Hawaii Is a Rainbow 9780824843809

Citation preview

Hawaii is a Stephanie Feeney photographs byJeff Reese

A Koiowalu B o o k University of Hawaii Press Honolulu

© 1985 University of Hawaii Press A l l rights reserved Library of C o n g r e s s Catalog C a r d N u m b e r 85-50569 ISBN 978-0-8248-1007-8 M a n u f a c t u r e d in C h i n a 13

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About the book Children have always loved rainbows. Rainbows appear and disappear as if by magic and they make the world appear brighter and more beautiful, but you can never touch or hold the glowing arch of colored light. In Hawaii w e have lots of sunshine and light rain so many rainbows are formed as the sun's rays pass through drops of rain. The first Hawaiians called the rainbow Snuenue and believed that when a rainbow appeared it was a sign that something important was about to happen. Rainbows are still a very special part of life in Hawaii. Children paint pictures of them, people write songs and poems about them, and everyone enjoys their beauty. A n d Hawaii is, in some ways, like a rainbow. Many different colors are seen on the islands and they seem more vivid in the clear air and bright sunshine. Green islands ringed with sparkling white waves rise out of a turquoise ocean. The skies are brilliant blue during the day and at sunrise and sunset are often colored with shades of gold, orange, red, magenta, and purple. Plants, flowering trees, birds, shells, and tropical fish are also brightly colored. The people of Hawaii are also like the rainbow. They come from many places in the world, have skin, hair, and eyes of different colors, speak many languages, and have different kinds of food, celebrations,

and art. Like the colors of the rainbow when the people come together they seem even more beautiful. In this book we use the colors of the rainb o w — r e d , orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple — a s a way to organize pictures of some of the people, places, plants, and animals of Hawaii. Hawaii is a Rainbow has been created to help children learn about colors and about Hawaii. We hope that it will help both children and adults to appreciate the rich variety and the very special beauty of our islands.

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Sharing this book with children Looking at a book with a special adult can be a wonderful experience for a child. It can also contribute to learning language and concepts and interest in books and reading. The pictures in Hawaii is a Rainbow have been selected for their appeal to young children, and the background information about Hawaii that follows provides information at the level of their understanding. A child under the age of three will probably be most interested in the subject matter of the pictures. Look at them together, discuss what you see and your feelings and reactions. Older preschoolers and schoolage children may want more information about the things in the pictures that are especially interesting to them. If the child wants to know more, refer to the sections that deal with the islands, plants and animals, and people of Hawaii. Most young children are fascinated by c o l o r — i n nature, in pictures, and in the objects around them. This book can be used to help children learn more about colors. You can help them understand that color is an attribute that can be used to describe many different things: " T h e bananas are yellow, the fire truck is yellow, and the fish is yellow, too." Young children can also learn that a particular color does not always look exactly the same: " T h e red in the dancer's dress has more blue in it than the red in the flowers." You can point out that colors blend into each other and that the colors in this book are in the same order as those of the r a i n b o w red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple. Children are also interested in new color names, such as turquoise, magenta, crimson, and avocado, and words to

describe variations in color, such as dull, bright, warm, and cool. You can provide children with opportunities to explore and experiment with color. Encourage them to look for all the objects of one color in the house, yard, or on a walk. Provide experiences with the way colors are formed by having the child combine drops of food coloring in water, mix paints of different colors, or hold pieces of colored cellophane to the light in different combinations.

bout Hawaii

The islands The Hawaiian Islands are the tops of huge mountains that began to rise from the bottom of the ocean long ago when volcanoes formed. Cracks opened In the floor of the Pacific Ocean and lava (boiling liquid rock) spurted up from the center of the earth. As more eruptions occurred the lava built up and mountains formed under the sea. The mountains became taller and taller as the lava continued to flow down their sides. Eventually, the mountains rose above the surface of the ocean. Over time the mountains changed. Rain carved canyons into the land and made

streams and waterfalls. The bottoms of the mountains were washed by waves and battered by storms, forming steep cliffs Ipali in Hawaiian) and turning the lava into soil. After many years plants, animals, and people could live on the islands. All of the Hawaiian Islands were formed from volcanoes, but some of the Islands, Including Kauai, Oahu, Lanai, and Molokai, are very old and no longer have any volcanoes that erupt. Maui Is a newer Island and has one volcano that seems to be sleeping. It has not erupted for a long time and no one knows if it ever will again. The Island of

Hawaii is t h e n e w e s t island, a n d it is still g r o w i n g as n e w land is a d d e d by f l o w i n g lava. T h e island has t w o v o l c a n o e s t h a t s h o o t f o u n t a i n s of red, h o t lava into t h e air. It is s o m e t i m e s possible to get close e n o u g h t o w a t c h t h e fiery f o u n t a i n s a n d t h e m o v i n g lava. Layers of lava build up gradually, o n e o n t o p o f another, so t h a t H a w a i i a n v o l c a n o e s s l o p e g e n t l y a n d are r o u n d e d instead of f o r m i n g sharp p o i n t e d c o n e s like v o l c a n o e s in o t h e r places in t h e world.

