosing which beach you want to spend time on, or where you want to hike can be an exercise in confusion and conflicting advice.  Clearly, visitors to Hawaii could use help making quality decisions about how best to spend their time.

Pelakane Beach near Hale O Kapuni, Pu'ukohola National Historic Park, Hawaii: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

Tour Guide Hawaii is excited and proud to announce the release of their new GPS/WiFi enabled App for iPhone and iPod that helps you navigate your trip to Hawaii with hours of informative, location-aware video and information. Although our video guide will lead you to dozens of unusual, untamed and unspoiled spots, let’s look at one of Hawaii’s most significant historical and cultural parks, Pu’u Kohola National Historic Park and highlight just a bit of the information you might not be able to find from maps and guidebooks that could otherwise cause you to miss some very interesting places and amazing sights if you did not have Tour Guide Hawaii’s new App.

Pu’ukohola Heiau National Historic Park

Autmun Afternoon at Pu'ukohola Heiau, Kohala Hawaii: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

The fulfillment of an ancient prophecy, the devotion of a powerful young King and the first steps toward a new kingdom; the temple at Pu’ukohola stands a mute testament to the facts of Hawaiian history that read like the most dramatic of legends. Forever brooding seaward, Pu’ukohola is an enormous temple inspired by a god-sent vision of greatness. Kamehameha built Pu’ukohola on top of its eponymous hill at Mailekini, in fulfillment of the prophecy by Kaua’i kahuna Kapoukahi. The prophecy foretold if Kamehameha built a great temple to his war god Ku, he would prevail in his wars of conquest and unite the Hawai’ian Islands. In or around the year 1791, perhaps as many as 20,000 people passing stones hand-to-hand 14 miles from Pololu Valley raised this massive Heiau.

When it was finished, Kamehameha invited his cousin and chief rival for the throne of Hawai’i, the Ali’i of Ka’u, Keoua, to the dedication. Some versions of the story tell that when Keoua arrived with a contingent of his Ka’u warriors, a scuffle broke out and he was killed by a spear thrown by the warrior Ke’eaumoku. Kamehameha had the rest of the Ali’i in Keoua’s party seized and they were made the first sacrifice at the new temple.

MaunaKea from Pu'ukohola National Historic Park, Kohala Hawaii: Photo by Donald B. Macgowan

Another version of the story tells that Ke’eaumoku took hold of Keoua and ducked him into the sea; as a result, Keoua drowned. This account contends that Keoua was not killed by a spear because Kamehameha believed there should be no blemish on the body of Keoua for the consecration of the temple to Ku.

Brooding Seaward, Pu'ukohola looms over Kawaihae Harbor, Kohala Hawaii: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

Yet another version of the story holds that Keoua was in fact shot and killed by the Brits John Young and Isaac Davis, from somewhere below Mailekini Heiau. This story contends that this is how Pelekane Beach, which means “British Beach”, got its name. All accounts agree that because of the ease with which the Ali’i had been captured and sacrificed, all the rest of Keoua’s party were spared.

After long years of fierce battle and earnest negotiation, in 1810 after having united the islands by force or agreement, and having fulfilled the prophecy, Kamehameha became the first ruler of the united Hawai’ian Islands.

Looking Down Onto Pelakane Beach From Near Mailekini Heiau, Pu'ukohola National Historic Park, Kohala, Hawaii: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

Pu’ukohola is the largest stone structure in Hawaii, not counting the modern rock wall in front of the Kailua Lowe’s Hardware store.

Below Pu’ukohola and Mailekini lies Pelekane Beach at the mouth of Pelekane Gulch. Submerged just offshore between here and the Kawaihae Harbor jetty, are the largely unexplored, ruined remains of Hale O Kapuni Heiau, a temple dedicated to the shark god Mano. Here worship rites included human flesh being fed to sharks. One reason this temple is not better known is that the bay is still home to several large tiger sharks.

Overlooking the Site of the Submerged Hale O Kapuni Heiau from Near Mailekini Heiau to the Kawaihae Jetty, Pu'ukohola National Historic Park, Kohala Hawaii: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

A full range of facilities exist at Pu’ukohola and the adjacent Samuel Spencer Beach Park.

