I left Honolulu on Friday night to arrive home on Saturday, August 9th. I really could have stayed longer. We did not get to spend any time on the beach during the day. I am a beach lover, so it was really hard for me to not get to sit in the sand.
My adventures for the summer are completed and school starts tomorrow. I feel rested and excited to see my students to share pictures and stories about my travel.
What will be my next adventure? I have yet to decide. I do know it will be hard to top my exciting adventures during the summer of 2008.
Mahalo (Thank you) for following my Pacific journey.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
August 8, 2008
Our day started with a lecture by Doug Trevaskis, Studies of Asia Professional Development Program, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia. He spoke on the "Perspective from 'Down Under'" of the war in the Pacific. This was a very interesting session. Australia located very close to Japan was invaded by the Japanese military. The country suffered many casualties and worked with Allied forces to defeat Japan. The Australian World War II story is a piece of history that U.S. history books should include.
The remaining time was spent working in small groups to develop lesson plans for teaching topics relating to Pearl Harbor. In the afternoon we presented our lesson plans. It was a great activity and now I will have many different activities to us in my classroom.
My group wrote a lesson plan that focused on government responses to an attack on their country. We used responses to the attack on Pearl Harbor and dropping the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Then the lesson could be extended to include 9/11.
The day ended with a closing ceremony. We were given a group photo, certificate, and pin commemorating Pearl Harbor. It was a nice ceremony and somewhat emotional. I am always amazed how easy it is to become close to people after spending only a week together. It is great to meet people and make new friends.
The remaining time was spent working in small groups to develop lesson plans for teaching topics relating to Pearl Harbor. In the afternoon we presented our lesson plans. It was a great activity and now I will have many different activities to us in my classroom.
My group wrote a lesson plan that focused on government responses to an attack on their country. We used responses to the attack on Pearl Harbor and dropping the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Then the lesson could be extended to include 9/11.
The day ended with a closing ceremony. We were given a group photo, certificate, and pin commemorating Pearl Harbor. It was a nice ceremony and somewhat emotional. I am always amazed how easy it is to become close to people after spending only a week together. It is great to meet people and make new friends.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
August 7, 2008
Today centered on the Hawaiian perspective.
First Jon Kay Kamakawiwo'ole Osorio, director of Center for Hawaiian Studies at Universtiy of Hawai'i, sang Hawaiian songs about loss, rememberence, and reclaiming Pu'uloa. The Native Hawaiians would like to have control of Pearl Harbor, Pu'uloa. The Navy has done ecological damage to the harbor and it was a very important fishing place in Hawaii.
John Rosa, Assistant Professor of History at University of Hawai'i, also talked about the local perspective of Pearl Harbor and the attack by the Japanese.
The Second topic for the day was Japanese internment presented by Gary Mukai, Stanford Program on International and Intercultural Education. It was interesting to listen to the stories of interned Japanese. Many of the men chose to enlist in the U.S. military, even though they were forced to leave their homes and live in camps. Through history we have been led to believe the camps were updated barracks. The other side of the story tells of conditions not that nice and many people loosing everything they left behind. The camps surrounded by barb wire with gaurds with guns watching them. They were told it was for their protection, but why were the guns pointed at them?
The day ended with a sunset cruise of Waikiki and walking tour of hotels from the World War II era. It was nice to cruise the harbor and talk with some of the Japanese teachers in a less structured setting. We talked about my trip to Japan and connecting our students through email. This will be a great experience for both of our students. Now to work out the details.
First Jon Kay Kamakawiwo'ole Osorio, director of Center for Hawaiian Studies at Universtiy of Hawai'i, sang Hawaiian songs about loss, rememberence, and reclaiming Pu'uloa. The Native Hawaiians would like to have control of Pearl Harbor, Pu'uloa. The Navy has done ecological damage to the harbor and it was a very important fishing place in Hawaii.
John Rosa, Assistant Professor of History at University of Hawai'i, also talked about the local perspective of Pearl Harbor and the attack by the Japanese.
The Second topic for the day was Japanese internment presented by Gary Mukai, Stanford Program on International and Intercultural Education. It was interesting to listen to the stories of interned Japanese. Many of the men chose to enlist in the U.S. military, even though they were forced to leave their homes and live in camps. Through history we have been led to believe the camps were updated barracks. The other side of the story tells of conditions not that nice and many people loosing everything they left behind. The camps surrounded by barb wire with gaurds with guns watching them. They were told it was for their protection, but why were the guns pointed at them?