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Plants and animals For a long time there was very little life on the islands. Then plants and animals found their way across miles and miles of ocean. The first plant seeds came on the trunks and branches of trees, on wind and water currents, and were carried by seabirds.

to a potato). Later settlers brought other plants they wanted for their use. New plants grew well in Hawaii's mild climate, sometimes becoming useful additions and sometimes crowding out the plants that were already there.

Before the first people came there were several hundred kinds of flowering plants and ferns growing on the islands. More plants were brought by the first Hawaiians for food, medicine, clothing, and for making mats and canoes. Food plants included coconuts, bananas, yams, breadfruit, sugarcane, and taro (a purple root similar

In Hawaii today there are many kinds of plants. At sea level there are tropical plants — orchids, anthurium, hibiscus, ginger, bananas, mangos, and flowering trees. High on the mountain slopes plants that grow in cooler climates can be found, and on the tops of the highest mountains there are some plants that grow only in Hawaii.

Insects and other small animals came to the islands the way the first plants came, carried by wind and waves. Before the first people came there were many kinds of birds and insects and even bats, but there were no frogs, lizards, snakes, or large land animals. In their canoes the first settlers brought chickens, pigs, dogs, and, as stowaways, rats and lizards. Later visitors brought many more animals, including goats, sheep, cattle, horses, cats, donkeys, deer, rabbits, frogs, and small weasellike animals called mongooses. In addition to birds and animals that live

o n land, there are m a n y kinds of sea animals in Hawaii. M a n y colorful fish can be seen in the reefs a r o u n d t h e islands. Ocean fish, such as sharks, and large marine m a m m a l s , such as whales, dolphins, and seals, also live in Hawaiian waters. Seashells can be f o u n d in tide pools, hiding a m o n g ocean rocks, and on the beaches. Shells in Hawaii are larger and more colorful than those in other islands in the Pacific. Sea snakes, turtles, o c t o p u s , squid, crabs, shrimps, lobsters, sea urchins, and coral are also f o u n d in the ocean a r o u n d Hawaii. Coral is f o r m e d as tiny animals take lime out of the seawater and deposit it a r o u n d themselves to f o r m a skeleton that builds into reefs. The reefs t h e n join and s u r r o u n d the islands. Coral slowly breaks d o w n over t i m e and turns into the sand f o u n d on Hawaii's w h i t e beaches. S o m e beaches have black sand f o r m e d f r o m lava rock. Because Hawaii is so far away f r o m other land, t h e animals a n d plants that reached the islands f o u n d f e w enemies w h e n they arrived. W i t h w a r m weather, plenty of rain, and safety, m a n y w e r e able to g r o w s t r o n g in their n e w h o m e . S o o n the islands w e r e filled w i t h plants and animals. A s they adjusted to seashore, lava rock, m o u n t a i n top, a n d p a l i , t h e y c h a n g e d . S o m e of t h e m c h a n g e d so m u c h that they became different f r o m any other plants and animals in the w o r l d — spiders that j u m p , snails that live in trees (and are said in Hawaiian lege n d to sing), ferns as large as trees, insects that c a n n o t fly, raspberries w i t h o u t t h o r n s , birds w i t h long curved bills, and t h e n e n e , a kind of goose that walks on cooled lava but cannot swim.