To see the new iPhone/iPod Touch App, please visit http://www.tourguidehawaii.com/iphone.html. The best of Tour Guide Hawaii’s free content about traveling to, and exploring, the Big island, can be found here. For more information on traveling to Hawaii in general and on touring the Big Island in particular, please also visit www.tourguidehawaii.com and www.tourguidehawaii.blogspot.com.

Sunrise on Pu'ukohola Heiau, Kohala Hawaii: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

Copyright 2009 by Donald B. MacGowan. All rights reserved.

by Donald B. MacGowan

Sacred Ki'i Guard the Place of Refuge at Pu'u Honua O Honaunau National Historic Park: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

Whether you visit the Big Island for a few days, a couple weeks or a few months, you want to make the most of your time in Paradise. With such a wide variety of natural and commercial attractions, it is natural for the visitor to get a little overwhelmed in the “Option Overload” and not be able to make a balanced and informed decision on what they want to do and how best to spend their time.

Pu'u Honua O Honaunau, the Place of Refuge, As Seen from Two-Step Snorkeling Beach, Kona Hawaii: Photo by Donnie MacGowan

Even choosing which beach you want to spend time on, or where you want to hike can be an exercise in confusion and conflicting advice.  Clearly, visitors to Hawaii could use help making quality decisions about how best to spend their time.

Sacred Ki'i at Pu'u Honua O Honaunau, the Place of Refuge. The "Kona Style" of Polynesian Wood Carving is Considered Among the Best in the World and These Sacred Iki are Fine Examples, Kona Hawaii: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

Tour Guide Hawaii is excited and proud to announce the release of their new GPS/WiFi enabled App for iPhone and iPod that helps you navigate your trip to Hawaii with hours of informative, location-aware video and information. Although our video guide will lead you to dozens of unusual, untamed and unspoiled spots, let’s look at what may be Hawaii’s most spiritual, historically important and beautiful attraction, Pu’u Honua O Honaunau National Historic Park, and highlight just a bit of the information you might not be able to find from maps and guidebooks that could otherwise cause you to miss some very interesting places and amazing sights if you did not have Tour Guide Hawaii’s new App.

Pu'u Honua O Honaunau National Historic Park Entrance, Kona Hawaii: Photo by Donnie MacGowan

Pu’u Honua O Hounaunau National Historic Park: The Place of Refuge

Hale O' Keawe Heiau and Keone'ele, Pu'u Honua O' Hounaunau National Historic Park: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

Introduction: Writing about the Place of Refuge in 1889, Robert Louis Stevenson said: “There are times and places where the past becomes more vivid than the present, and the memory dominates the ear and eye…”

Royal Fishpond, Place of Refuge, Kona Hawaii: Photo by Donnie MacGowan

Easily the most beautiful, peaceful and restful spot in all the Hawai’ian Islands, Pu’u Honua O Honaunau is a place of ease and regeneration for even the most weary and jaded soul. Of enormous historical and cultural significance, the sacred grounds at Honaunau are the best-preserved and largest remaining Pu’u Honua, or Place of Refuge, complex in Hawai’i. It is also a wonderful area to wander, swim, hike, snorkel, relax, picnic or SCUBA dive

Sacred Ki'i Guard Secrets as Old as Hawaii Itself, Pu'u Honua O Honaunau, Kona Hawaii: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

Samuel Clemens and Kamehameha III passed many days in idle chat along the Great Wall of Honaunau; one can still sit upon the rock where they reclined and see the holes bored into the lava to support poles for awnings. For anyone who had any doubts about what Old Hawai’i was like, a trip to Honaunau will fill your imagination, your camera and your soul.

Hale o Keawe and Temple Precincts, Place of Refuge, Kona Hawaii: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

The Place of Refuge: A complex and strict order of law, known as the kapu system, controlled and governed everything in ancient Hawai’i from the order of crop rotation to proper sexual relations, what fish may be caught and in what season, what foods could be eaten by women and proper respect for the royalty (for instance, it was to break kapu for men and women to eat together, for women to eat pork or bananas, or for commoners to look upon the king or to step upon ground he had trod). Under the kapu law system, punishment for any transgression was swift and severe: immediate death by stabbing, clubbing, strangulation, drowning or burning. There was no appeal and no recourse; judgment was immediate and final.

