Saturday, November 10, 2012

Reflections by Gwendolyn

Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona Memorial

The bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7 1941 was a turning point in World War 2, and which without it Japan might had taken over all of Asia. It was because American lives were lost that the US decided to enter the war and fight against Japan. From it we can learn that war is a tragic thing that can and will take many lives, including innocent ones, and we should not go to war because of the huge human cost. The USS Arizona Memorial reminds us of those lost during the war and pay tribute to their sacrifices, and it helps us understand the tragedy of war and why we should avoid it as much as possible.

Interesting Facts:
The bombing began at 0755 and ended at 0955.

Because December 7 was a Sunday, many people were resting or at church, and the day before there was a concert for the sailors. As a result Hawaii became vulnerable as the people were not prepared for an attack.

A soldier shot a Japanese midget submarine and reported it to the higher-ups, but by the time the reply came it was too late to perform preparations as the attack had begun.

Nine of ten people in the midget submarines died; the remaining one became America's first Prisoner-Of-War (POW).

Said POW sparked a controversy regarding the Japanese people in Hawaii.

The USS Arizona and other battleships were named after the states in America.

I have no photos of Pearl Harbour or the USS Arizona Memorial because I forgot to bring my camera there.

Polynesian Cultural Center

Polynesian Cultural Center is a theme park about the 6 different tribes living in Hawaii: Tonga, Tahiti, Samoa, Hawaii, Fiji, Aotearoa.

It keeps their traditional traditions and culture alive, and enriches visitors when they come with their culture. For example, visitors will learn how the Samoa obtain coconut oil with their various tools, and their family structure; the men does most of the chores, such as hunting, fishing and cooking, but they are allowed to have up to seven wives.

 Traditional Hawaiian dance.
 Traditional Tonga dance.
 Traditional Tahiti dance.
 Traditional Aotearoa dance.
 Traditional Samoa dance.
 Traditional Fiji dance.

Traditional Tahiti wedding

Pali Lookout
Pali Lookout is a lookout located in the middle of a mountain ridge. Because it is the only way in between the mountain ridge, all the wind blowing towards it concentrates in that one lookout and thus the wind is especially strong. It is a site of historic significance as it was the place where King Kamehameha finally managed to unite all six tribes by pushing his enemies off the cliff and thus should be protected, and the two peaks between it was used by the Japanese as guides to Pearl Harbor on December 7 1941. It is sustains the
history of the Hawaiian people, and thus the Hawaiian culture, and it is also sustaining the surrounding nature.

Diamond Head
Diamond Head is a natural crater in the center of an extinct volcano and it is of great historic and economic value to Hawaii. Diamond Head was named by Captain James Cook as when he was at sea he saw its apex glittering and thought he found diamonds, but instead he found calcite crystals and the island of Oahu. Thus it is a well-known landmark of Oahu and a popular tourist destination. However, because of its popularity, the hiking trail on Diamond Head might not be good for the environment. Tourists who do not respect nature often toss rubbish off the trail into the bushes, including cigarette butts which could lead to a devastating fire. An example of the consequences of disrespectful tourists is Hanauma Bay. Tourists overfed the fish in the bay and the overfed fish died. Now, after fish stock increased, there are limitations when visiting the bay. To wrap up, Diamond Head is an important historic site, but its current use as a tourist attraction might not be sustainable.

View of part of Hawaii from the top of Diamond Head.

Hanauma Bay and Blowhole and Beach and Makapu'u Lighthouse Trail
Hanauma Bay, the blowhole, the beach and the trail to Makapu'u Lighthouse were all very beautiful and scenic, but if they are not properly maintained the consequences could be disastrous. For example, as mentioned above, tourists at Hanauma Bay overfed the fish in the bay and the overfed fish died. Now, after fish stock increased, there are limitations when visiting the bay to ensure the same incident do not happen again. These places are very educational places and they show us how beautiful nature can be and hopefully learn how to treasure and protect them for not just the next generation, but for the good of Earth.

Weimea Valley
Weimea Valley is a scared place to the people of Hawaii as it used to be where the high priests and other important people lived. Before entering one must seek permission from the spirits by singing a song. Within the valley, the rangers cultivate endangered plant species, with special attention to taro because they cannot grow without human intervention. Most of the taro species have been made redundant by modern inventions – a species of taro which tubers when mashed makes a sort of glue is an example – and are thus in danger. The guide was very detailed about the old Hawaiian way of life and the reconstruction of the old Hawaiian housing involved very in-depth research. He and others sustain the culture and traditions of the olden days and ensure that their culture will continue to pass through the generations to come.

Punahou School
Punahou School is an American school that caters students from kindergarten to high school. It is one of the best private schools on Oahu. Their school system is very different from the typical Singapore school system. Each student has a different daily schedule for a six-day week and no two student has the same schedule while in Singapore, we are separated into classes and each class has their own schedule. They are also much richer in terms of courses offered as the graduating criteria is different in America and Singapore: America only needs a certain number of hours of each subject to graduate, while Singapore needs students to pass a nationwide examination to graduate.


  1. To whole group: How does the PCC highlight characteristics of a civilization which you have come across? Provide examples to substantiate your explanations.

  2. What does Pearl Harbor reflect about the concept of "Conflict"? Is it avoidable?