People T h e first people to settle in Hawaii came in large canoes f r o m a g r o u p of islands in t h e

ful d e c o r a t e d cloth called kapa. Families w e r e i m p o r t a n t to the Hawai-

places to visit and to live in Hawaii. People settled in Hawaii for m a n y different rea-

S o u t h Pacific. These first settlers w e r e very

ians, and t h e y especially loved children.

sons; to start c h u r c h e s and schools, to

brave to travel far f r o m their homes w h e n

T h e y k n e w that people needed plants and

teach their religions, to h u n t whales, and to

t h e y w e r e not sure that they w o u l d find

animals to live and so t h e y respected and

start businesses. G r o w i n g and selling

land. T h e y had no compasses to help t h e m

t o o k g o o d care of t h e land and the ocean.

sugarcane and pineapple b e c a m e impor-

navigate, but t h e y w e r e very g o o d at fol-

T h e y created songs, dances, and stories to

tant w o r k in Hawaii. Groups o f w o r k e r s

l o w i n g t h e paths o f birds and fish, the cur-

express their feelings about t h e w o r l d

c a m e f r o m China, t h e n Portugal, J a p a n ,

rents o f t h e ocean and the w i n d s , and t h e y

a r o u n d t h e m and their relationship to it.

and later Korea and t h e Philippines to w o r k

k n e w h o w to use t h e stars as guides. T h e first Hawaiians w e r e very skilled at

L o n g after t h e first Hawaiians arrived, sailors c a m e to Hawaii f r o m England.

in t h e sugarcane a n d pineapple fields. Each g r o u p of people w h o c a m e to live in

W h e n t h e y returned to their c o u n t r y they

Hawaii b r o u g h t w i t h t h e m their language,

used plants, fish, and shells for m a k i n g

told a b o u t the beautiful islands t h e y had

f o o d , dress, art, music, and celebrations.

nets, ropes, b o w l s , fishhooks, and beauti-

visited. S o o n people c a m e f r o m m a n y

f i s h i n g , w e a v i n g , and m a k i n g canoes. They

S o m e o f these have remained the same a n d s o m e have c h a n g e d . People b o r r o w e d f r o m one another, blending w h a t t h e y b r o u g h t to Hawaii w i t h w h a t others, including the Hawaiians, had b r o u g h t . This sharing has created a very special and unique island w a y o f life. Children in Hawaii today live w i t h their families, play w i t h their friends, and g o to school just like children everywhere. They o f t e n go to the beach and splash in the waves and dig in the sand. They can play o u t s i d e all year long because it is never c o l d , a l t h o u g h s o m e t i m e s it is rainy. Children also fly kites, climb trees, read books, a n d w a t c h television. M a n y of t h e m have d o g s , cats, fish, birds, and mice for pets. Children in Hawaii enjoy special f o o d s shave ice (cones of grated ice, flavored w i t h s w e e t , colored syrup), saimin (long noodles in broth w i t h green o n i o n s a n d fishcake), teriyaki (Japanese style meat marinated in soy sauce and barbecued), m a n a p u a (Chinese steamed buns), and poi (a Hawaiian f o o d m a d e f r o m p o u n d e d taro and s o m e t i m e s eaten w i t h t h e fingers). T h e y also eat lots o f rice, fish, pineapple,

m a n g o , and papaya, as well as h a m burgers, spaghetti, salad, ice cream, and other f o o d s that children o n the mainland eat. Families f o l l o w c u s t o m s that c a m e to Hawaii f r o m different countries. They take their shoes o f f at the f r o n t door of the house the w a y people in J a p a n d o ; like the Hawaiians, they greet visitors or celebrate a special day w i t h garlands of flowers called /e/s; t h e y celebrate N e w Year's Eve w i t h f i r e w o r k s t h e w a y the Chinese d o , and w i t h Japanese rice cake calledmoc/?/. M a n y families in Hawaii also celebrate Chinese N e w Year and t w o Japanese holidays especially for children, Boys' Day and Girls' Day. In schools children celebrate M a y Day w i t h s o n g s and dances of the islands and flower leis, a n d t h e y observe holidays h o n o r i n g Hawaiian royalty. Other holidays are celebrated t h e same way they are o n the mainland: trick-or-treating for Halloween, decorating a tree a n d giving presents for Christmas, eating t u r k e y on T h a n k s g i v i n g , and giving special cards and gifts o n Valentine's Day. M o t h e r s and fathers in Hawaii w o r k in stores, schools, o f f i c e s , and restaurants like parents e v e r y w h e r e . They do all kinds of jobs. T h e y are firefighters, d o c t o r s , police officers, fishermen, teachers, lawyers, c o o k s , and lifeguards. S o m e have jobs in hotels, restaurants, and stores that are for the visitors w h o c o m e to Hawaii f r o m all over the w o r l d . Families in Hawaii today love their children very m u c h , just as the first Hawaiians did. Together they enjoy Hawaii's beautiful beaches a n d m o u n t a i n s , and they still take t i m e to look at the rainbows.