Path from the Temple Grounds to the Royal Precincts, Pu'u Honua O Honaunau National Historic Park: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

Unless the accused could escape to one of the designated heiau at a place of refuge. Once there, the accused would undergo a cleansing ceremony by the kahuna and would be absolved of all crimes and allowed to return to his family and previous life, free of onus. Women, children and the infirm also took refuge at the Pu’u Honua in times of war, as did vanquished warriors wishing to submit to the winning chief. Not often mentioned, however, is the grisly sport the king’s men sometimes made of the unfortunate accused, chasing them across sharp a’a fields, through the surf, over mountains, toying with their victims only to butcher them upon the Refuges’ outer wall, seeming seconds from salvation. This too, was sanctioned by the law.

A Passage Through The Massive Wall of Honaunau, Pu'u Honua O Honaunau National Historic Park: Photo by Donnie MacGowan

The complex at Pu’u Honua O Honaunau, established as a National Historical Park in 1961, is vast, well preserved and pervaded by a soul-filling peace. Down the center of the complex runs the Wall of Honaunau, 100 feet long, 10 feet tall and 17 feet thick. It separated the palace grounds of the Ali’ from the temple grounds of the Pu’u Honua. The wall was made without mortar or dressing the stones and has survived for over 500 years.

The Dry-Stack Masonry Employed by the Ancient Hawaiians, Using No Mortar, Has Survived Over Half a Millenium of Earthquakes, Tsunamis and Volcanoes With No Apparent Damage: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

The royal residence area includes the canoe landing at Keone’ele Cove, Heleipolala Fishpond, several reconstructed residences and a canoe hale as well as the famous Hale Keawe, where the iwi (bones) of as many as 23 Ali’i ancestors of Kamehameha were once stored and venerated.

The 'Ale'ale'a Athletic Field, Pu'u Honua O Honaunau National Historic Park, Kona Hawaii: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

On the grounds of the refuge itself stands the stone platform, ‘Ale’ale’a, which was used for sports, the Keoua Stone, legendary resting place of the Ali’i and the Ka’ahumanu Stone, where it is said the favorite wife of Kamehameha the Great hid after quarrels with her husband.

An Ocean View Through Waiuohina Lava Tube View, Pu'u Honua O Honaunau National Historic Park, Kona Hawaii: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

Leading south out of the refuge is the 1871 Trail, so named because area residence paid their 1871 taxes by improving and maintaining it. This trail leads to many important archeological sites such as the Ki’ilae Village, ‘Oma’o Heiau, Alahaka Heiau, Keokua Holua and the Waiuohina Lava tube.

Sunset in the Vog Cast an Eerie Light on this Sacred Iki, Place of Refuge, Honaunau, Kona Hawaii: Photo by Donnie MacGowan

To see the new iPhone/iPod Touch App, please visit http://www.tourguidehawaii.com/iphone.html. The best of Tour Guide Hawaii’s free content about traveling to, and exploring, the Big island, can be found here. For more information on traveling to Hawaii in general and on touring the Big Island in particular, please also visit www.tourguidehawaii.com and www.tourguidehawaii.blogspot.com.

The Place of Refuge, Pu'u Honua O Hounaunau National Historic Park, From Across Honaunau Bay, Kona Hawaii: Photo by Donnie MacGowan

Copyright 2009 by Donald B. MacGowan. All rights reserved.

Your road trip planner will be overstuffed if you try to explore all that the Big Island has to offer in one week. I know, because I just spent eight days there on the Kona Coast and didn’t even get to see much of the Hilo side. So, by combining my trip experience with recommendations from locals, here then is a two-week road trip that will give you the ultimate Big Island Experience.

I’d recommend staying one week on the Kona Coast and the next in Hilo to have a great jumping off point for your many explorations. We’ll start our road trip planning on the Kona side, the sunnier region. We stayed in the Kailua-Kona, site of the Hawaii Ironman Triathlon (scheduled for October 11th this year) and home of the revered King Kamehameha, the leader who united the islands. It has a great waterfront and pier, where you could enjoy dinner each night with a view of the sun dipping behind the water horizon. My favorite was the Kona Brewing Company (baked garlic, home-made focaccia & melted gorgonzola dip).

Make sure to include plenty of beaches in your road trip planner. Snorkelers should go to Kahaluu Beach Park, surfers to White Sands Beach, privacy buffs to Kona Coast State Park, and beach lovers can choose from Anaehoomalu Bay, Hapuna Beach, or Mauna Kea Beach.

