Horizons, Volume 8

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10125/107589

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Front and Back Cover
(2023-12-08)
Editor's Foreword, Editorial Assistant's Foreword, Student Editors' Foreword
(2023-12-08) Ní Dhonacha, Siobhán
Her Body is Tethered
(2023-12-08) Fajardo, Angelica Flor
The bodies of Filipino women (also referred to as Filipina) had been made pawns of colonialism and imperialism. This essay sets out to contextualize the environment brought on by the Spanish, Japanese, and American colonialist eras through the lens of the religious villainization, manipulation, and the consequences of military presence in the Philippines. These eras demonstrate major instances of bodily abuse. This article provides an introduction to efforts to protect the Filipina. Such methods regard public rallying and displays, visual arts, and demand for government assistance. Despite these methods, there still remains a possible future of violence with the current partnership of a colonial power.
Farming on the Final Frontier: Space Farming with Martian Soil Simulants
(2023-12-08) Nelson, Brylin
Because temperature and light intensity on Mars are significantly lower than that of Earth, the use of controlled environment agriculture production to grow crops can be an option. The objective of this study was to compare simulated Martian soils Mojave Mars Simulant (MMS-1) and Enhanced Mojave Mars Simulant (MMS-2) to a commercial growing medium, Pro-Mix BX Mycorrhizae (Pro-Mix), based on overall plant growth, health, and edible end products. The Martian soil simulants, MMS-1 and MMS-2, are composed of crushed Saddleback Basalt rock. MMS-2 differs due to the addition of nutrients and oxides. In this study, we looked at a variety of crops chosen for their nutritional value, cold and shade tolerance, and size. Crops were dwarf curled kale, ‘Red Robin’ tomato, and ‘Cherry Belle’ radish. Mars is further from the Sun than Earth resulting in lower light intensity and colder climate. To simulate this, a shadehouse and fans were used to diffuse sunlight and regulate temperature. To explore this idea further the crops in the soils were examined under full-spectrum light-emitting diode (LED) grow lights indoors on a 16-hour day length timer. Plant height and stem diameter taken on a weekly basis showed delayed rates of growth in all crops with both MMS-1 and MMS-2 compared to Pro-Mix. Edible end products were not significantly different in the compared soils. From these experiments, it was found that additional nutrients provided through a pellet fertilizer or nutrient solution are necessary for proper plant development when using the Martian soil simulants.
Nā Mele o ke Aupuni Mōʻī -- Songs of the Kingdom
(2023-12-08) Delos Santos, Leah
The pictures in this photo essay depict various mele Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian songs) that are either from the time of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi, significant to the lāhui (nation), or both. They are anthems of pride and resistance – testaments to the boundless strength and beauty of Kānaka Maoli (Native Hawaiians) throughout history.
Wishful Dreaming
(2023-12-08) Arakaki, Danielle
I wrote this piece originally as a freewriting assignment for one of my classes. When I wrote this story, I wanted the reader to feel like they were in a dream-like state they did not want to get out of. Lately, I have been having a huge fascination with dreams, and I wanted to try to do something new and unexpected with this piece. Although this was not based on an actual dream I had, I wanted this story to have a dreamy, trance-like feel to it, so I wrote the gist of it late at night before going to sleep. I remembered lying down on my bed with a piece of paper and pen and writing some lines with my eyes closed while picturing the details in my head. I think by doing this, it helped me not to overthink all the words and details that went into the story and instead focus on capturing that mysterious, dream-like quality of this fictional story. When I was writing this piece, it was important for me to have it be in first person and not state anything specific about the narrator. I wanted the reader to be right there with the narrator witnessing these events, but did not want to get into specifics about gender so it can be read in different ways depending on the reader. In this piece, there are also nods to famous fairy tales readers will likely recognize and have fun pointing out.
Perpetuation of ʻIke ʻĀina in Waialua
(2023-12-08) Paracuelles, Anthony
As a child growing up in Waialua, I would see the Kawaihāpai River flowing into the ocean. Now it is blocked by overgrowth, no longer flowing to the ocean, and shrinking in size. The same can be said about knowledge. If a blockage happens, the knowledge cannot flow. It will slowly fade and disappear. The elders of my family and community of Waialua have entrusted me with their knowledge in the hope of preserving the history of our land. This paper will be a record to preserve and perpetuate the knowledge and history of Waialua, inspire others to care for and protect our land, and bring awareness to the negative changes that have taken place.
