It's like a different country...

So I am in Hawaii this summer taking law classes at University of Hawaii law school. I may write more on that later, but I want to share notes from an experience I had this weekend. I was invited along with several classmates to participate in a beach cleanup crew at Kahana Bay Beach Park, organized and run by locals. It was an amazing experience because I got to see the "real" side of Hawaii. On Oahu, people tend to be divided up in two main groups: "locals," and "haoles." I am probably considered a haole as I don't really "live" here (just visiting for 2 months), but as it refers generally to white people, I try to distance myself from that term by emphasizing my Native American heritage. This weekend was ALL about locals. Hawaiian culture is very similar to Native culture, in that you have to know someone to get an "in" with the local population, but once you do, you're part of the group, no questions asked. We of course knew the fellow law student who invited us, and she then introduced us to the organizer, who was also a UH Law alumni. Once we got to know them, we kind of just blended into the crowd and became part of the crew. I don't really want to detail the entire day (we spent 7 hours out there!), so I'll just highlight specific experiences and impressions:

1. Picking up trash was interesting, depressing, and mildly infuriating. The most common things I picked up were cigarette butts, plastic pop bottle tops, and bits of fishing netting. And plastic. So much plastic. Plastic of all sorts of colors, sizes, shapes, and wear. Many of the plastic pieces had washed up on the beach after swirling around the ocean for a while, so they were worn and broken down in to palm-sized, unidentifiable pieces. I grabbed everything I could see, because I knew that once it washed back into the ocean and became the size of a grain of sand, it would be too late to get rid of it. (note: feel free to search for "plastic beaches.") I was angry about the cigarette butts though. I don't understand why, just because a beach as sand in it, people treat it as a gigantic ash tray. People (and children and dogs) walk all over the beaches every day! I wouldn't throw a cigarette butt on someone's living room carpet, so why is it okay to throw one down on the beach? The fishing netting was also interesting, because while many locals fish, these nets were likely from commercial fishermen that are detrimental to the area because they take too much fish. Back when Hawaii was still relatively untouched, people only took what they needed from the ocean, and left the rest for others or for another day. The ocean was like their "icebox." But then commercial fishing began to rise, and suddenly, people's iceboxes were being robbed and emptied. Now, to add insult to injury, all of those fishing nets have begun to rip apart over the years and wash up on the beach in bits and pieces of bright green plastic netting. Terrific for birds to choke on. I can't think of many better ways to show people the dangers of our plastic, consumer culture than cleaning up a beach. And this was one of the cleaner beaches in the area!

2. We saw their fish pond, which was a shallow area of the bay blocked off by rocks. Its purpose is to raise fish and protect them as they grow to full size, so as to provide food for the many locals who depend on catching fish to supplement their diet. The rocks also provide a home for things like crabs and other small creatures. The woman in charge had been working on it in some form or another since she was 9 years old, and took on the project recently, as it had been suffering from some damage and neglect. Additionally, many uncles have provided insight on how it used to be and locals are providing labor during monthly work days to shore up the rock wall and make it bigger. This is oral history in action, and it's amazing to see how valuable it is.

3. Hawaiian children being raised in this local culture have the best lives in the world. There was a whole gaggle of kids there today, many of them related, though many more simply neighbors or close friends. All of them were deeply tanned and even the little toddlers swam like fish, flinging themselves into the water and leaping off the pier into the water. Talk about a free amusement park. Even the boats became diving boards. They played on for the entire time we were there, with kids trooping in occasionally to grab a hot dog or help walk along the beach to pick up trash and plastic. The kids trusted all the adults in the group, and everyone was "auntie" or "uncle," regardless of actual relation. This applied to us visitors as well, and we too also were introduced to many uncles and aunties throughout the day, all of whom were vital to passing on this tradition of Hawaiian life. While some of the kids may have been poor in money, I guarantee you not one of them thought today that they wish they had a Playstation 4 or a big screen TV. Talk about learning life's real values. There's more to life than just making money, and growing up in the ocean that money can't buy is priceless education.

