Islands

Aloha! I just arrived at Evergreen today, and I was greeted with "welcome back" rather than "e como mai." My last day in Hawaii was fantastic- I got to do some work in a lo'i (taro field) and really get in touch with the aina (land)- Seriously, I was up to my knees in muddy water! Gosh, so much to take care of now- gotta get my student ID sticker for this quarter so I can ride the bus, and do a new assignment for my RA position (I was accepted for next year- I'll be the RA for P and Q) Plus, I need to go buy groceries, celebrate Earth Day, unpack, and start pulling all of the parts of my project together into a presentation format. I was checking on my digital photos today, and three cds of more than 500 of my digital photographs are corrupted or damaged. Oh well, cest la vie! I'm left with less pictures than I thought I had and will have to re-think my presentation to some degree...perhaps this will save me time in the editing process, yeah? Oh! I know! I'll talk to Nadine and see if I can get some help with my presentation from Hui o' Hawai'i! Oh yeah, I need to call a public television programming company in Honolulu to see if I can some footage from them for my project! I have there number somewhere! Eek! For now, I'm going to bed. I'm SOO TIRED! At least I made it back safely... I MISS HAWAI'I ALREADY! I swear! I was just getting the hang of the "local" lingo- people noticed that I was talking funny when I came home! Yeah, let's see how long I can keep this up brah! I feel a little lolo (stupid) now, because I don't feel quite like I belong here anymore. I've never felt such a strong connection with a place as I have felt in Hawaii. I was encouraged to Hana Hou (return/continue/encore)- I just might have to do that! For now, I'll just try to learn how to play my ipu...and I'll probably join Hui o' Hawaii and help with the luau to maintain that close feeling of ohana (family)! Mahalo nui loa (much much thanks) to everyone who has helped this haole mutt with his project!
Aloha nui,
Jeremy Stutes

Posted by Jeremy Stutes at 03:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Well, this past week has been interesting. I went to Hilo for the 41st Annual Merrie Monarch Festival. Here's some of the highlights of my week.

- Watched Hula Halau Keali'i O Nalani (Kumu Keali'i Ceballos) from Los Angeles, CA dancing in heavy rain on Sunday
- Met a lady from Washington also doing research on Hula (not for academics)
- Learned about Hilo, Hawaii and how Merrie Monarch changes it
- Stayed (for free) with a local caterer who fed me WONDERFUL food
- Purchased a beautiful Ipu (gord drum) at a crafts fair
- Saw performances by Halau from Japan and New Zeland on Wednesday
- Attended the Miss Aloha Hula Festival on Thursday and sat with Hula Halau Keali'i O Nalani
- Watched the Kahiko (traditional) Hula Competition on TV on Friday with a local male hula dancer - very insightful
- Watched the Auana (modern/creative) Hula Competition on Saturday on TV
- Browsed the websites of numerous fashion designers during the week (you've gotta love the new D&G collection!)
- and other stuff- now, I'm back in Honolulu, heading to a meeting with a representative from the Office of Hawaiian affairs. It's been fun dahlings! Ta ta!!

Posted by Jeremy Stutes at 04:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Yes, you heard correctly, I'm currently hanging out with another cute boy. This one is hot! hot! hot!, but I actually don't think anything big will come of it- its really a shame, we have SO MUCH in common, and I've had amazing adventures every time that I've spent time with him... I just don't think that he's attracted to me that much. Well, to keep you updated on my life, here's some tidbits from my many recent adventures and discoveries:

Monday: Hale'iwa Adventure

Hung out with Boy #3 in Haleiwa at his quasi-legal campsite. After hitchiking to Sharks Cove, we spotted a pod of whales off the coast breeching the surface together- it was amazing. We also had quite a fun water fight and adventure swimming in the cove, and enjoyed Matsumoto's famous North Shore shave ice together.

Wednesday: Hula Halau Adventure

I was hanging out at a Hula Supply store, and I asked about learning a little hula before I head to Hilo for Merrie Monarch. I was instructed to turn around because there was a Kumu Hula right behind me that I should talk to. He was actually headed to teach a class that night and invited me to try it and observe. He also volunteered to help me with my project in Hilo because He'll be attending Merrie Monarch too!

Thursday: Hanauma Bay Adventure

Went snorkling with Boy #3 in Hanauma Bay. It was his first time snorkling. We saw so many colorful fish, and swam with a huge honu (sea turtle). To add a magical ending to a fabulous day, we saw a rainbow completely contained (both ends) within the bay. It was spectacular. We then went to Waikiki and watched the sunset, and hit a gay club, but I had to leave because I'm under 21. Stupid laws!