Other places to consider in your road trip planning in Kailua-Kona: The Hulihee Palace, Kokuaikaua Church, and Kamehameha’s Compound at Kamakahonu Bay. I found souvenirs and affordable wine at the Kona Wine Market. Include one Luau in your trip; I went to the Island Breeze Luau because it was right on the beach in the King Kamehameha Compound at the Kailua Pier.

Along the Kohala Coast, your road trip takes you north into some quaint towns like Hawi. The road ends a few miles past Hawi, where you’ll view the Pololu Valley (very dramatic!). But first, catch a tour at the Ocean Rider Seahorse Farm (NELHA), the only Seahorse farm in the US. Stroll through the Puukohola Heiau National Historic Site, the temple Kamehameha built to the war god to insure his success in battle. Keep driving up Highway 270 in North Kohala to the Lapakahi State Historical Park for a view of a typical 14th-century Hawaiian village and the Mo’okini Luakini Heiau. The original Kamehameha Statue is along this route, as well as a view of Maui. A mile from the Pololu lookout, enjoy a picnic at the Keokea Beach Park. On your way back, check out the Puako Petroglyph Archaeological District.

Along the southern coast on the Kona side, you’ll find Captain Cook, Kealakekua Bay, the Place of Refuge and Honaunau Bay. All of these make for a perfect full day’s exploration to add to your road trip planner, with historical places and monuments, great scenic shots of the bays and snorkeling/swimming at Honaunau Bay, considered the second best place to snorkel or scuba with turtles, fish, and huge coral growths!

Now it’s time to move your home base to the Hilo side to give you plenty of time to explore the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Leaving Kailua-Kona, include in your road trip planning, stops at South Point (the southernmost spot in the US), the Punaluu Bakery shop in Naalehu, and the Punaluu Black Sand Beach.

We didn’t spend nearly enough time at the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park because the ranger told us the current lava flow was outside the park (in August, 2008, drive one hour to the end of Highway 130 in Kaimu, then hike 20 minutes over lava beds to the viewing area). Schedule two days in your road trip planner to fully explore the Kilauea Visitors Center, Halemaumau Crater, Thurston Lava Tube, Devastation Trail, and a Crater Rim drive as well as make the sunset trek to the lava flow. Local Shannon Cormie says, “Seeing the ribbon of red lava snake its way down the side of the mountain and then thunder into the ocean is a sight you will never forget”.

One reason to place Hilo front and center in your road trip planning is because it’s so lush! David Carpenter, a local, recommends the Akatsuka Orchid Garden for its large assortment of orchids. It’s situated about halfway between Volcano and Hilo. Shannon recommends Banyan Drive, Liliuokalani Gardens, Lyman Museum & Mission House, the Pacific Tsunami Museum, and the wonderful botanical gardens like Nani Mau Gardens Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden, and World Botanical Garden.

From there, you road trip takes you north to the Hamakua Coast with stops at the Akaka Falls and lunch in Honokaa. Then check out Waipio Valley, the birthplace of Hawaii’s kings, before heading for Waimea, a cowboy town with the Parker Ranch Visitor Center & Museum as the focal point.

Set aside a full day in your trip planner to explore Mauna Kea. Rent a four-wheel drive vehicle to climb to the top (13,796 feet) or book a full-day tour where guides will take you to hidden waterfalls, sacred spots and an observatory, treasured by astronomers around the globe.

All of the above will fill your Big Island Road Trip to the brim. And you’re sure to discover some new places as well. But take heart, if you don’t get to them all this round, you’ll have a perfect excuse to fill another road trip planner for your next visit!

My second try at making an energy blast in adobe after effects. Everything in this video is done by me.

I’m rather proud of this one.

PS. I recommend you go to Youtube and watch this in HQ.

A primeira (ou uma das primeiras) técnica mostrada em Dragon Ball foi o Kame Hame Ha por Mestre Kame. Kame havia dito que demorou anos para conseguir dominar a técnica, mas Goku consegue de primeira, diferente do filme Dragon Ball Evolution, em que ele demora algum tempo.

Em Dragon Ball Z, a maioria dos guerreiros Z já sabiam utilizar esta técnica. Goku também a usou na forma de Kaioh Ken, como na batalha contra Vegeta pela primeira vez.

