Alana+I.


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

** What __really__ makes up your identity? **
I think our moral values choose who were are. Usually, most people won't do things they believe are wrong unless they're forced too, and it makes us make certain choices around those values. The core of who we are revolves around our beliefs, and I think that's what makes us who we are. My family have helped me become who I am today. When I am with them, I feel relaxed and at peace. For me its a time to let lose and be myself, someone who I really am and not someone who I try to be. The combinations of my past experiences, my emotions, and my rational thoughts have made my identity.

Going somewhere where its quite and peaceful helps me open up my mind and thoughts. A place for me and my emotions. And that place is in the middle of the ocean. Living in hawaii I have grown up in the waters. Going to the beach every weekend, surfing, and paddling. Being in the water helps me ease my mind. So at times when I want to have a moment to myself, Ill jump in canoe and paddle far out. Then I'll just lay back and cruise in the middle of the ocean. Its a place where Im most comfortable with.
 * What __really__ makes up your sense of place? **

When working in group projects, things tend to get a little stressful. Thats when my family comes into play. My mom plays a huge pat in my support system. She's always there for me and helping me out. I don't know what I would do without her. I don't even have to tell her something is wrong, she'll just walk over and ask what she can do to help. Other then that, she'll just take the stress off my mind and make things a little easier for me. Then that's when my sense of place comes into play. Going to the beach can take a lot off my mind. I'll go there to think things over, especially when it comes to group projects. the longer I'm out there on the ocean, the more ideas and thoughts come to mind about the group project.
 * What roles do your identity and sense of place play when you work with others in a group project? **

** What are the qualities that you bring to the GLIP conversation that will help you make a contribution to your global group? ** Im open to many different ideas and thoughts. I like to try new things and learn in many different ways. I believe that since we are working with kids around the world, this will give me a chance to prove those qualities.

**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?** Although Hawaii seems like paradise to many, there is more hidden underneath all the palm trees and beaches. Take a closer look and you'll see a bunch of homeless people living anywhere you could possible go. When the parks get filled up, they'll go to the beach. When the beach gets filled up, they'll go to beach. When the beach gets filled up, they'll go just about anywhere. I think in order to fix this problem, we should open up more homeless shelters around the island. This will give the people in need a nice and safe place to stay while working their way up to improve their lives.

A problem that has been around for a long time is bullying. It happens everyday to all sorts of people. And what most people don't see is how much damage it can do. One hurtful word can cost a life time worth of pain. And when the pain starts to drag you down, life isn't worth living for. But to save that life, I think we need to step for those who need support. We need to have courage and strength to stand up against bully.
 * 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:

In this picture it shows what Hawaii is all about. Sandy beaches and nice blue skies. I believe that my town consists of many beautiful settings as does this picture.
 * ** Does a scenic picture represent the beauty you believe that your town has? **


 * ** Three facts **
 * 1) The state of Hawaii consists of eight main islands: Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe and the Big Island of Hawaii
 * 2) There are no racial or ethnic majorities in Hawaii. Everyone is a minority. Caucasians (Haoles) constitute about 34%; Japanese-American about 32%; Filipino-American about 16% and Chinese-American about 5%. It is very difficult to determine racial identification as most of the population has some mixture of ethnicities.
 * 3) Hawaii is the most isolated population center on the face of the earth. Hawaii is 2,390 miles from California; 3,850 miles from Japan; 4,900 miles from China; and 5,280 miles from the Philippines.

Phase III: Identify Local Issue:

Its costs a lot of money to live in paradise. Sometimes so much that most people go homeless. In Hawaii, there are over a thousand of homeless people living in parks and beaches.
 * What is your local issue?**

There really isnt much I can do to change this issue, I can only help improve it. By doing this, I can donate things that I dont need to the salvation army and other charity places. Things such as clothes, shoes, toys, and books. This will give the people in need some hope and strength to face their everyday problems. This will also open up oppertunities for them to improve their lifestyle.
 * What can you do to be address the issue?**

Homeless cases happens all over the world. Some get it worst then we do. If this continues, soon there wont be any parks for us to play at, beaches for us to swim at, and sidewalks to walk on. Because they will be filled up with tents and canvases.
 * What is the global impact of your local issue?**



Hawaii’s economy has been strong in the last two years, and the state consistently has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation. The real estate market has skyrocketed along with the job growth, and houses on the Waianae Coast that rented for $200 or $300 a month a couple of years ago are now advertised for more than $1,000. Nobody knows exactly how many people are living on the beach. Kaulana Park, the state’s point man for the homeless, estimated that more than 1,000 people lived on the Waianae Coast beaches, but he cautioned that any count was good only on the day it was taken. And that estimate does not account for the hidden homeless: people who sleep on a relative’s sofa, or in their cars, or camp in areas not as visible as the public beaches. Many living on the beach have jobs, mostly in the service and construction sectors. They include families with children, who attend public schools by day and sleep in tents on the beach at night.

-Mr. Chang
 * “I think all communities have to deal with this situation, but Hawaii is unique because it’s an island. There’s no place to push them off to.”**

-Ms. Greenwood
 * “Being homeless is not a crime, it is the fault of the government. I can understand when it’s 20, 30 people, but when it hits the thousands. ...”**

[|www.nytimes.com/2006/12/05/us/05hawaii.html]
 * Heres a link to learn more about homeless in Hawaii.**