Saturday: Crazy Airport Adventures

Set alarm for 3:00 to catch taxi at 3:30 to be at airport by 5:35 departure to Hilo. Woke up at 4:45 - it seems my alarm wasn't working! I frantically called a taxi and grabbed luggage and left. Arrived at the airport with 5 minutes to spare, and realized that I had left a bag at the hostel in my mad dash out of the hostel. I rescheduled my flight for 7:30 pm, and took a bus back to the hostel where I waited around until my dad called to inform me that there was no 7:30 pm flight, and I glanced at my ticket and it said 7:30 A(M)! So, I took a bus back to the airport and pleaded for a ticket which I received on the last flight out of the day. (6:15pm) At the gate I met a friend, Roxi, from the beginning of my trip. She works for Hawaiian airlines, and got me a seat in first class! So, horrible day from hell actually turned out well in the end. I'm now in Hilo staying with a gay man who just returned from India -there's is nothing romantic or sexual there, it's just a place to stay. I'm so ready for Merrie Monarch week to begin! For more info. on Merrie Monarch, see my schedule on my website (schedule info. updated recently!)

Aloha!
Jeremy

Posted by Jeremy Stutes at 05:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)

blog pending- I'm still alive...

Posted by Jeremy Stutes at 02:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)

Alternate Title: A Fun Week & Strange Weekend

This week was really fun. My parents and sister arrived and I hung out with them for a while and we tried to go snorkling a couple of times, but I got sunburned pretty bad. We went to Kauai for a day and visited a few places where South Pacific was filmed, but they weren't really worth taking many pictures of. I did take some awesome pictures of a taro field. Then, we boarded a helicopter and flew over the island taking even more pictures. I got a video too. Back on Oahu, my parents took me grocery shopping at Sam's Club in a rental car- I stocked up on some awesome sweet potatoes, apple bananas, cookies, and poi, and I convinced them to buy me a cell phone to use while I am here. We also visited the Dole plantation and stopped by the Bonzai Pipeline on the North Shore where I got to check out lots of hot surfer boys and take pictures. I saw my sister off at the airport and then ate flash seared (partially raw) ahi for dinner with my parents. It was yummy. They left the next day.

This weekend was not as glamerous. It was actually pretty crazy. My friend (the cute boy...let's call him friend 1) was getting ready to return to the mainland so I decided to hang out with him on Friday night in Waikiki. The doofus got himself drunk off his ass and ended up projectile vomiting like the creepy little girl in the exorcist and then passing out, thus missing the last bus to his place at 1 am. I had to take care of him because he said that he needed me to. I had to wait around with a really cute friend of his (friend 2) for a while until he was coherent and he (friend 2) eventually asked me out on a date, which I accepted before returning to friend 1 who was now sleeping in the bushes on military property. I pulled out my beach mat to lay down next to him and set an alarm to wake us up early so that we could catch the first bus to his place which he told me would arrive at 4:00am. It didn't arrive until 5:15 or 5:30.

Saturday afternoon was less nightmarish, I hung out with friend 2 most of the day, and met some of his friends. On Sunday I did the same, but checked my e-mail with him and was shocked to find out that Jacinta McKoy, the Managing Director of Performing and Media Arts at Evergreen had passed away. This hits me closely- not only have I worked with Jacinta a lot this year, attended a conference with her at CWU, and ate dinner with her after the conference, but she has been a huge mentor figure in my life- always providing me with wisdom and guidance on how to develop myself into a well-rounded person. I am really going to miss her, and I can't yet imagine what the COM building and campus life will be like without her. I've had both of my grandfathers die during my life, and I have accepted death, so I handled the sad news pretty well. It really makes you think about what's important and how you want to spend your life...

Oh yeah, just in case you still are wondering about the title...

Kaaawa (Kah-ah-ah-vah) - a small city on the island of Oahu
(should be written: Ka'a'awa)

that one is easier that Queen Liliukalani, Kalaniaanaole, or Iz Kamakawiwoole

Two interesting sites on Hawaiian Language:

Rich's Pet Peeve of the Day

Hawaiian Language Pronounciation

and the guidelines on pronouncing the letter w really confuse me...

Posted by Jeremy Stutes at 10:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

My parents are here for a week...