Geometrical Structures of Native Hawaiʻian Kōkō Nets
(2023-12-08) Sasaoka, Brenton
To improve the transportation of valuable resources, Hawaiians developed kōkō nets. These nets were bags of netted cords in the shape of an elongated cone above the lower hemisphere composed of natural fibrous materials. The proposed work analyzes the various lengths, structures, and connections of cord segments between knots. Tensile strength will be measured experimentally using structural stress measurements. The distributed weight load on segments will be calculated using engineering mechanics principles. The developed mathematical models will explain how the net, consisting of 1D string made in the 2D plane, can carry 3D volumetric heavy objects without geometrical mismatches between dimensions in proper balances of forces and torques. After matching the experimental and theoretical results, the proposed work will provide an in-depth understanding of the engineering aspects of the kōkō nets as an essential component of the Hawaiian lifestyle being inherited to the present. The convergence of modern engineering principles and Hawaiian cultural living methods will provide a holistic insight into designing more nature-friendly engineering practices.
Still Healing
(2023-12-08) Lau, Jessica
This statue is placed near the Art Building parking lot, next to Bilger, and across Kuykendall Hall. Unfortunately, the artist and name of the statue are currently unknown. When I stumbled upon this statue, I was rushing to my next class and was immediately struck with inspiration to both pause, yet continue on my journey. As a Psychology major, I saw various interpretations of the wonderful sculpture – implications around gender and mental health. The statue looked incomplete; this piece provides insight into my thought process as I pondered on her creation and existence. In this piece, I wanted to capture the importance of being present in everything that we do. Mindfulness, or the awareness of our actions and emotions, can foster a deeper understanding of who we are. Even with consistent changes in our lives and the stereotypes that we face, remembering to connect with the world and our surroundings is just as if not even more important than our education.
Ang Babaylan
(2023-12-08) Camacho, Florani
During the pre-colonial period of the Philippines, the babaylans held a leadership role in the community as priestesses, warriors, and healers-mediators of the spirit world. Before the datus (head chief) made their decisions, they needed to seek advice from the babaylans. Unfortunately, when the Spaniards colonized the Philippines and Christianity took over, the babaylans were forced to give up their role. They were the keepers of peace and justice and had a duty to heal not only the people but also the land. This painting aims to embody a babaylan to breathe life into the forgotten spiritual leaders. Shielded by the forest, kneeling on a river, the subject offers a white lotus to symbolize purity and resilience; glowing to magnify her spiritual connection to her environment. The bottom third of the frame are miniature figures illustrating Western culture's influence in the Philippines. The three-star figure, otherwise known as the “parol” are ornamental lantern displayed during the Christmas season. The small chapel-like figure is an illustration of Magellan’s cross pavilion that marks the birth of Christianity in the Philippines. Next to the chapel are the people lifting the idol Sto. Niño. It is one of the acts of praise during the festival celebration called “Sinulog”. Lastly, the figures on the far right are a variety of Filipino dishes representing its diverse influences.
The Usual
(2023-12-08) Mendoza, Annika Daisy
“The Usual” was written to be a flash piece under the genre: story. The requirements for the assignment were to span a long period of time focusing on character development. This development is seen from the character, “the daughter.” The narrator gets to witness the daughter growing up into an adult. The development in the story was guided from a single line, “That’s big” said by the daughter. It became a steeple in the writing as it helped support the aging of the daughter. Initially I wrote this piece to tell a story about strangers connecting through food, however, that changed when the birthmark subplot was developed. The birthmark characteristic for the daughter was not in the initial paper and was suggested by my classmate. Now it is what connects the narrator to the daughter. The story is based on my personal experience as a regular to a locally owned restaurant. If I had to describe the piece in 3 words, it would be nostalgia and family love.
Home —> Homeless: A Creative Thesis
(2023-12-08) Sanderson, Jui-Lien
Many travel posters portray Hawai‘i as a pristine paradise, with an abundance of natural resources, and as the playground of the Pacific. However, in actuality, the tourism industry has a detrimental impact on Hawai‘i’s natural environment and its Native inhabitants. Tourism brought in foreign investment which skyrocketed the real estate price and the cost of living. As a multinational development tool, tourism has demonstrated a preference for urbanization and systematic displacement of indigenous communities from their natural, cultural, and social resources. As a result, it reduces local self-sufficiency. For some indigenous people, the loss of land means a loss of livelihood and a sense of purpose in life. In this painting, I use the iconic Royal Hawaiian Hotel on Waikiki beach as a backdrop to represent Hawai'i's tourism industry and urban development. The name Royal Hawaiian has nothing to do with Hawaiian royalties. The hotel was the product of a business venture and was eventually sold to Kyo-ya Company Limited, a Japanese corporation. We don't see homeless camps in Waikiki, not because there are non, it is because in order to keep business as usual, presenting Hawai‘i as a top travel destination, the authorities routinely sweep away the homeless people, therefore most of them are in rural beaches, bushes, etc. In the painting, I move the homeless camp from Waimanalo to Waikiki to bring them back to visibility. Pictures and images can be deceiving if we ignore what’s outside the frame of cameras.
