Tia+Y.

Phase I: Who Am I? What's My Place? To most people, I am quiet and shy. I am shy around those I don’t know and those who have big personalities. Around my friends and family, I am crazy and loud. I work hard, challenge myself, and stay involved in school.
 * What __really__ makes up your identity?

My sense of place involves my home (Hawaii), my friends, and my family. I feel most relaxed and comfortable at the peaks of mountains, on the shores of our beautiful beaches, and in the stands of the stadiums of our local college. I feel like myself around those who love me and accept me. I feel comfortable here in Hawaii where many show “aloha” spirit.
 * What really makes up your sense of place?

When working with other people, sometimes personalities clash and certain people work harder than others. I always do my share and encourage my group members to do the same. I try to put our differences aside to enable us to work together efficiently and to accomplish our task at hand. When I work with people I don’t know well, I force myself out of my comfort zone.
 * What roles do your identity and sense of place play when you work with others in a group project?

I will be respectful of everyone’s opinion/view. I will communicate with those in my global group, work hard to complete what is required of me, and share my knowledge of Hawaii.
 * What are the qualities that you bring to the GLIP conversation that will help you make a contribution to your global group?

The ancient Hawaiians had a spiritual connection and respect to the land. Slowly, everyone cared less and less. Today people are careless and ignorant to the effects of litter. If the littering continues, we will ruin Hawaii’s beauty, hurt our local economy, and possibly kill sea animals. In order to stop this from happening, we should create an ad campaign showing the long-term effects of littering. We can also fundraise to purchase more trashcans to place at beaches, parks, and popular spots. And we can organize more highway and beach clean ups in our community. Currently, there are organized clean up days in my community, but maybe we can organize them in areas that need more attention.
 * 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?

A person must have resiliency, leadership, goals, plans, and support to make a difference. To solve a problem that has been unsolvable requires determination and the ability to lead others to help. He/she must have a clear vision of what he/she wants to accomplish and how to reach that goal. He/she must have support in reaching that goal. To make a change, it starts with one person. But in the end, lots of people need to cooperate.
 * 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?

Phase II: Sense of Place

Upload image (s) here: This picture is of the beautiful Ko'olau Mountain range in my hometown, Kane'ohe. Kane'ohe is mainly rainy, but sometimes sunny. 1. Citizens are friendly. 2. Kane'ohe is neither the city or country, it's a bit of both. I see the mountains everyday, sometimes with waterfalls. It reminds me how lucky I am to live in Hawaii.


 * Kane'ohe is located on the most populated island, O'ahu.

This is Chinaman's Hat. It is located on the north end of Kaneohe Bay. It is a popular spot for taking pictures on the WIndward Coast of O'ahu. The Hawaiian name for the island is Mokolii, which means "little lizard." Some people take their kayak, surfboard, or boat out to the island.

This park was designed and built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to provide flood protection for Kane'ohe.
 * The 400 acres represent tropical regions from around the world: the Philippines, Hawaii, Africa, Sri Lanka, India, Polynesia, Melanesia, Malaysia and tropical America. Visitors can discover an abundance of endangered and rare plants. The park is also a recreational area and includes a 32-acre lake and campgrounds.
 * I live practically 3 minutes away from the park. It is a very peaceful place, with a beautiful view of the magestic Ko'olau Mountains and various plants.

Phase III: Identify Local Issue: What is you local issue? The local issue I choose to focus on is homelessness in Hawaii. When people think of Hawaii, they think of the word "paradise," but there is a flip side. Where we live is like anywhere else, in the sense that people deal with the same issues. People struggle with money because the cost of living is higher here.
 * Most of Hawaii's unsheltered live in Honolulu, including those who spend their days and nights on the beaches, parks, and streets of Waikiki.
 * Last year 3,632 people were counted in shelters. And 2,299 were counted on the street.
 * "Advocates for the homeless estimate there's a shortage of 40,000 "affordable homes" in Hawaii," according to Hawaii News Now.
 * "Hawaii has the third-highest ratio of homeless people," says the National Alliance to End Homelessness.

For more information on Homelessness in Hawaii, click on this link: []

What can you do to be address the issue? I can help this issue by volunteering at local homeless shelters and donate food, toys, and toiletries. I can also respect them and treat them as normal people. I can also advocate. I can contact local representatitives to push for new legislation to help the homeless.

What is the global impact of your local issue? If homelessness continues to increase, too much of Hawaii's land will be covered with tents and shelters will be overflowing. This will hurt Hawaii's economy. Visitors come to see Hawaii's natural beauty, but the homeless people detract from that. I really hope that homelessness in Hawaii will decrease. The homeless are treated badly, have serious health problems, and are more vulnerable to violence. I hope the economy gets better and homes become more affordable.

Add these thoughts to your Group's Discussion Forum on Local Issues Hi Tia this is Emilia. Wow! i had no idea so many people in Hawaii were homless. You were exactly right when you said people think of Hawaii they think of paradise. That's exactly what i thought! Your pictures of Hawaii are super pretty and i love to look at them.