I believe in Hula...

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My SpEcIaL pLaCe...

Sitting by the waters edge I breath in the slightly damp air of my surroundings. I love this smell. The smell that i have inhaled a thousand times before. It brings back memmories of my distant and recent future. The fragrance of the lillies hits my nose as i peer into the distance. I sit on the stone slab that serves as a bench and eat the 80 cent animal crackers that i purchase. I sit with out a care in the world. As i eat I take in the beautiful texture of the leaves and water. I watch the fish swim to and fro through the water. The ripples of the water relax me as a sit and listen. I listen to the occasional splash in the water, I listen to the many birds that fly around me. I listen to other people as they talk and play. The colors of the water relax and sooth my being. My favorite time of day to come here is 5;00. When the sun reflects off the water just right and everyone has gone home. I'm left alone. But in a sense I 'm not left alone persay. I have the water, the fish, the turtles, and the wind to keep me company.

I BELIEVE IN HULA

Taking the first steps onto the stage, I breath in the fragrance of the many different flowers that surround me. I focus and envision the dance that I'm about to perform. It replays again and again in my mind as the anticipation grows. I take a deep breath and the adrenalin spikes. huki step right, huki step left. We travel as one, breath as one, dance as one. Kaholo forward and freeze! Silence penetrates the air. The real journey begins.
My kumu onc told me that the kaholo is the most difficult motion in hula. In Hawaiian kaholo means to move. The kaholo is a step that is used in both Awanna and kahiko. It forces the dancers to sway their hips and travel at the same time. "No Problem" I exclaimed as I strode onto the dance floor. I stood with a proud figure as I waited for the chanting to begin. As soon as the chant started I panicked and suddenly lost my head! I had forgoten all that i learned and all that I knew. That was the moment when i truly understood the meaning of his words. I was lost and confused, unsure of what was to come. My name is Kristen this is my story.
In life (so far), I've encountered many obstacles that have affected me in good and bad ways. Recently bad more than good. But one of the good things that saved my broken spirit was the acceptance of a life time. On January 7, 2007 I accepted the honor of competing in the largest hula competition. The Annual Merrie Monarch Festival. This festival is the grand daddy of all hula competitions. Halau's from all over the world fly to the Big Island to compete. My mom and I have watched the Merrie Monarch every year since 1998. It's a tradition that we love sharing with eachother. Every year my mom has told me that I would soon be dancing on that very stage. Back then, I thought she was crazy, I couldn't imagine dancing in front of millions of people. But last year, as i watched my hula sisters gracefully dance, I was determined to dance at the festival.
I always use this joyous memory to keep me up during the hardest and most challenging times in my life. Experiencing the moment again and again in my mind as I plow throught the difficult moments. Keeping me happy and Inspired to pick up where i left off and continue on.
We dance into our exiting formation as my kumu chants. His voice speaks to use, almost as to say, "maikai girls". We continue dancing, but not cause we have to, but because we want to. Kaholo back, uehe right, uehe left. We finish the dance. The crowd goes wild, as we say ahuiho. As i walk off the stage everyone talks about how the dance is over and done. But for me, the dance held more meaning. I looked at it as the begining of a wonderful journey....

<3 poEm

Everytime I Look At The Stars

I gazed in your eyes,
Such a beautiful blue;
My heart whispered to me,
And that’s right when I knew;
The waves had ceased crashing,
On the sand at our feet;
Time had stopped passing,
My search was complete;
I finally discovered,
What I'd known all along;
A mystery uncovered,
That just couldn't be wrong;
It wasn't our first kiss,
Nor' the day that we met;
But I realized something,
I will never forget;
With the stars shining brightly,
From high up above;
I'd one word to describe it,
That word, is love.
I knew then these feelings,
For my sweetheart were true;
The man of my dreams,
And my soulmate, is you.
I think of it every time,
That I look at the stars;
This memory is mine,
But that moment was
OURS.

- Stephanie Lumley -

AbOuT mE!

Hi I'm Kristen!
I'm gonna make this introduction short. LOL! What can i say.... Okay, I <3> school! My favorite colors are the colors of the Ocean. I love Phish Food icecream from Ben and Jerry's. I enjoy playing the violin with my friends and I'm currently in the Concert II orchestra @ Punahou school. During the week i don't have much time do what I want...Instead I'm training for the Merrie Monarch competition on the Big Island. I'm really excited to compete, but i know that it's gonna take a lot of practice and hard work!
Another pleasure I enjoy is Paddling. Paddling is a stress reliever and a fun event that i participate in everyday after school. I'm currently on the JV I team with my friends. So far we have a first place winning streak, and we aren't gonna give up easily. All the Punahou paddling teams are doing very well so far, and as a whole we are determined to take the ILH season!
My favorite animal is the Hawaiian Green Sea turtle. I fully suport Turtle conservation acts and I believe that people should stop eating Turtle souP! As you can see, I love every aspect of the Ocean. My favorite sports are water sports, my favorite animal is the Hawaiian Green Sea turtle, whos natural habitat is Hawaii's oceans, and my favorite colors and ice cream are also related to the ocean.
I hpoe you got to know me a little better, even though meeting me in person would be better, and i hope to get to know you as well!
jaane!
<3>