Here's what's happened

A. My Project

- Interviewed Bumpy Kanahele of Nation of Hawaii

- Attended "Perspectives on Federal Recognition" conference at UH Law School

- Reading, writing, picture-taking, and planning.

B. My Living/Financial Situation

- Ran out of money- parents gave me more - going to get a temp. cell phone

- Unable to find a temp. job.

C. My Relationship Status

- Cute guy and I are "just friends" now. It's probably best for the both of us.

- We watched the movie Party Monster and decided to dress up FABULOUS!

- More pictures to come...

this entry is brief and to the point... (this was so hard for me to do!)

Posted by Jeremy Stutes at 07:36 PM | Permalink

Translation of title: The life (sovereignty) of the land is perpetuated in (by) righteousness

So, I didn't find a decent place to stay for free after all. Instead, I found a great place to stay in some "student housing" for $10/night near the University of Hawii Manoa. I have free access to internet at the University, and although I have a roommate, I get a shared television, my own desk (very handy), shared kitchen, and sometimes even free food!

a somewhat interesting side note: the large hotel on the left side of the photo is the same hotel that is on my postcard that I made for class.

It has rained almost every day since I arrived here. It's sort of depressing to leave Olympia's rainy climate just to have it rain in Hawaii.

Please read on for more info and pictures...

Continue reading "ua mau ke ea o ka 'aina i ka pono (w/pics)" »

Posted by Jeremy Stutes at 11:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (10)

I made it to Oahu yesterday afternoon. I documented so much that I really can't share it all right now. What I can share is what I have promised to do... Here's the story. I was sitting next to an Italian grandmother on the flight to Hawaii. She didn't speak much English. She just kept looking at me, shrugging as if apologizing, and saying: "Italian, Italian" Then, her granddaughter in the seat across the aisle from her said, "sorry, she's Italian" and, I was like, ok, no prob... Anyway, she eventually traded seats and we got to talking. Her name was Marta and she was from Rome, Italy. Soon, I was swarmed by Italian girls, and we were watching movies, commenting on cute boys, and playing Buzzz! and Hangman together! It was so much fun and we got rowdy. A little too rowdy, perhaps. More later including pictures!! Honolulu is SO BIG! I'm meeting cool people EVERYWHERE! There's a storm heading in, so it's windy and cloudy. EEK! I'm paying 5.00/hr at an internet cafe in Waikiki right now, so I can't talk anymore... Yea!

Continue reading "Aloha from Hawaii! (now w/pictures!)" »

Posted by Jeremy Stutes at 07:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Hui O' Hawaii held a Pre Luau Luau in the HCC Friday night. I got pictures and video. I'm not sure how to upload video into blogs, but I will display my pictures. I ran the sound board and helped set up. and met Celva, the person that started the Luau tradition at Evergreen- she was able to help me out A LOT! Mahalo Celva! So, look at the neat-o pictures. The HCC looked BEAUTIFUL!

Continue reading "The Best Going Away Party EVER!" »

Posted by Jeremy Stutes at 07:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

I've got to start packing for my trip. I've also got to clean my room to do that.

So, anyway, Kashmir called me and she told me that she won't be able to get to Adak on time because her flight was canceled due to weather. So, she's stuck in Anchorage with her future co-workers for a while. When she returns after her trip, I think I'll call her "smelly fish girl!" I'm actually really looking forward to following her travels. I also wanted to post a thank you to Celva in Upward Bound and Nadine from Hui O' Hawaii for their help with my Hawaii planning too. I think I need to see my orthodontist before I leave on Monday because some "cement" broke off of my permanent retainer. I hope I can get an appointment. Also, I've got a paper to write for my RA (community leadership) class. So, I'm still busy and I need to pack! Hoo-rah!

Here's some pics from our fashionable Bon Voyage party!

Continue reading "ready, set, go!" »

Posted by Jeremy Stutes at 12:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I'm not ready to leave yet.
I'm so ready to go.

yep. that's all.

Posted by Jeremy Stutes at 10:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Ok, so most of the framework is up for my personal website. I'm excited about this. I'm a bit sad about these web blogs. I can't figure out how to respond to comments and such. Nor do I have a user icon for easy identification. I really like my livejournal. Since inserting a url tag basically just inserts a hyperlink (a href= tag) I wonder if html code works in these things like it does there. Let me try... hmmm...

Posted by Jeremy Stutes at 04:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)