The day ended with a sunset cruise of Waikiki and walking tour of hotels from the World War II era. It was nice to cruise the harbor and talk with some of the Japanese teachers in a less structured setting. We talked about my trip to Japan and connecting our students through email. This will be a great experience for both of our students. Now to work out the details.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
August 6, 2008
Today the topic centered on why? Why did Japan attack Pearl Harbor? Why not another location? This is a huge history lesson, that can be some what complicated. I will summarize the key points. If you are interested in the details and events in history leading up to December 7, stop by to chat. I have some great resources that from the workshop I would be happy to share.
To start the issue was imperial powers. The U.S. controlled the territory of Hawaii, as well as the Philipines, Guam and some other Pacific islands. Japan had invaded Manchuria in China (that is another whole history lesson) and was trying to take control of a large area of the Pacific. There primary goal was to obtain natural resources. Japan is an island with no natural resources.
After the invasion of China, we issued an embargo and economic sanctions against Japan. There were also conflicts in Japan between imperial power and military power. To explain things quickly, there were people in the military wanting to take away power from the emporer and athe Diet (government).
Diplomatic talks failed between the U.S. and Japan. The world was in a state of flux and Japan thought they would be supported by Germany. The U.S. military stationed at Pearl Harbor was a threat to Japan, as well as military we had stationed in the Philipines, Somoa, and other locations in the Pacific. Japan wanted to do damage to the U.S. forces in the Pacific so they could continue there plan to take control of land near their country.
Yujin Yaguchi, Associate Professor Tokyo University, spoke about the Japanese Perspective on Pearl Harbor. Many Japanese citizens visity the memorial sites at Pearl Harbor. He talked about how the people of Japan see the sites to be peace memorials, much as they see the Peace Memorial in Hiroshima. It was interesting to listen to him talk about how the people of Japan feel about our memorials and theirs. The Japanese teachers attending the workshop also talked about peace education in their curriculums.
It was an interesting day, again causing reflection. This time the reflecting on peace and how do we teach this concept to our young people while we are a nation at war.
To start the issue was imperial powers. The U.S. controlled the territory of Hawaii, as well as the Philipines, Guam and some other Pacific islands. Japan had invaded Manchuria in China (that is another whole history lesson) and was trying to take control of a large area of the Pacific. There primary goal was to obtain natural resources. Japan is an island with no natural resources.
After the invasion of China, we issued an embargo and economic sanctions against Japan. There were also conflicts in Japan between imperial power and military power. To explain things quickly, there were people in the military wanting to take away power from the emporer and athe Diet (government).
Diplomatic talks failed between the U.S. and Japan. The world was in a state of flux and Japan thought they would be supported by Germany. The U.S. military stationed at Pearl Harbor was a threat to Japan, as well as military we had stationed in the Philipines, Somoa, and other locations in the Pacific. Japan wanted to do damage to the U.S. forces in the Pacific so they could continue there plan to take control of land near their country.
Yujin Yaguchi, Associate Professor Tokyo University, spoke about the Japanese Perspective on Pearl Harbor. Many Japanese citizens visity the memorial sites at Pearl Harbor. He talked about how the people of Japan see the sites to be peace memorials, much as they see the Peace Memorial in Hiroshima. It was interesting to listen to him talk about how the people of Japan feel about our memorials and theirs. The Japanese teachers attending the workshop also talked about peace education in their curriculums.
It was an interesting day, again causing reflection. This time the reflecting on peace and how do we teach this concept to our young people while we are a nation at war.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
August 5, 2008
Today is another field trip day. We start our day touring Fort DeRussy Army Museum. This museum has military history of Hawai'i from King Kamehameha the Great to Desert Storm. There was also an exhibit of paintings by soldiers currently serving in Iraq. The paintings were fantastic. They seemed so real.
While viewing the paintings, a Japanese teacher asked me how the citizens of the U.S. felt about the war in Iraq. He was surprised when I told him the nation is very divided, some people support the war while others do not. He was also surpised many of our soldiers are 18 and 19 years old. He also could not believe that recruiters are allowed to come into our high schools to talk with students about joining the military. He told me the military does not recruit in Japan. The country does not see a need to maintain a large military.
It was a conversation that disturbed me. There are lessons to be learned from a country who provoked war and then suffered so horribly. Today they are a people who believe in peace and not anger or hatred.
The next stop was Hickam Field. This is an active base today, so we had to go through a security check. It was really weird to be stopped at a military check stop.
At the time of the attack, Hickam Field was a 3,000 man barrack housing members of the U.S. Army Air Corps. The buildings and hangars were a focal point of the Japanese attack. This is also the barrack where Jim's Uncle Marshal was stationed.
