Category: Blog
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Me In Waikiki
Here I am, in Waikiki, staying in a modest hotel across from Kapiolani Park, a block from the beach. Waikiki is, of course, overrun with tourists from all over the world who’ve come to explore the most isolated archipelago on Earth. They’re — we’re — always out walking around. Seriously, always. Heavy pedestrian traffic had…
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Meeting Nainoa
Now, back to what I was saying (here and here). I did eventually meet Nainoa Thompson — “the baddest bro in the whole wide world” — in his office at the administrative headquarters of the Kamehameha Schools. This private college-prep institution specializes in native Hawaiian language and cultural education. During my visit, Thompson served as…
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Caring For An Island Home
The Polynesian Voyaging Society celebrates the 35th anniversary of its maiden voyage this year. Here’s a look back on one piece of the group’s history … In 1990, the Polynesian Voyaging Society went on a mission throughout the Islands of Hawaii. The goal: find a large and healthy koa tree so it could construct a…
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It’s On!
Just wanted to let you all know that I have finalized plans with the Polynesian Voyaging Society, and arranged for my visit to Hawaii in August! That means, following that trip, I will send out the thank-you gifts to my dear Kickstarter contributors — and get started writing the article. In the meantime, keep checking…
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Spotted At The Dollar Store
Got this text photo from Cole today: “At the Dollar Store … look what I see!” So, I just had to post it. For some reason, this pic totally creeps me out. Which means, I love it! And I have decided that my new hobby is collecting photos of crazy-looking plastic hula dancers, which seems…
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Disrupting A Packaged Paradise
Not the exact issue, but still. Five years ago, I spent summer in Hawaii. Here’s a look back … I plop down on a bench in downtown Honolulu and wait for my friend Lisa to get done with her job at a native Hawaiian law firm. I open a copy of Honolulu Weekly and flip to my…
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Commercial Appeal
Nowadays in Hawaii, you can see the culture — largely because it has been commodified and put up for sale, making differentiating between real Hawaii and packaged Hawaii a difficult task. As a U.S. state, Hawaii is an oddity. It is the only state with a majority group that is non-white, and two official languages.…
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The Baddest Bro Ever
Five years ago, I spent summer in Hawaii. Here’s a look back … On a misty evening in July 2006, Lisa and I spread out a blanket on the lawn at Waikiki Shell in Honolulu, waiting for the Beach Boys to take the stage to perform a benefit concert for the Polynesian Voyaging Society. Everything…
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The ‘Don’ Of A New Day
You’re probably wondering what originally sparked my interest in non-instrument navigation and traditional technologies. Why do I care? Good question, and I shall tell you! In 2006, I witnessed Grand Ronde tribal elder Don Day split a felled 200-year-old western red cedar log with a 30-pound wooden mallet. He’d use the planks to build a…
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Honolulu, Here I Come
My Kickstarter funding campaign has come to an end, with 23 generous souls donating $1,236. That’s really unbelievable and I’m so thankful. I won’t let you down! That makes you people patrons of the arts! (or something like that). My trip to Hawaii is tentatively planned for early August, but I’m still finalizing details with the Polynesian…
Sena Christian 