4 Generations Response

4 Generations Response
After watching the 4 Generations Video blog i felt compelled to help out with the mission. The fact that a single Water Buffalo could be the greatest gift for a family in China, just shocked me. I then started to think about the children that lived there and how bad their education must be. After the movie was over, I really started to feel for the families situations and I tried to imagine the pain and heartache they must go through everyday, just to scratch a living. In a way i also feel very thankful for all that i have and what my parents have provided for me for all these years.
This video helped me realize how bad conditions really are outside of my life. It really opened my eyes to the problems that we have here, in Oahu, and in other places. In these past few months, in Chapel, we have had the pleasure of listening to esteemed speakers. One speaker, Utu Longi, spoke to us about homelessness in Oahu. He explained extreme statistics about the homeless population in Oahu. What shocked me the most was the approximate number of children that are currently living on the streets. He explained the childrens hardships and trials that they have to go through everyday. It made me really sad, to think that there are children living in such poor conditions. Seeing this video blog reminded me of his speech and my pain.
During this new year, I hope, as an english class, that we can do something to help families like the "4 generation family" and families in our own community, as much as the people in the video. I''m really interested in helping out! So guys.......Post and lets ban together to help out our community! :)

<3HaLf ThE tHe WoRlD<3

Half The World


Half the world lives,
Half the world makes,
Half the world gives
While the other half takes.

Half the world hates,
Half the world runs away,
Half the world's late,
Half the world praises the day.

Half the world is,
Half the world was,
Half the world thinks,
Half the world does.

Half the world lies,
Half the world burns,
Half the world cries
While the other half turns.

Half the world cares,
Half the world weeps,
Half the world shares,
Half the world keeps.

Half the world sings,
Half the world laughs,
Half the world brings,
Half the world tries to be the other half.

End.

Daegal

DaNyO cUmMiNgS-Is there a Place?

IS THERE A PLACE?
-dANYO cUmMiNgS











What a policy?
Me turn on de Tv
Da first ting is crime beats me
What a controversy
Kathrine a breed fi boy
And now him say a dat a no fi him baby
What a piece a shame
De economy gawn down de drain
Dem say de poor one is to be blame
What a piece a sign
De yutes dem musse lose their mind
Police murder seven one time

But is there a plaaaace
Where i can find true love for life
Is there a tiiime
Where i can find true love that is divine
Is there a plaaace
Is there a place? Is there a time?

So ghetto yutes jus live up
And dont you give up
I kno we can make it in life
Just be focused, Don't be obnoxious
Dats not a righteous road of life
Ghetto yutes jus live up
And don't you give up
I kno we can make it in life
Jus be focused, Don't be obnoxious
Dats not a righteous road of life

But is there a plaaaace
Where i can find true love for life
Is there a tiiime
Where i can find true love that is divine
Is there a plaaace
Is there a place? Is there a time?

I see my people fightin
My people do the right ting
De almighty is watchin watchin woi
Do let dem cum a leap and sing
See my people fightin
My people do the right ting
Mind Jah lick u wid lightnin lightnin
No ideas to cum into a sin

But is there a plaaaace
Where i can find true love for life
Is there a tiiime
Where i can find true love that is divine
Is there a plaaace
Is there a place? Is there a time?
I've been looking for all of my life....

response to singers solution to poverty!

My initial response to this emotional and deep essay was: "Oh my gosh!" I couldn't believe how a single essay could help me see so much of the world i"m living in. I honestly couldn't picture the idea of a man choosing an expensive car over an innocent child. I hoped that there are more people like the woman who went back for the child even though she had to reaturn the 1,000 dollars. Mr. Peter Singer wrote about these "in your face" examples to show us extreme situations that happen every day. Okay, maybe the situations aren't sooo extreme, but the same type of principal is being acted out everyday in small ways. He quotes ideas from philosopher Peter Unger concerning the neglect that we project everyday. He recalls Mr. Unger's past research attempts concerning the amount of money needed to affect a childs life. "Unger called up some experts used the information they provided to offer some plausible stimates that include the cost of raising money, administrative expenses and the cost of delivering aid where it is most needed. By his calculation, $200 in donations would help a sickly 2-year-old transform into a healthy 6-year-old--offering safe passage through childhood's most dangerous years." This reminded of me of all of the projects i participated in, at my old school. Every year instead of going trick or treating for candy, we'd trick or treat for unicef, in order to raise money for the cause. At the time I honestly didn't know what i was doing it for, and i wanted to trick or treat for candy instead, but now i know the purpose.
I also think that Mr.Singer explained and supported his ideas clearly and with many strong sources. I clearly understood his points and i realy enjoyed reading this report.