More information

HULA

HIBISCUS

The traditional dance of the Hawaiian Islands, uses hand and body motion and facial expression to interpret the rhythmic dance chants. It expresses an inner spirit and is danced to honor the Hawaiian gods, to teach about important people and events, and for entertainment.

The hibiscus is the state flower of Hawaii. Many varieties can be found in gardens and growing wild.

ANTHURIUM

KAMEHAMEHA DAY A rider and his horse are at the June parade that honors Kamehameha, the great king w h o united the Hawaiian Islands.

The part of the plant that looks like a flower is really the leaf, the flower is the white stem. Anthurium, originally from South America, are grown commercially on the island of Hawaii.

MANAPUA

EPISCOPAL MITER

Manapua are Chinese steamed buns stuffed with pork or black beans.

Slender, pointed, orange and white shells, which grow up to six Inches In length, are found In the sand and reefs of the Hawaiian Islands. They stun their prey with a poisonous sting.

KUMU HULA A highly respected person who is master of the dance and tradition of the hula and shares this knowledge with others.

POLYNESIAN VOYAGING CANOE This boat Is a modern version of the double-hulled canoe used by the Polynesians in their first trips to Hawaii.

ORCHID Orchids come In many forms and colors, are plentiful in the islands, and are often used in making leis.

COCONUT BANANA This popular island fruit was brought by the Polynesian settlers and is g r o w n extensively in Hawaii.

The long narrow leaves of the c o c o n u t palm (lau niu) were used by Polynesians to weave baskets, mats, purses, hats, and other items.

CARP STREAMERS (KoiNobori) These colorful paper or cloth streamers are fashioned in the f o r m of the carp, w h i c h is admired by the Japanese for its strength, perseverence, and long life. They are flown by families in Hawaii to celebrate the Japanese holiday Boys' Day, on May 5th.

ANOLE LIZARD

YELLOW TANG A small, yellow fish that has a w h i t e spot at the scalpellike spine at the base of the tail is a member of the surgeon fish family. The Hawaiian yellow tang is the most brilliant yellow of the species, c o m m o n in the S o u t h Pacific.

Slender, green, insect-eating lizards are f o u n d in many gardens in Hawaii. They are not chameleons t h o u g h they can change their color f r o m green to b r o w n , tan, and grey in response to temperature and other conditions.

PA'U RIDER W o m e n on horseback representing the different islands are a special feature of parades in Hawaii. Pa'u refers to the

BREADFRUIT A n o t h e r food plant brought to Hawaii by the first Polynesian settlers is breadfruit. It may be eaten baked, boiled, or steamed.

w o m a n ' s skirt, a long rectangular strip of fabric wrapped around the body f r o m the waist d o w n . This tradition was adopted f r o m royal Hawaiian w o m e n , w h o wore the pa'u while riding horseback.

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GLORY BUSH This plant, with brilliant purple flowers, originally brought to Hawaii as a garden plant now grows wild at high elevations. It can be seen at Kokee on Kauai and in the Volcanoes National Park area on the island of Hawaii.

BIRD OF PARADISE This plant originally from South Africa is related to the banana. The unusual flower, found in many Hawaiian gardens, is often used in decorative arrangements.

C A R P (Koi) Originally bred in Japan as a decorative fish and brought to Hawaii by Japanese settlers. Large and beautifully marked carp are valuable and highly prized.

LION DANCE As part of the Chinese New Year celebration, dancers in lion costume move to the beat of drums to chase away bad spirits and make way for a prosperous new year.

LUAU A traditional Hawaiian feast that usually includes pig and fish baked in an underground oven, taro leaves cooked in coco nut cream (calledluau), poi, and other Hawaiian foods. MANGO The sweet, juicy, orange fruit grows on a very tall tree and is eaten raw or used in pies, jams, and chutney. Mangoes originally came from India.

The book's creators A u t h o r : Stephanie Feeney is associate professor of education at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where she has taught since 1972 and developed the early childhood teacher education program. She received her education at UCLA, Harvard University, and Claremont Graduate School. She writes and consults extensively in the field of early childhood education and is author of two books, an introductory text Who Am / in the Lives of Children? and A is forAioha. P h o t o g r a p h e r : Jeff Reese has lived in and photographed Hawaii for fifteen years. This book represents his professional debut as a photographer. His previous credits include being a finalist in Honolulu magazine photo contest and having his photographs selected for exhibit at Honolulu City Hall. Educated at the University of Colorado and the University of Hawaii, he is a guidance counselor with the U.S. Army. Designer: Jill Chen Loui is a freelance graphic designer in Honolulu. She was trained in art at Vassar College, University of Florida, and in Florence, Italy. She has been a graphic designer in Hawaii since 1977 and was art director for Honolulu magazine from 1978 to 1983. She has won a number of awards for excellence in design.