See the shell marks in the side of the buildings was so shocking. To think these crater like marks still fresh all these years after the attack. Standing outside the buildings, I could vision the low flying planes shooting and the young men scrambling. This site was the most emotional for me. It made me think of the young men on December 7, but also the young men today fighting in Iraq and stationed in Afganistan.
The next stop was Ford Island for stops at the USS Utah Memorial, USS Oklahoma Memorial, and Wheeler Field to view seaplane ramps, the airfield and hangers.
Lunch today was at Fort Shafter with Pearl Harbor Survivors. I sat with Sterling Cale and his wife. Sterling is originally from Moline, IL. He was in the service for 57 years. I enjoyed talking with him. He loved telling his story and was such a jolly man. He also liked to tell jokes.
Mrs. Cale told me she went outside on December 7 to see what all the noise was. She was only wrapped in a towel. A low flying Japanese plane flew over her house and the pilot smiled and waved at her. She said she was so scared and shocked the pilot waved instead of shooting her. It was an incredible story. We all need to remember that civilians have stories about the war to tell as well as men who served in the military.
After lunch we went to the National Memorial Cemetary of the Pacific, better known as "Punchbowl" Cemetary. It is a dormant volcanic crater where Americans who served in the military are buried, including many Pearl Harbor casulalties. It was also known as the "Hill of Sacrifice" to the ancient Hawaiians.
Ranger Dan led a friendship peace ceremony between the Japanese teachers and American teachers. It was pretty powerful for all of us to walk down the row shaking the hands of the Japanese teachers in friendship and peace. The incredible part of the activity is that as we celebrated peace and friendship in Honolulu on August 5th, the people of Japan were celebrating peace at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial ceremonies on August 6th. This is the day the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. Very strange coincidence of timing.
We ended the day over looking Honolulu at the top edge of the crater. It was great view of the city and a nice place for reflection of the days events.
While viewing the paintings, a Japanese teacher asked me how the citizens of the U.S. felt about the war in Iraq. He was surprised when I told him the nation is very divided, some people support the war while others do not. He was also surpised many of our soldiers are 18 and 19 years old. He also could not believe that recruiters are allowed to come into our high schools to talk with students about joining the military. He told me the military does not recruit in Japan. The country does not see a need to maintain a large military.
It was a conversation that disturbed me. There are lessons to be learned from a country who provoked war and then suffered so horribly. Today they are a people who believe in peace and not anger or hatred.
The next stop was Hickam Field. This is an active base today, so we had to go through a security check. It was really weird to be stopped at a military check stop.
At the time of the attack, Hickam Field was a 3,000 man barrack housing members of the U.S. Army Air Corps. The buildings and hangars were a focal point of the Japanese attack. This is also the barrack where Jim's Uncle Marshal was stationed.
See the shell marks in the side of the buildings was so shocking. To think these crater like marks still fresh all these years after the attack. Standing outside the buildings, I could vision the low flying planes shooting and the young men scrambling. This site was the most emotional for me. It made me think of the young men on December 7, but also the young men today fighting in Iraq and stationed in Afganistan.
The next stop was Ford Island for stops at the USS Utah Memorial, USS Oklahoma Memorial, and Wheeler Field to view seaplane ramps, the airfield and hangers.
Lunch today was at Fort Shafter with Pearl Harbor Survivors. I sat with Sterling Cale and his wife. Sterling is originally from Moline, IL. He was in the service for 57 years. I enjoyed talking with him. He loved telling his story and was such a jolly man. He also liked to tell jokes.
Mrs. Cale told me she went outside on December 7 to see what all the noise was. She was only wrapped in a towel. A low flying Japanese plane flew over her house and the pilot smiled and waved at her. She said she was so scared and shocked the pilot waved instead of shooting her. It was an incredible story. We all need to remember that civilians have stories about the war to tell as well as men who served in the military.
After lunch we went to the National Memorial Cemetary of the Pacific, better known as "Punchbowl" Cemetary. It is a dormant volcanic crater where Americans who served in the military are buried, including many Pearl Harbor casulalties. It was also known as the "Hill of Sacrifice" to the ancient Hawaiians.
Ranger Dan led a friendship peace ceremony between the Japanese teachers and American teachers. It was pretty powerful for all of us to walk down the row shaking the hands of the Japanese teachers in friendship and peace. The incredible part of the activity is that as we celebrated peace and friendship in Honolulu on August 5th, the people of Japan were celebrating peace at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial ceremonies on August 6th. This is the day the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. Very strange coincidence of timing.
We ended the day over looking Honolulu at the top edge of the crater. It was great view of the city and a nice place for reflection of the days events.
Monday, August 4, 2008
August 4, 2008
Today started with a Hawaiian Blessing and an explanation of Hawaiin culture. It is always interesting to learn about different customs and beliefs.