O Kame Hame Ha é uma técnica em que o guerreiro concentra o ki em suas mãos e o libera. A técnica é de cor azul, a não ser que você esteja utilizando o kaioh ken.

A técnica também aumenta o poder do guerreiro, e pode ser usada por saiyajins e humanos.

IMAGEM DA SEMANA:

Mililani Girls Team one of the best in HHSAA

We all know that the best cross-country teams are in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu, with the private school dominance of the Kamehameha and Iolani boys and Punahou and Iolani girls.

Another Saturday, another Fitted Hawaii release.

This week’s offering is subtitled “Allegiance” and is headlined by a black shirt featuring another provocative graphic. The image features the Hawaiian flag, painted on the bodies of women, meant as a tribute and a shout out to the beauty of Hawaii. The back of the shirt features a black Fitted crown.

To augment this shirt, there are two new signature hats dropping as well. First is a new “Pride” hat featuring a navy blue crown, black brim, and black Old English “H.”

Also releasing is a brand new Kamehameha New Era in the reverse colors of the Pride hat: black crown, navy blue brim and Kamehameha logo.

All this will be available this Saturday at Fitted Hawaii’s Kona St. location. For more info, check out www.FittedHawaii.com

We travel to Hawaii often and likely know more about Hawaiian history than the casual tourist to the islands. Our visits include stops at cultural and history sights important to making Hawaii the diverse location that it is. Then we met Richard Wong, tour guide for Ohana Tours. When our friends at Ohana Tours heard about our love of history and Honolulu they invited us to check out the weekend walking tour of the downtown area. We took our ohana (family) to meet Richard on a recent Sunday morning.

Our adventure began in downtown Honolulu in front of the golden Kamehameha Statue in the heart of the city. You can see this statue on the Hawaii state quarters released as part of the state series. For the next two hours Richard shared history of Hawaiian culture, religion, politics and people. As history buffs ourselves, we were overwhelmed by the detailed stories our guide shared with us. Richard is a gifted story teller. His vivid words and smooth delivery made the tales come alive for us. Drawing on a long career as a Honolulu police officer, he personalized his tales with accounts from his time on the force.

We found another link between us and our guide. To bring the islands to us when we are in the Midwest, we started watching the Hawaii 5-0 television series starting at the pilot. I get chills every time I hear the theme song playing. The show ran for 12 years from 1968 to 1080 and was filmed in Hawaii. The second floor of the Iolani Palace was the fictional state police headquarters. Many scenes were filmed at the iconic Ilikai Hotel in Waikiki overlooking Duke Kahanamoku’s Lagoon and the Honolulu Marina. Richard worked security during many of these shoots and shared stories of the cast and crew. He even had a few on screen parts.

You can read more about our tour on the www.808talk.com article. Listen to how Richard started out our tour below. If you are  staying in Honolulu over a weekend, check out Ohana Tours for information or reservations.

El rey Kamehameha I y su esposa favorita, la reina Ka’ahumanu

FICHA:

Nombre real: Kalani Paiea Wohi o Kaleikini Keali`ikui Kamehameha o `Iolani i Kaiwikapu kaui Ka Liholiho Kunuiakea

Nacimiento: 1 de mayo de 1756 (Hawai)

Defunción: 8 de mayo de 1819 (Hawai)

Reinado: 1810-1819

Consorte:

Reina Ka’ahumanu

Reina Keopuolani

Miriam Auhea Kekauluohi

Reina Kalakua Kaheiheimalie

Reina Peleuli-i-Kekela-o-kalani

Padre: Keoua Kalanikupuapa’ikalaninui de Kohala

Madre: Kekuiapoiwa II de Kona

Cuando en 1778 los británicos, capitaneados por Cook, llegaron a las islas, el rey Kamehameha ya reinaba. En 1790 Kamehameha había unificado todas las islas bajo su mandato. Su esposa favorita fue Ka’ahumanu y se convirtió en una de las figuras más importantes y poderosas de Hawai.

Dicen que los nativos, al ver llegar a los hombres blancos vestidos de forma estrafalaria, creyeron que eran dioses.

En esta etapa Hawai estuvo expuesto a las influencias occidentales, dejaba a los extranjeros comerciar pero no podían participar o mediar en la vida o políticas hawaianas. Murió en 1819.