Acknowledgments First, and most important, we acknowledge the contributions of Eva Moravcik. This book could not have happened without her ideas, assistance, encouragement, and support. It is her spirit that shines through these pages. We thank the Bank of Honolulu, especially Alvin Wong, manager of the Manoa Branch, for faith in us and assistance in this project. We are very grateful to all the subjects of these photographs, children and adults; the parents who allowed us to use their children's pictures; and the preschool teachers and directors who were so helpful. Special thanks to the staff and children of Rainbow School, Jackie Dudock and the staff and children of the Valley Montessori School, Winnie Ching and Joshua Ching-Pickett, Mary, Tom, and Isaac Goya, Nancy Fargo

and Christopher Fargo-Masuda, Bob, Vickie, and Michael Marks, Shair Nielsen and Kona Moon Nielsen-Yokoyama, Susie Seui and her children, Alice and Annie Ziegler, Halau Mohala llima (Kumu Hula Mapuana deSilva), Hula Halau ' 0 Kamuela (Kumu Hula Paleka Mattos), Na Hula ' 0 La'i Kealoha (Kumu Hula Elaine Kaopuiki). We also thank the following for their assistance: Marguerite Ashford (Bishop Museum), Elizabeth Ayson and Stephen Quirk, Haunani Bernardino, Bessie's Lei Stand, Hale Manu Craft (Hilo), High Performance Kites, Island Manapua Factory, Puanani Mills, Moanalua Gardens Foundation (Prince Lot Hula Festival, 1984), Bruce Ushijima (Ushijima Nigishigoi), and Honolulu Fire Department, Waikiki Station.

The book's creators A u t h o r : Stephanie Feeney is associate professor of education at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where she has taught since 1972 and developed the early childhood teacher education program. She received her education at UCLA, Harvard University, and Claremont Graduate School. She writes and consults extensively in the field of early childhood education and is author of two books, an introductory text Who Am / in the Lives of Children? and A is forAioha. P h o t o g r a p h e r : Jeff Reese has lived in and photographed Hawaii for fifteen years. This book represents his professional debut as a photographer. His previous credits include being a finalist in Honolulu magazine photo contest and having his photographs selected for exhibit at Honolulu City Hall. Educated at the University of Colorado and the University of Hawaii, he is a guidance counselor with the U.S. Army. Designer: Jill Chen Loui is a freelance graphic designer in Honolulu. She was trained in art at Vassar College, University of Florida, and in Florence, Italy. She has been a graphic designer in Hawaii since 1977 and was art director for Honolulu magazine from 1978 to 1983. She has won a number of awards for excellence in design.

Acknowledgments First, and most important, we acknowledge the contributions of Eva Moravcik. This book could not have happened without her ideas, assistance, encouragement, and support. It is her spirit that shines through these pages. We thank the Bank of Honolulu, especially Alvin Wong, manager of the Manoa Branch, for faith in us and assistance in this project. We are very grateful to all the subjects of these photographs, children and adults; the parents who allowed us to use their children's pictures; and the preschool teachers and directors who were so helpful. Special thanks to the staff and children of Rainbow School, Jackie Dudock and the staff and children of the Valley Montessori School, Winnie Ching and Joshua Ching-Pickett, Mary, Tom, and Isaac Goya, Nancy Fargo

and Christopher Fargo-Masuda, Bob, Vickie, and Michael Marks, Shair Nielsen and Kona Moon Nielsen-Yokoyama, Susie Seui and her children, Alice and Annie Ziegler, Halau Mohala llima (Kumu Hula Mapuana deSilva), Hula Halau ' 0 Kamuela (Kumu Hula Paleka Mattos), Na Hula ' 0 La'i Kealoha (Kumu Hula Elaine Kaopuiki). We also thank the following for their assistance: Marguerite Ashford (Bishop Museum), Elizabeth Ayson and Stephen Quirk, Haunani Bernardino, Bessie's Lei Stand, Hale Manu Craft (Hilo), High Performance Kites, Island Manapua Factory, Puanani Mills, Moanalua Gardens Foundation (Prince Lot Hula Festival, 1984), Bruce Ushijima (Ushijima Nigishigoi), and Honolulu Fire Department, Waikiki Station.