4. We went out on a boat with an uncle (the father of the UH Law alumni organizer) later in the day to snorkel around the reef. This uncle was straight up local and old school, with references to people "in town" (Honolulu/Waikiki) and "country people" (like him, people up north, etc), and us girls as "sista" and the guys as "bruddah." He had an intimate knowledge of the area, the reef, the rock formations, the sea life, and the people; a knowledge that can only come from a lifetime of experience and learning. But what struck me most about the ride were the two kids who had hopped on with us (both of them climbed all around the boat like monkeys, even when we were in choppy waters): a little girl and a preteen boy, both his grandkids, and they called him "Papa." He took great care to continually teach them lessons during the whole ride. While the boy was driving the boat at one point, uncle commented, "That's the only way they learn." True words of wisdom. The little girl also drove the boat at one point, and it was clear that she was proud to be trusted with such responsibility. The boy was, even at his young age, extremely knowledgeable about everything. It's hard to pinpoint how these kids learn it, because passing on knowledge is so important for everyone in this culture. One thing I loved was seeing their almost innate reverence for the sea. At one point, the little girl told me about a time when a baby sea turtle (honu) accidentally swam into a net she was holding in the water, and she began to panic, trying to figure out how to get him out without hurting him. I don't know too many little kids on the mainland who automatically respect nature like that. They both recognized that they were only a small part of this world. They were both obedient, smart, capable kids, and I don't think it's just because of genetics. I think a lot of it is because they are given the autonomy to become smart kids. So many American kids are carefully dragged through life without being allowed to make their own choices and yes, their own mistakes.

5. We were present on their one-year anniversary of their beach cleanup crew's inception, so we got to participate in a group photo. Afterwards, I was speaking to the organizer about the impact this program has had. Throughout the day, we had been told stories about "before," with trash everywhere and boats and jet skis roaring through the bay and scaring away fish. Those were obvious problems that had changed since this group began educating people on the laws and picking up trash. But another change that nobody anticipated was how this was bringing the community together. Various families from the area, people who had never really met or gotten to know each other were becoming close friends. Families that had never spent much time in the ocean, despite living up the street from it, were now spending all weekend at the beach. This group of somewhat random neighbors in an isolated area of the island were becoming ohana. And everyone was beginning to take personal responsibility for "their" beach. Kids began to respect and take care of the ocean. Even the littlest ones have been learning about the fish pond and the older ones are starting to teach visitors about the importance of fish in this area. Today, a mom, whose son a few months ago wished she would get in the water, went for a swim. If it seems I am waxing poetic about it, it's because this impact cannot be understated. This sense of community and belonging is what keeps kids on a good path. It's what makes people look out for their elders, honor them, and turn to them for knowledge. It's the support system to keep single mothers and poor families from falling through the cracks. It's what motivates people to go off to college and law school and then still return to the island. This is what saves our cities and our people.

6. I learned something fascinating that seems to be something only locals learn. There's a beautiful indigenous plant here called naupaka, which is commonly seen lining beaches and is quite important in preventing beach erosion. It has a flower that looks like it was cut in half, and there is a Hawaiian legend explaining it. But the most interesting thing about naupaka is that, if you take the leaves and wet them, then rub them on the inside and outside of a snorkel mask, it prevents it from fogging up as you snorkel. Makes you wonder how that was discovered.

7. Also, dogs and beaches go together like Americans and apple pie. I've never seen so many joyous, happy dogs. All racing around in the water with their owners, barking happily, playing fetch, and then plopping down in the surf to rest and cool off. If you have a dog and you live near the beach, take him there. Now.

Redefining productivity in the technology era

(note that I will be posting more of these types of random analyses in coming weeks, probably someone inconsistently, but law school has been a good source of brainstorming and ideas, so I'm looking forward to sharing what I've come up with. Unless otherwise stated, these discourses are based on Western culture, specifically in America.)

                  With the advent of today’s technology generation, blue-collar jobs are no longer valued as highly, nor are human workers able to perform as efficiently as technology that is evolving at exponential rates. It makes sense then, that these jobs are most in danger of getting replaced by robots or automated systems. A recent report claims that 50% of current American occupations will be eliminated by 2025, but is this really a bad thing? As humans, we enjoy being "productive" and accomplishing things. As a whole, most Americans don't enjoy being unemployed, and the negative psychological effects of being unemployed have been studied extensively, as early as 1985. But this may be a result of our need to be productive and participate positively in a consumption-based society, which society teaches us is best achieved by getting a job and spending the money earned from that. As society changes though, we have the opportunity to revise our definitions of work and productivity, instead of worrying about the conversion of productivity from humans to machines.

                  It is posited by many analysts (1) that people will be able to engage in higher level thinking as lower level jobs are eliminated. The blue-collar work culture of punching a timecard or moving widgets from production to boxes stifles creativity and encourages diligent, consistent, and uniform work. All of this can be replaced by machines that will eliminate any human error, and indeed they are being replaced at a rapid pace, because it is easy to see that a machine can work faster, more accurately, more efficiently, which we thus consider to be “better” job performance.

