Hurricane Iniki
Kauia County, Hawaii consists of the islands of Kauia and Niihau. Kauia is a 555-square-mile island with a population of about 57,000 people. Lihue, the largest city on Kauia, is home to an estimated 12,000 people. Kauia is one of the wettest spots on Earth with an annual rainfall averaging 400 inches. It has seven microclimates including desert-like conditions on the west to tropical rain forests in the interior. Many species of endangered or threatened birds reside on the island. Nicknamed "The Garden Island," for its lush, green appearance, Kauia attracts one million tourists per year.
Niihau lies to the west side of Kauia. The island also serves to block the trade wind rain clouds that keep Kauia green. It is a 73-square-mile island that is privately owned by the Robinson Family. Niihau is called "The Forbidden Island," because it is off limits to everyone except its 300 or so native Hawaiian residents and guests of its owners. The residents raise cattle and sheep, cultivate bees, and collect colorful see shells to make leis. In this nineteenth century lifestyle, Niihau maintains the spirit of old Hawaii.
Hurricanes, floods, and tsunamis threaten Kauia County each year. The county reduces its risks with extremely active mitigation efforts. (FEMA, 1999) The entire island of Kauia is equipped with sirens that are sounded when danger approaches. Residents with hearing impairments are alerted by designated organization members going door to door. Emergency shelters, consisting of schools, community centers, and hotels, are set up for hurricane events. Kauia also has public awareness programs to inform residents of what to do in preparation for hurricane. Even with all of this mitigation...
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...y League, p. 19-22.
Rosendal, H. (2001, October 7) Hurricane Iniki [http://www.members.aol.com/Rosendalhe/hurrican2.htm]
Ezzell, C. (1992, November 7) In the Wake of Hurricane Iniki. Science News, vol 142, p. 314.
Building Performance: Hurricane Iniki in Hawaii (1999, October 22) FEMA, [http://www.gema.gov/MIT/bpat/bpat006.htm]
Tabrah, R. (1980). Hawaii: A Bicentennial History. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc., p. 21.
Knapp, D. (1992, September) Hurricane Iniki hits Kauia. CNN, [http://www.cnnsf/newsvault/output/inikihur.html]
Moore, T. (1997, September 11) Iniki's Economic Impact Fading. Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
Planning for Disasters in Hawaii (1999, August 20) FEMA, [http://www.fema.gov/reg-ix/1999/r9n17.htm]
Beckard, E. S. (1997, January 9) Kauia's Economy Suffers as Scars from Hurricane Iniki Heal. Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
Often times, the history that is being told is one of Hawaiian weakness, and defeat. The Bayonet Constitution of 1887, the Overthrow of 1893, and the Annexation of 1898, are all often used as examples of moments of powerlessness in the Hawaiian Kingdom. What about all history prior to, in between, and after, these major dates? Surely, it did not just disappear. In the last few decades, Hawaiian history has changed dramatically due to the works of many Hawaiian historians. The history that was lost has been found, and new discoveries are still being made. Hawaiʻi’s history is a story of resistance, pride, and unity. Included within this history is a man named Robert William Kalanihiapo Wilcox. Wilcox was a revolutionist, and a leader, but he enjoyed being a politician the most. Wilcox was the beacon of hope that helped guide the people of Hawaiʻi through darkness. Wilcox was and still is today a symbolic figure in Hawaiʻi’s political history.
While sitting on the beach looking into the ocean, rubbing the sand and enjoying the beautiful weather at Cabana’s beach; in beautiful Hawaii on the west side of the island of Oahu is a blessing. Listening to “Hawaii 78” by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole at midday at three-thirty pm sparks a sense of uneasiness to a Native Hawaiian, Who are my ancestors? Who is Israel Kamakawiwo’ole? What is the land used for? Has Hawaii really changed, what is the difference between today and one hundred years ago? The importance of the logo “Ua Mau Ke Ea O Ka Aina I Ka Pono O Hawaii” http://www.netstate.com/states/mottoes/hi_motto.htm
The Hawaiian culture is known throughout the western world for their extravagant luaus, beautiful islands, and a language that comes nowhere near being pronounceable to anyone but a Hawaiian. Whenever someone wants to “get away” their first thought is to sit on the beach in Hawai’i with a Mai tai in their hand and watch the sun go down. Haunani-Kay Trask is a native Hawaiian educated on the mainland because it was believed to provide a better education. She questioned the stories of her heritage she heard as a child when she began learning of her ancestors in books at school. Confused by which story was correct, she returned to Hawai’i and discovered that the books of the mainland schools had been all wrong and her heritage was correctly told through the language and teachings of her own people. With her use of pathos and connotative language, Trask does a fine job of defending her argument that the western world destroyed her vibrant Hawaiian culture.