El rey Kamehameha II y la reina Kamamalu

FICHA:

Nombre real: Liholiho

Nacimiento: 1797 (Hawai)

Defunción: 4 de julio 1824 (Londres)

Reinado: 1819-1824

Casado con: De entre 5 mujeres, su favorita fue la reina Kamamalu (también fue su hermanastra).

Padre: Kamehameha I

Madre: la Reina Keopuolani

El próximo en reinar fue el príncipe Liholiho, hijo de Kamehameha I y Keipuolani, aunque fue criado por Ka’ahumanu, la esposa favorita de su padre. A los 21 años murió el rey y hubo de acceder al trono, bajo el nombre de Kamehameha II. Sin embargo, su madastra Ka’ahumanu dirigió junto a él el reino.

En aquel tiempo, las leyes, rituales y prohibiciones (“kapus”) las organizaban los jefes o “ali’is” y los sacerdotes “kuhuna”. Por ejemplo, hombres y mujeres comían dietas diferentes y por separado. La pena por incumplir las leyes era muy severa, y solía terminar en muerte.

Pero en 1819, tras despedirse de su padre, el ya rey Kamehameha II desafió las leyes vigentes y se sentó a la mesa con mujeres donde comió lo que ellas solían comer, delante de jefes y sacerdotes, y de esta forma terminó con los “kapus” y a consecuencia de ello los poderes de los antiguos legisladores se debilitaron.

En 1823, durante una visita del rey y su mujer Kamamalu a Inglaterra, ambos murieros de sarampión.

REY KAMEHAMEHA (1810-1819)

REY KAMEHAMEHA II (1819-1824)

REY KAMEHAMEHA III (1824-1854)

REY KAMEHAMEHA IV (1854-1863)

REY KAMEHAMEHA V (1863-1872)

REY LUNALILO (1872-1874)

REY KALAKAUA (1874-1891)

REINA LILI’UOKALANI (1891-1893)

EL PAPEL DE LAS MUJERES EN LA MONARQUÍA HAWAIANA

REINA KA’AHUMANU

REINA EMMA

REINA KEOPUOLANI

PRINCESA VICTORIA KA’IULANI

Yesterday, a “Hawaiian Protocol” ceremony was held at Kanewai Lo‘i with a reception that followed at Hawai‘inuiākea to welcome a new president,M.R.C. Greenwood, to our 10-campus University system. It was a rather intimate gathering consisting primarily of college deans and administrators from around the Mānoa campus, along with some kūpuna and other event hosts from the Native Hawaiian community at UH Mānoa.

Kanewai Lo‘i-- the primary portion of the ceremony was held within this hale. It was such a beautiful location!

I was invited as a member of Greenwood’s immediate “entourage” and as one of the four speakers of the afternoon. Leading up to the event, I barely had time to sit down and craft out a speech. But even if I did, I doubt it would’ve came along.

To be completely honest, during the presidential search process and after the withdrawal of the only other finalist Robert Jones, I wrote a statement to the Board of Regents requesting that an interim-president be appointed while the search continues.

In regards to the ethics controversy which got her released from her last position and the fact that we already have a chancellor from the University of California System (I didn’t want our premiere public University for the State of Hawai‘i transforming into a “UC Hawaii” satellite campus!), I didn’t feel that Greenwood was quite right for the job.

I also didn’t agree with the idea of offering extremely high salary incentives and spending over a million to conduct a nation-wide search would find the most competent leader.

For one, the University of Hawai‘i is situated in one of the most unique and diverse places in the world and experience from other University systems doesn’t necessarily carry over. There are so many 30-40 year veterans within the UH system who would’ve took a lower salary and wouldn’t have had to admit to having “a lot of learning to do” and adjust to getting situated within the culture of our wonderful state.

Secondly, the whole idea of having a separate system President and flagship campus Chancellor seems fruitless. Streamlined bureaucracy was more efficient during the pre-autonomy days of UH Mānoa back when the Chancellor of Mānoa and the system president was combined into a single position–especially since the State had a stake in controlling the exuberant salaries of UH administrative executives.

University of Hawai‘i System President M.R.C. Greenwood

However, I do realize that besides the ethics allegations and lack of experience, none of these concerns fall upon Greenwood herself. And I was actually very surprised and delighted by the humility Greenwood exhibited throughout her appointment, by not holding a sort of “big fish, small pond” mentality that many out-of-state leaders hold when transferring to Hawai‘i.

