Jenny+N.

Phase I: Who Am I? What's My Place?


 * ** What __really__ makes up your identity? **

//The environment I live in is the key to my actions, not my genes that were passed on from my mom. Everything that goes on in the community that I reside in triggers the way I behave, my looks, and the way I speak.// //I have a family of 5; my mom, me, and my 3 little brothers. I am the oldest, and the only daughter. So my efforts in this family means the most. With the pressure of being the first generation to graduate high school, and attend a college, my mentality is a bit unique from others. I am a motherly figure to my brothers since my mom is working most of the days for all seven days of the week. This special role in the family created most of who I am today. Although, when I notice my body and emotions changing as I age, my mind thinks in a different manner. This is also a factor as to what makes up my identity. //


 * ** What __really__ makes up your sense of place? **

//My home, makes up my sense of place. Home, in Hawaii, is where I can be myself. The comfortableness is shown by the way I dress, talk, sleep, and even walk to be myself. I know this because, whenever I take a trip to some other state, I feel lost and not at "home." My emotions start to feel like I'm pretending, my body reacts differently to the unfamiliar environment, and my mind starts to think about the memories that have already been created back in Hawaii. Homesick, is what we should call it.//


 * ** What roles do your identity and sense of place play when you work with others in a group project? **

//While working with others in a group project, my identity and sense of place determines what kind of worker or student I should be. The way I speak, act, and contribute provide different qualities that I gained to work toward my group's projected goal. While that happens, the love and warmth in Hawaii characteristics tie into my personality on how I will approach a project. Whether its with confidence or through high expectations, the end product will always be at its best.//


 * ** What are the qualities that you bring to the GLIP conversation that will help you make a contribution to your global group? **

//The qualities that I possess includes great time management, ability to help and re-teach, bring encouraging tips, showing optimism, and wanting to finish every assignment with enough information to meet the criteria. There are many more that I have yet to discover but, I always hope for the best in my group projects. All of our skills put together will be brag worthy!//


 * ** What is one local problem (where you live) that you believe needs to be addressed? Suggest some steps could you take to try to solve it? **

//Hawaii may seem beautiful and all in the brochures, but we have the other side of Paradise. The one local problem in my community is the rising rate of homelessness. While many people are still making money, the prices on property owning are also going up. Therefore, many homes are going through foreclosures, and families are being taken out, moving into tents on the beaches. Some steps that could be taken are providing a shelter for those who qualify. The ones who don't are the ones who do not choose to try and make a better future. Other steps are, encouraging them to find a job to help themselves. //


 * ** Finally, some problems have been around for a long time. What qualities do you think a person must have to step up and try to solve them? **

//A person must have the ability to stand up for what they have to say, and back it up with whatever evidence that makes it an arguable point. A person must show that they are passionate for what they are trying to solve, for example: world hunger. If that person is wasting food, and just not eating all of it, that's not being passionate for preventing world hunger. That's wasting food that could have been fed to a whole family in Africa. Another quality that a person should possess is determination, without determination, nothing in this world would have happened. //

Phase II: Sense of Place

Upload image (s) here:





Use these questions to help you determine which picture shows someone else why Hawaii is so special to you. //Picture 3, of the Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor is a angled bird's eye view. This picture, and the place itself shows the great history that ties in with it. The incredible effort of many US citizens showing patriotism, was ushered because of this imfamous attack. This memorial, conveys the feeling of history that makes O'ahu, unique and important. It is really downing.. But shows the beauty of our Island, and how we can preserve our history to appreciate it. // //Picture 4, shows the warmth and friendship that is shared within this group of friends, doesn't matter what race, age, or what they're eating. This really shows proof of the love visually being seen in our Island of Hawaii, O'ahu. They're enjoying Shaved Ice, on a sunny day. // //Yes! Picture 1, of the Polynesian cultural center, is one form of a cultural attraction for tourism. It shows every aspect of Hawaii, in its tradition form. From Samoa, to leis, to tikis, to hula, to coconut drinks, and more! Visit the website to take a virtual tour of this center~//
 * Does a scenic picture represent the beauty you believe that your town has?
 * Does a picture of a group of people represent and show a warmth and friendliness that your town has?
 * Is there a cultural event that represents the values of your home location?

What are your initial thoughts about how your image addresses the questions above? Later, you will be working with the members of your group to create a travel package that includes visits to each group member's home location (see Phase II)

//My initial thoughts about how my images addresses the questions above, was, "yay! this is cool. I get to show off where I live!!" The positives of the wide varieties of places we could visit, makes me look like I'm lucky to be living as a resident here. Read more above!//

Phase III: Identify Local Issue:

What is your local issue? //Like I said, O'ahu, or Hawai'i, has the other side of Paradise. The oncoming rising rate of homelessness is disrupting our social and economical progress. Many Native Hawaiian, and other people, have been making less money because of the loss of job oppurtunities or lay offs. They are going through, foreclosures, debt, or some other form of bad situation..//

What can you do to address the issue? //I have signed a petition online to help the rate of homeless people lower, by spending a little more money on shelters, if they agree to further their future, they will qualify for these shelters. Senator Daniel Inouye sent me a letter back, saying he appreciates my participation in our community. What I can also do to address the issue, is to spread the news about helping or volunteering.//

What is the news doing about it? "Just recently a new homeless shelter was opened at Kalaeloa at the former Barber's Point Naval Station. The state is spending nearly $2 million to renovate a three-story building into 66 living units." ([|Hawaii Travel])

But, how is the governmet also treating it? "State officials said they were simply trying to enforce the law and clean up the waterfont district to encourage development in a desireable corner of the island where the tents, piles of garbage and wandering homeless offer quite a conrast to the rest of Oahu."

What is the global impact of your local issue? //Homelessness is preventing everyone, even the homeless themselves, from enjoying their lives. Many tax payers are contributing their money into helping people that don't want to be helped. Some of these people are basically depending on being homeless for the rest of their lives. // //As for the other people who are just below the money making bar, they are probably suffering. Homeless, are still considered people. No one should discriminate against them. Global impacts, could be, the amount of money, that is being equally distributed to people who abuse that privilege to buy drugs, alcohol, or waste it on pointless things (that doesn't help them survive, watches, hairspray, toys..) // Add these thoughts to your Group's Discussion Forum on Local Issues