                  The definition of productivity in today’s society is the quantified rate of performance, having completed x projects or having driven y number of miles in z amount of time. But I would suggest qualitative, creative, higher-level work should become the true measure of a job well done. For that to happen though, we need to start viewing qualitative, subjectively-evaluated work as a positive thing, instead of something to be feared. We fear it now because subjectivity generally means that there is a high chance of inequality and unfair treatment. Why is this bad? Because we want to be treated “fairly,” which we have been trained to equate with “equal.” This is particularly poignant in today’s post-civil rights era, where many groups are still fighting to establish “equality.” We have thus been conditioned all of our lives to value diligent, uniform, and consistent work in exchange for stability and a regular paycheck, and to think that inequality is bad, not good.

                  Changing what we consider to be “productive” will begin as we embrace inequality as a higher level of humanity, encouraging higher-level thinking. Take the concept of a "starving artist." We all recognize that the phrase comes about because the artist is not engaging in the socially-accepted steady, consistent work for which a paycheck would be awarded. We tell him, “get a job,” or “get your head out of the clouds.” And sure, he might be lazy. There are lazy people in every culture. But then again, maybe he simply defines productivity differently. Maybe he has found that the most fulfilling life is be embracing qualitative productivity, instead of quantitative "widget" productivity. Make no mistake, a new society will not simply be full of dreamers and artists. But it is today’s creative thinkers that will dream up entirely new industries for employment that we cannot today imagine. 

1. Numerous books discuss this, including Average is Over by Tyler Cowen; The Second Machine Age by Andrew McAfee; and A Whole New Mind by Daniel Pink, though I don't subscribe to his idea that "right-brainers will rule the future," rather I believe that everyone will begin using their "right side" as it is needed.

You know you're getting used to Phoenix when...

1. Your shower isn't cold enough
2. The a/c is too cold and you have to step outside to warm up
3. You're pleased to find you don't have to wash off your makeup, because it has already melted off.
4. 86 degrees at 7am feels like a cold front.
5. Hair dryer? No need. Go outside with wet hair and it's dry in 5 minutes. Besides, blowing hot air in my face? No thanks.
6. It's just not worth going to the store if there's no covered parking.
7. You're worried the cookie dough you just bought will start cooking before you can get the car cooled down.
8. Seat belts are optional if they are hot enough to burn your fingertips off. A real possibility.
9. You need a down comforter to counteract the a/c
10. You'd rather stay inside with the a/c than take a "refreshing" dip in the pool, because you know that pool water will be hotter than a jacuzzi.

30 DIY Ideas How To Make Your Backyard Wonderful This Summer - ArchitectureArtDesigns.com

30 DIY Ideas How To Make Your Backyard Wonderful This Summer - ArchitectureArtDesigns.com

Make my red sofa “green” – transformed an indoor sectional to outdoor sensational

Make my red sofa “green” – transformed an indoor sectional to outdoor sensational

How to Function in Arizona

For all of my not-so-lucky friends who are dealing with freezing weather this time of year, I invite you to move to Arizona. However, there are a few things you need to learn first:

1. You need a car

2. People who tell you you don't need a car are either messing with you or they have addled minds from walking in 117 degree weather to the bus stop. A bike is always nice for the good months, but there are crazy hot months. Just as you don't want to walk all over in minus-18 degree weather, you don't want to do it when it's hot.

3. A yellow light means go faster. A turn light that has just barely turned red means go faster.

4. Rush hour is a pain. Avoid freeways between 5-6pm. Avoid going against the grain between 5-6pm. If you have to turn at an odd spot without a light, or if you have to turn left out of a driveway, just turn right, or just loop around the neighborhood. Trying to get 20 cars to coordinate and hold their position while you squeeze through and pray no one hits you is just not worth it. I'm hoping this is common sense for all of you.

5. Don't drive anywhere at night when it's raining. I don't care if you grew up in Seattle, this rule is because of everyone else on the road, not you.

1. First, everyone from Arizona starts granny driving the second a small mist or drizzle appears. 
2. Second, because it rains like 3 days a year here, the water has nowhere to go except the streets. So you're literally driving in lakes that a day ago were filled with dried-out sage and sand. Go slowly. Unless you have a jeep or raised truck, this is not the time to sling your car through every puddle you can find. They aren't puddles. And they will drown your car.
3. Third, because it rains like 3 days a year here, the streets are not prepared for rainy settings. Remember those nice reflective round things in Seattle streets? Yeah, we don't have those in Arizona. So you can't see the darn lines. At all. Even when you squint. Neither can anyone else, especially at night. You are literally putting your life in the hands of a fleet of cars driven by people who turn into 98-year-old blind women as soon as it rains. Like a pumpkin.