Sonia P. Juvik, James O. Juvik. Atlas of Hawaii. 3rd Edition. Hilo: University of Hawai'i Press, 1998.
Thurston, Lorrin A. “A hand-book on the annexation of Hawaii.” Foreign and Commonwealth Office Collection (1897).
Racism in Hawaii has caused various issues, and one of them is racial tension. It states that “ some say…”[there are]”...racial tensions between the islands white community and native hawaiians” (Hansen, paragraph 3). Well, in history, it was quite difficult for most of the
Hurricane Katrina was one of the most devastating natural disasters to happen in the United States. The storm resulted in more then US$100 billion in damage when the cities flood protection broke and 80% of the city was flooded (1). The protection failure was not the only cause for the massive flooding, the hurricanes clockwise rotation pulled water from north of New Orleans into the city. 330,000 homes were destroyed and 400,000 people from New Orleans were displaced, along with 13,00 killed (1). Although the population quickly recovered, the rate of recovery slowed down as the years went on leading us to believe not everyone
Hawaii is a top vacation destination by many tourists all over the world. When Hawaii comes to mind many people and different cultures imagine sandy beaches, warm, blue waters, lush green backdrops, Hula dancers in grass skirts with flowers in their hair and leis around their necks. These visual representations are iconic symbols of Hawaii and of what many have come to define as Hawaiian. These images and ideas painted by the visitor industry most often take place at the expense of the Hawaiians historic culture. These stereotypes conjured up by the tourist indus...
Hawaii’s population is diverse and unique. The islands are the most racially diverse state in the Unites States; in fact there are, no racial majorities in the Hawaii. 38.3% of the population is Asian while only 26.1% is Caucasian. Because of the diversity of citizens and the mix of Western idea with Hawaiian traditions, Hawaii has a varied and ethnically assorted culture. However, many citizens still practice the religion and traditions of their ancestors through their music and dance. The most important infl...
"Hurricane Sandy: One Year Later | FEMA.gov." Hurricane Sandy: One Year Later | FEMA.gov. N.p., 28 Oct. 2013. Web. 04 Dec. 2013. .
Americans were not the first nation to discover the group of islands now called Hawaii. Seafaring Polynesians, people of Polynesia, landed in Hawaii. Some Polynesians sailed to New Zealand and some went as far as the well known island called Easter Island. However, the first American to set foot on Hawaii is Captain James Cook. He arrived in Hawaii on January 18, 1778. He brought many goods to trade with the Hawaiian people and the people treated him well. James named Hawaii “Sandwich Islands” in the name of Earl of Sandwich; who was the first lord of the British Admiralty. Hawaii is the only state in the United States of America that is not connected to any other American state. Hawaii is last state that joined the United States, making it the fiftieth state on Aug. 21, 1959. Hawaii consists of a chain of 132 islands, with the main islands being Hawaii (the Big Island), Maui, Oahu, Kauai, Molokai, Lanai, Nihau, and Kahoolawe. Hawaii’s population is over 1.392 million people. However, Hawaii’s economy and agriculture are very unique, thus making Hawaii a very diverse state.
...e" (Trask xix). This incident beautifully illustrates and signifies tourism's impact in American society. Like most Americans, this woman uses a discourse that has been shaped by tourist advertisements and souvenirs. The woman's statement implies that Trask resembles what the tourist industry projects, as if this image created Hawaiian culture. As Trask asserts, Hawaiian culture existed long before tourism and has been exploited by tourism in the form of advertisements and items such as postcards. Along with the violence, endangered environment, and poverty, this exploitation is what the tourist industry does not want to show. However, this is the Hawai'i Haunani-Kay Trask lives in everyday. "This is Hawai'i, once the most fragile and precious of sacred places, now transformed by the American behemoth into a dying land. Only a whispering spirit remains" (Trask 19).
Zimmermann, Kim A. "Hurricane Katrina: Facts, Damage and Aftermath." Live Science. N.p., 20 Aug. 2012. Web. 17 Apr. 2014.