She seemed very genuine and open to embrace both Local and Native Hawaiian culture here in Hawai‘i. It wasn’t hard to see that she was completely overwhelmed by the amount of Aloha she has received throughout her first week on the job.

So the task was this: make use of this opportunity as a speaker to get my point across, among the many witnesses, without coming off as a whiny student or angsty Hawaiian. I wanted my 3-5 minutes to be memorable and tried to avoid cliche as much as possible.

Other speakers had well-written speeches which they read straight off a paper; these speeches were beautiful but quick to be forgotten. I also had a few talking points written down on a small card. But once I was off and going, 30 seconds into my speech, I decided to tuck it away in my pocket and speak straight from the na‘au.

From what I remember, I spoke on UH’s commitment to its host culture and the purpose of the newly established Hawai‘inuiākea, primarily regarding its importance and contribution to education as the greatest means to preserving and advancing Native Hawaiian culture.

I asserted how I like to think that I represent many students not because of my position on student government, (or because I am 50% “Asian”, 25% “Pacific Islander”, and 25% Caucasian/Hispanic!) but because of my story. After mentioning how UH is the only university that I seen myself happy at, the most realistic option financially, and how it had transformed me to who I am today, I was sure to note that it is important not to overlook UH’s purpose of fostering future leaders and competent workers for the State of Hawai‘i.

Whether or not I stepped over the line as a student, or even as a speaker at a welcome ceremony, my words seemed to be well-received. I was fortunate to have been able to later carry a heart-felt conversation with President Greenwood during the reception that followed where she mentioned to me that the warmth in welcoming she has been receiving from students has been amazing.

The event was a wonderful one, and just the vibe alone was unlike no other. I met a lot of amazing people and won’t soon forget it. I’m sure that neither will the new president.

President Greenwood’s openness and humility was greatly appreciated, and I hope she continues to embrace both the Native Hawaiian and local communities here in Hawaii. I look forward to working along side this new leader in the spirit of progress and benefit for the students of the University of Hawai‘i.

I hope she can prove herself and live up to her nearly $1,000,000/yr Salary (including living allowances)! E kipa mai e Greenwood.

Part1

Mirror

Part2

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El 9 de julio de 1817, zarpó la fragata La Argentina -anteriormente una nave española llamada Consecuencia de la cual se habían apoderado- al mando del capitán Bouchard, desde la ensenada de Barragán para cumplir un crucero de corso, que habría de durar dos años.

En las islas Hawai, Bouchard se entrevistó con el rey Kamehameha y firmó un tratado haciéndole reconocer la Independencia Argentina, proclamada por el Congreso de Tucumán. El rey hawaiano gobernaba las islas hacía treinta años y los viajeros lo llamaban el Napoleón de la Polinesia. Había logrado formar una confederación de las islas hawaianas con capital en Karakakowa. Kamehameha le proveyó a Bouchard 100 marinos y le devolvió la goleta Chacabuco, capturada por sus hombres. La flota compuesta ahora por franceses argentinos y hawaianos, puso proa a California, y llegó a su capital, Monterrey, el 22 de julio de 1818. Tras duros combates, logró tomar el fuerte y hace flamear la bandera de Belgrano por seis días en California. Tras el ataque a Monterrey, las tropas de Bouchard arrasaron la misión de San Juan, Santa Bárbara y otros poblados españoles de alta y baja California. El 25 de enero de 1819, bloqueó el puerto de San Blas y atacó Acapulco de México. En Guatemala destruyó Sonsonate y capturó bergantines españoles. En Nicaragua, tomó Realejo, el principal puerto español en los mares de Sur, y se apoderó de cuatro buques españoles. Bajó hacia el Perú siguió hostigando las posiciones españolas sobre el Pacífico. Las naves de Bouchard llegaron el 9 de julio de 1819 al puerto de Valparaíso, justo a tiempo para integrarse a la flota que San Martín preparaba para tomar Lima. (Fuente)

Más sobre Hipólito Bouchard:
Bouchard, el guerrero olvidado (Parte I)
Bouchard, el guerrero olvidado (Parte II)
The Burning of Monterey: The 1818 Attack on California by the Privateer Bouchard – Book Review

Sobre Kamehameha I El Grande