6. YOU NEED COVERED PARKING. Once you make the mistake of parking in the uncovered spot because "it's closer and I'll only be gone for 5 minutes," you will realize that 5 minutes equals an oven. And I mean that in a literal sense (everything in Arizona is literal). How long does it take for your oven to preheat? 5 minutes or so? Same thing with a car. When you have a nice, strong heat source bearing down on a poor defenseless car, guess what? It's gonna warm up, just like preheating your oven. And when you put a frozen pizza in the oven, it's going to cook. Just like you're going to when you climb into your uncovered car. GET COVERED PARKING. There's a reason why people will drive around for half an hour here in a parking garage looking for a spot, even though the entire uncovered roof of the garage is empty. Also, only consider apartment complexes that offer covered parking. Doesn't matter if it costs extra. Pay it. This will help your car last longer, so really, it's an investment. Or whatever helps you justify it.

7. Get central A/C in your apartment. A window unit is nice, but it should only be a supplement to central A/C. Unless you live in a cave or underground, you will absolutely not be cool enough without central A/C.

8. The warm winters really are worth the summer heat. Everyone has A/C, and just be prepared to sweat a little when you walk from your car, but really, it's a way better trade-off than being so cold you don't think you'll ever be warm again. 

9. Take frequent trips to the ocean. California's beaches are only about 5-6 hours away, and the humidity and moderate temperature will be a welcome respite from Arizona. I always find myself glad to get back to the AZ too because it's warmer in AZ than on the coast, and you get used to the warmth.

10. Welcome to Arizona. It's lovely here. Learn to appreciate the beauty of the desert, keep your eyes peeled for hummingbirds and lizards, and you'll like it here. I do.

If you want to cry happy tears

One of my favorite shows is Pit Bulls and Parolees. It is a "reality" show that follows Villalobos Rescue Center, which is the largest pitbull rescue in the world. Its owner, Tia, opened it 20 years ago in California, but it recently moved to New Orleans (at the beginning of the show's fourth season). With around 200 dogs, it requires quite a few workers, and Tia hires parolees in need of a job to work here. This (obviously) is the recipe for a total disaster, but Tia is one of the strongest women I've ever seen, and she keeps this entire operation running smoothly.

Reasons to watch Pit Bulls and Parolees:
1. Dogs and puppies playing and being happy=happy me. Every show has several "heartwarming" moments (much as I hate that word) that just make you happy and go "aww."
2. The owner of Villalobos, Tia, is a true inspiration. It's amazing how she never seems to lose faith in life, even though she has seen some really awful stuff. Her rather unique background and skill set is exactly perfect for this job, and in every episode you will just be astounded at how much she can do, what she knows, and what she endures without even batting an eye. Maybe some people might get frustrated with the lengths she will go to to save a dog. Maybe they think it's just not worth it, or that she would be better off spending that vet money to save other healthy dogs. But you know what? Someone has to be 100% committed to saving lives, or we never have a higher standard to aspire to. And she is it. She never puts a dog down unless it is absolutely in the DOG'S best interest, and she won't hesitate to do what is necessary to save a dog that everyone else thinks should be put down. More often than not, that doomed dog turns out to be the perfect fit for someone later down the line.
3. I'm very passionate about saving both animals and ex-cons, and this show does both. If you're interested in watching the positive outcome of members of society that everyone has written off, this is the show.
4. These are somewhat scary-looking parolees and workers for a sheltered, innocent person to watch, but that's exactly the point of the show: don't judge a book by its cover. Tia is married to a convict (who is in prison now), and she, her kids, and employees are all covered in tattoos and piercings. Perhaps a straight-arrow religious person might look at them and cross the street, but if in my life time I do half the good that Tia does every day, I'll be okay. Tia is easily going to heaven, regardless of what she looks like.
5. The loyalty and respect this type of job/life/organization commands and draws out. It's really kind of amazing to see these former hardened criminals, covered in tattoos and having spent half their life in prison and gangs, willing to do anything for Tia and the dogs. These guys have found a purpose in life, and while some don't make it for the long haul, the others who do are really becoming men under Tia's tutelage and mutual respect. She doesn't baby these guys, that's for sure. But the responsibility and trust she places in them works. And they return it tenfold.
6. The never-ending emotion and passion Tia and her girls especially have. Again, these look like hard people and it's true that they've seen and endured a lot, but it has not turned them. Each animal that passes away, every miracle adoption, every upsetting picture or inspiring story affects them deeply. Every person and animal deserves a kind thought, and these women (and sons and parolees) go above and beyond. Not to sound like a hippie, but with all the good vibes and thoughts they send, how could the world not be better?
7. New Orleans! Maybe most people don't know this, but absolutely adore New Orleans. The city, the magic, the spirit, etc. So I love seeing how the people have embraced Villalobos.
8. The good the publicity of this show does. Sure, it's made things difficult because now everyone knows to dump their dogs here (shame on them), but a lot of dogs get adopted out too because they're profiled on the show. I've fallen in love with the pit bull breed because of this show, and I know I'm not the only one.