The main topic today was how to teach about Pearl Harbor? Daniel Martinez, Historian and Ranger at National Park Service, taught us about the Japanese attack using a large floor maps and model airplanes. It was a great technique to teaching the air strategies used and why it was so successful.
We also had a discussion about movies on Pearl Harbor. I found out the popular "Pearl Harbor" movie is very inaccurate and is not a good teaching resource. Great love story though!
The workshop ended with a pizza party and chance to get to know other teachers. I always enjoy talking with teachers from other states. We usually find many similarities with out teaching assignments and students.
In the evening a group of us walked around Waikiki beach. The sunset was incredible and the water very warm. Unfortunately there will be no time this week to sit on the beach in the sun. :(
The main topic today was how to teach about Pearl Harbor? Daniel Martinez, Historian and Ranger at National Park Service, taught us about the Japanese attack using a large floor maps and model airplanes. It was a great technique to teaching the air strategies used and why it was so successful.
We also had a discussion about movies on Pearl Harbor. I found out the popular "Pearl Harbor" movie is very inaccurate and is not a good teaching resource. Great love story though!
The workshop ended with a pizza party and chance to get to know other teachers. I always enjoy talking with teachers from other states. We usually find many similarities with out teaching assignments and students.
In the evening a group of us walked around Waikiki beach. The sunset was incredible and the water very warm. Unfortunately there will be no time this week to sit on the beach in the sun. :(
Sunday, August 3, 2008
August 3, 2008
I woke up early to birds chirping outside my window and the scent of flowers in the air. Then I remembered I was staying in a dorm room on the edge of the University of Hawaii Manoa campus. Dorm room or not, I was on the island of Oahu and anticipating another week of adventure.
I went for a walk around the campus. The trees and plants are so different from home. I enjoyed my walk. Then I found a Japanese garden behind the East-West Center. It reminded me of the serence gardens we visited in Japan. It was beautiful and peaceful.
At 11:30 the bus picked us up at the dorm to start the workshop fieldtrip. We started at the Pacific Aviation Museum to give us an introduction to the aviation capabilities of the U.S. and Japan.
Next we toured the USS Missouri. This battle ship is huge and was in the U.S. fleet from the end of World War II until the Persian Gulf War. The official surrender documents were signed to end the war in the Pacific on the deck of the USS Missouri. We also saw a dent in the side of the boat were a kamakazee pilot rant into the ship, but was not successful.
The best part of the afternoon was a boat tour of Pearl Harbor. We were taken around the harbor in a boat driven by a young woman in the Navy. This was a special tour just for our group.
The boat tour ended with a stop at the USS Arizona Memorial. This was very powerful. The list of names etched in the marble wall was so sad. To think all those men died at one time. I had an eerie feeling as I stood looking at the ship sunk in the water.
The day ended with tours of the USS Bowfin submarine that sunk 44 vessels in 9 missions during World War II. I am always amazed when I tour a sub that men can live in such close space and not go crazy.
During the evening we had a welcome dinner under a pavilion by the Bowfin Museum. The sun setting across the harbor was beautiful and peaceful. A very strange irony from the events on December 7, 1941 at exactly the same location.
I went for a walk around the campus. The trees and plants are so different from home. I enjoyed my walk. Then I found a Japanese garden behind the East-West Center. It reminded me of the serence gardens we visited in Japan. It was beautiful and peaceful.
At 11:30 the bus picked us up at the dorm to start the workshop fieldtrip. We started at the Pacific Aviation Museum to give us an introduction to the aviation capabilities of the U.S. and Japan.
Next we toured the USS Missouri. This battle ship is huge and was in the U.S. fleet from the end of World War II until the Persian Gulf War. The official surrender documents were signed to end the war in the Pacific on the deck of the USS Missouri. We also saw a dent in the side of the boat were a kamakazee pilot rant into the ship, but was not successful.
The best part of the afternoon was a boat tour of Pearl Harbor. We were taken around the harbor in a boat driven by a young woman in the Navy. This was a special tour just for our group.
The boat tour ended with a stop at the USS Arizona Memorial. This was very powerful. The list of names etched in the marble wall was so sad. To think all those men died at one time. I had an eerie feeling as I stood looking at the ship sunk in the water.
The day ended with tours of the USS Bowfin submarine that sunk 44 vessels in 9 missions during World War II. I am always amazed when I tour a sub that men can live in such close space and not go crazy.
During the evening we had a welcome dinner under a pavilion by the Bowfin Museum. The sun setting across the harbor was beautiful and peaceful. A very strange irony from the events on December 7, 1941 at exactly the same location.
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