Effects of Temperature and Nutrient Concentration on Photosynthesis and Growth by Native Alga Microdictyon setchellianum and Invasive Seaweed Eucheuma denticulatum
(2023-12-08) Pujol, Beatrice
The physiological complexities driving growth of the mat-forming seaweed, Chondria tumulosa found only in the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument (PMNM) remain difficult to study. This project involved using two readily-available proxy algal species: invasive Eucheuma denticulatum, which forms large, reef-smothering mats in Kāne‘ohe Bay, and abundant Microdictyon setchellianum, a native that competes for reef space in the PMNM. I hypothesized that increased nutrient supplies would favor growth of the invasive alga over the native, although their anatomies are quite distinct. Laboratory trials subjected specimens to PMNM-relevant combinations of temperature and nutrients over specified experimental periods. Daily growth rates and photosynthetic efficiency were used to compare effects of temperature and nutrients in the two species. Mean growth rate for M. setchellianum with the highest nutrient subsidies was 29.30% compared to 8.39% in the lowest (p<0.05). Plants in the highest temperature also displayed a higher growth rate than those in the lowest (p<0.05). Similarly, photosynthetic rates (rETRmax) were greater in the highest nutrient (63.60 μmol electrons m⁻²s⁻¹) and temperature (65.50 μmol electrons m⁻² s⁻¹) treatments than in the lowest (50.20 μmol electrons m⁻²s⁻¹, 45.90 μmol electrons m⁻²s⁻¹: p<0.05). E. denticulatum trials resulted in significant tissue loss, preventing statistical analysis of this species. Nevertheless, this species' vulnerability to experimental conditions is important and may inform future investigations. These results provide greater insight into the physiological adaptations of a native alga to the nutrient conditions in the Hawaiian waters at PMNM.
A Women's Connection
(2023-12-08) Terrell, Parker
In this piece we dive into the connection that sense and the I character had. By changing the gender of the main character it expanded more on why the original author made the characters gender they way that they did. But in this adaptation, it creates a deeper sense of emotion and a possible more relatable text. Especially those who identify as female. It seemingly seems to start in a very similar way, but the reader will quickly realize that the details that I included are much different way of thinking. Or even a different way of viewing the written world they are in.
Stabilizing Kavalactone Dispersions Utilizing Common Emulsifiers
(2023-12-08) Williams, Stryder
Piper methysticum, commonly known as kava, is a medicinal herb that is commonly used in traditional ceremonies and medical practices throughout the Pacific. The main bioactive compounds within kava are the kavalactones which can be used for the treatment of insomnia and anxiety; however, they have low bioavailability due to their poor water solubility. In order to increase the water solubility of kavalactones, the common emulsifiers, polysorbate 20 and polysorbate 80, were tested at different concentrations to determine the ideal kava dispersion system. The dispersion systems (containing 5.8% w/w kava powder) were mixed using a high-shear mixer prior to centrifugation to remove the sediment. The stability for each sample was then determined by measuring the particle size, zeta potential, and polydispersity index (PDI) utilizing a Malvern Zetasizer Nano ZS. As indicated by the results, kava dispersions with a 1.5% (w/w) concentration of polysorbate 80 managed to reduce particle size the most with an average particle diameter of 41.5 nm, which is 196.7 nm smaller than the average control particle size. However, the PDI for this sample was too high to be considered stable. The sample that exhibited the most stability was the 0.5% (w/w) concentration of polysorbate 20. This sample managed to maintain a particle size of 130.4 nm and a PDI of 0.44 over time. These results are a positive indication that nonionic emulsifiers, including polysorbate 20, at lower concentrations are suitable emulsifiers for kavalactone stabilization.
The Ethics of Cat Food: The U.S. Turkey Industry Serves Up a Fancy Feast
(2023-12-08) Bessette, Mia
With inflation raising the price of food and other necessities, it is now more important than ever to be conscious of how the food we eat comes to be on our plates. While we may have access to information on the lives and manufacturers of the food we consume, some of the other members of our household may not get the same treatment. Much of our pets’ food comes out of a bag or a can labeled “chicken,” “beef,” or “turkey,” but the origins of this source of sustenance often remain a mystery. This paper looks at the sociological implications of a turkey variety of wet cat food: the dangers faced by U.S. poultry workers, the function of each canned ingredient, and human rights abuses in the food system.
