Ihilani

Kourtney "Running Fawn" Ihilani Frye is a beautiful Native American girl attending this program at Harvard. Kourtney is from Falmouth in Cape Cod. She is 15 years old, and will be a junior this coming year. Kourtney's interests are running track, going to pow wows, and just "chillin" with friends. Pow wows for Native Americans, are like Luau's for Hawaiians. Pow wows are social occasions that allow Native Americans to enjoy their culture through activities like drumming and dancing. Kourtney is an awesome "fancy dancer". I got to see her perform in her rigalia (costume), and it was really cool. A lot of jumping though, no wonder she get skinny legs (haha).
I remember I was so anxious to meet the wampanoags, I kept asking "when are they going to come?". I wanted to see them already. Anyways, I wake up one morning, and I see three "chocolate" girls. No offense, but I was expecting people like pocahontas or something, so I didn't recognize them at first. I remember thinking that it has to be them, because they look my age. So I say hi, and they don't respond. And little miss Kourtney gives me a weird look as she passes me. It was early in the morning, so maybe I might have not seen correctly, but I had a feeling it was a weird look. I was like "How rude!". Well, the next time I see her is in class. She was very quiet, and I emphasize "was". Now she just won't stop talking. Once she's out of her shell, she is out. She is able to get along with everyone, especially boys. Ay bay bay? (haha). Watch out though, she has a tendency to be sweet one minute and sour the next. Just a heads up for future references; If she has a water bottle in her hand... run! She is not afraid to use it, sadly I know this from experience. I still love you Kourtney! We love her so much she was adopted into our Ohana. We gave her a Hawaiian name, Ihilani meaning "Heavenly Splendor", because she really is!

Tutorials: It's Not All Fun and Games.

During tutourials, we always discuss the medical case and then go into making educated guesses on what happened and write down facts we know. But things don't end after that. After discussing the case, we go into what we want ot learn about. That can include new words, sympoms of a disorer, a type of drug, or the effects a certain drug can do to you. This is called our learning agenda and that's where we are assigned a certain topic to research about, and the next day we present the information in our tutourial groups. So even when we're learning, we still have homework to do. I thought it was easier than what I expected because we got to work in pairs and when we presented our information, we got to be creative and do skits, show clips for visual aid, or we got the group involved by doing a word hunt or a simple test. I liked doing the learning agendas because it is a really great way to show one's creativeness and to learn something at the same time.

PAPA HULA

For some of you who don't know I love dancing but, hula is different. It ain't a type of dance I specialize in especially when dancing a hula kahiko that utilizes the alo lua style. Alo lua is when you dance the same steps and movements on both sides, you start on the right on one verse and when the verse is repeated you start on the left side. I'm a lot better at hula kahiko that repeats the verse on the same side. My mind can't talk to my hands and feet at the same time it takes me weeks to understand, but I'll get it.
We learned two songs, "Kawika" and "Aia e ka nani i Puaka'ilima." "Kawika is a song that honors Hawai'i's last king King David Kalakaua. It was the first song we learned.
The next song honors Queen Emma who was married to Alexander Liholiho (Kamehameha IV.) This song got me moving off beat, looking all over the place, and got me all confused. It takes a lot of practice because it challenges us by doing it on the right then on the left but it really is a lovely song.
The foot movements we learned so far are the kaholo, which you take four steps to the right and then four steps to the left. Next is the hela, this is were you move your foot right in front of you flat on the ground and then back, and than the same with the left. Third step is called the 'uwehe this is when you step and than thrust you knees forward, step with your right and thrust (not too much) step with your left and thrust. Lastly we have the 'ami where you move your hips in a circular motion, moving only your hips. Here are a few rules to remember,don't forget to keep your knees slightly bent, keep your back straight, don't bounce when doing the hela, and don't forget to SMILE!

Martha's Vineyard

Last week Sunday, July 15, we went to the island of Martha’s Vineyard. We had to wake up super early to get their in time for lunch. We needed to leave Boston by 6:00 am, and have an hour and a half drive to the shuttle area. From the shuttle, we had a 15 minute bus ride to the ferry. From the ferry to the island was a 45 minute boat ride, and lastly, from the boat harbor to The Tribal Center, in Aquinnah, it was 45 minutes. Two of our Native American friends are from Martha’s Vineyard, Thomas Fantasia and Michael Selitti. When we arrived in Aquinnah at The Tribal Center, we started to prepare the food. For lunch we ate all kinds of food, such as steak, hot dogs, Hawaiian food, Native American food etc. At this Tribal Center, different cultures shared different cultural practices with one another. For the Hawaiian students they introduced the hula and taught the basic steps, such as the kaholo, the hela, the ‘ami and the ‘uwehe to the Native American people. For the Native Americans, they introduced all kinds of dances, such as the mosquito dance, which was my favorite dance. After the teachings of the different cultures, we went to Phillbin beach. Phillbin beach was a nice long white sandy beach, and it was relaxing because it was very, very hot, and the water was very, very freezing. After the beach, we visited the cliff area, with the lighthouse, took pictures, and did a little shopping at the small stores up there. Lastly we went back to the Tribal Center and had a closing ceremony, and we journeyed back, repeating the exact same steps we did before; 30 minute drive to ferry, 45 minute ferry ride, 15 minute bus ride and an hour and a half drive back to Boston. The ride back was very exhilarating, because everyone was hipper and singing and dancing in their vans. Going to Martha’s Vineyard has been my favorite part of this trip so far, and I am so happy I had the opportunity to experience going to a place with such diversity, with such spirit, it was AWESOME!!

*Kahea

FOOD FOOD and MORE FOOD!!!

Since we have been here in Boston, Massachusetts we have ate at several restaurants such as IHOP, Bertucci's, Uno's Chicago Grill, Qdoba, Anneburg, Elements, and the Courtyard. IHOP, there is only one on Oahu so I knew what to expect, but I say that the IHOP over here in Harvard Square is much better than the IHOP in Kaneohe. Bertucci's is an authentic Italian restaurant all they serve is pasta's and soup. I ate a pizza there and It had a thin crust... a delicious thin crust. Uno's was my favorite of all the restaurant, I had a pasta called "rattle snake pasta" and it was oh so very DELIC-IOUS.! Qdoba is a Mexican restaurant that had some "MONSTEROUS" size burritos, better than Taco Bell. Anneburg also known as the Harry Potter dining hall is a buffet. They have a salad bar, a grill section, and pasta section, and another section that changes to different types of homemade like foods. Did I mention the ice cream machine? The ice cream machine has chocolate ice cream my favorite.
Elements and the Courtyard were the two place that we spent most of our time at. We eat breakfast at the Court yard every morning and take turns at lunch. Some time's we'll eat at Elements, then the next day will be at the Courtyard. I like Element the best of the two, it had a wider variety. They had a sandwich station, a pasta section, a pizza section, and another section that they changed everyday, and of course a salad bar. They also have more cookies than the Courtyard. I believe that we drank all the rockstar drink at the Courtyard within the first week, everyone was getting there energy on.
If you ever decide to go to restaurant in Boston, here's a heads up, only drink bottled drinks, the fountain sodas all have a taste of soap in them.