A Systematic Review on Systems Mapping in Environmental Health
(2023-12-08) Lau, Kristin
Environmental health, a sector of public health that has received recent attention, often focuses on identifying a solution or intervention to prevent environmental issues from impacting humans, such as climate change, poor water quality, tropical diseases, etc. Systems mapping is an emerging tool that has the potential to help environmental researchers and policymakers visualize relationships within a system by looking at its root causes and determining informed interventions. The research question in this paper examines the unexplored topic of how systems mapping is approached in environmental health studies. Systems mapping uses a systems thinking approach to support and assist stakeholders in understanding complex issues discovered in environmental health, community health, and public health, represented through an example of a causal loop diagram. As a systematic review, this paper analyzed the utilization of systems mapping as a research methodology in 18 environmental health studies relating to public health to understand how this approach can be applied. Our findings suggest that despite the need for more research around systems mapping in environmental health studies and potential drawbacks in the research process, systems mapping is an effective mechanism that is approachable through various data collection methods and areas of focus. Our findings revealed a high prevalence of research collecting data through literature reviews and participatory workshops with more research exploring the marine environment. Nonetheless, systems mapping can investigate differing yet critical environmental issues and promote the progress of or inform policies toward improving public health, community health, and environmental health issues.
Increasing Access to Reproductive Healthcare in Hawaiʻi Through Policy Reformation
(2023-12-08) Kobayashi, Julie
For pregnant individuals in Hawaiʻi, geographic barriers and the financial costs serve as the greatest challenges to accessing reproductive healthcare. People residing on Lanaʻi, Molokaʻi, and Kauaʻi face unequal access to reproductive healthcare because there are no facilities available, and those who reside in underserved or rural areas on Oʻahu, Maui, and the Big Island also face barriers due to the lack of transportation to reproductive healthcare clinics. In order to increase access to reproductive healthcare in Hawaiʻi, this paper utilizes a literature review to analyze the advantages and disadvantages of two state level policies that were introduced in the 2023 legislative session: H.B. N.O. 1441 and H.B. N.O. 1343 HD1. Of the two policies, H.B. N.O. 1441 provides the most benefits by eliminating geographic barriers and explicitly stating an individual’s right to obtain an abortion in the state of Hawaiʻi. Should the bill pass, reproductive healthcare in Hawaiʻi will become more accessible for residents.
Preserving Asian Mythology and Decolonizing Religion: How Retaining Ancestral Beliefs can be a Direct Opposition to Colonial Religious Conversion
(2023-12-08) Castillo, Amada
Ancestral beliefs and creation myths about the way the world was formed, to the deities and spirits that live among us, have long existed prior to the colonization of Filipino cultures. Religious conversion has historically been used along with colonization to erase those stories and eliminate ancestral traditions in order to form a monotheistic narrative. In focusing on the Philippines, the research illustrates how mythologies within the culture accepted a broad range of polytheistic beliefs, sexual fluidity, and gender nonconformity. By acknowledging and preserving these mythologies and ideologies, one’s identity may be shifted to acceptance and inclusivity of their longstanding presence, justified by ancestral beliefs while connecting spiritually to ancestors. In doing so, traditions and practices of cultural ancestors are upheld while directly opposing the effects of religious conversion through colonization by keeping these stories alive.
Mandarin Queer Language: Language Subverting Diaspora
(2023-12-08) Rogers, Gregory
This research delves into the intricate complexities of Chinese Mandarin Queer speech, aiming to establish a network of commonalities within this distinct language group. Specifically, it explores acoustic, stylistic, and lexical frameworks through the lens of Mandarin-speaking LGBTQIA+ individuals, building upon a critical analysis of prior scholarly investigations. Drawing on three experimental research studies that yielded data-driven insights into the acoustic, phonetic, and lexical markers of Queer Mandarin Speech, as well as two literature-based analyses offering contextual background, this study weaves a cohesive narrative. Through comprehensive comparison and analysis, this research identifies Queer Mandarin Speech as uniquely recognizable, characterized by distinctive linguistic features, and imbued with contextually encoded information accessible primarily to the LGBTQIA+ community. Moreover, theoretical and abstract reflections on societal implications and key influential factors shaping this linguistic community are interwoven throughout the discussion.

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