A K LEO T H E
FRIDAY, JAN. 27 to SUNDAY, JAN. 29, 2012 VOLUME 106 ISSUE 63
Serving the students of the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa.
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Aging trees, falling branches K EL SEY A MOS News Editor The historic trees around campus, while loved by many, can be an unpredictable threat. Last weekend a large branch of the Pterygota alata tree near Ba-Le restaurant fell to the ground, where it remained cordoned off with yellow caution tape until late Sunday. No one was hurt. Interim director of Buildings and Grounds Management Roxanne Adams said that the branch probably fell because of a combination of factors, including wind, heavy dew, the weight of the branch and the age of the tree. “The tree doesn’t function like that in nature,” she said, adding that “the tree was there before the sidewalk ... and the roadway.” Adams reported that the fallen branch exhibited no signs of rot or other damage that could explain its breaking off. She said that although older trees like this one are pruned and monitored for such risks, this fallen branch came as a surprise. “From the external look of the tree there was nothing wrong with it,” she said.
The tree is part of a collection of historic trees in the area that were planted in the mid 1900s by a world-renowned botanist. Trees in this collection have fallen before. Adams recalled that a few years ago, a keawe tree in front of Sinclair library fell in the middle of the day with someone under it. According to Adams, there was no sign that there was anything wrong with the tree before it fell. “What we’re doing now because the trees are 50-80 years old … [is] we’re trying to work at backing up the genetics of the trees so it won’t go away... and then try to plant more of them so we can take out the older ones,” said Adams. The problem is balancing safety with community concerns. The keawe tree, before it fell, was large and shady. “We get so much backlash from the university and the community ... because it’s such a historic collection,” said Adams. The Pterygota alata will not suffer any major harm due to the fallen branch, according to Adams. “We’ll put a clean cut on it, and there is another branch coming out. We’ll check to see if that branch has a strong enough attachment to the trunk. If it looks like it has a weaker attachment, we’ll remove it,” she said. “We’ll continue to watch the tree.”
WEEKEND
VENUE
WEEKEND EVENTS
2
Lion Dances, benefit races and the Pro Bowl
PARTY KIMONO
WWW.KALEO.ORG
Read it in Print or Online
www.kaleo.org
2445 Campus Rd., Hemenway Hall 107 • 808-956-7043
3
‘RED TAILS’ FAILS
4
WWII movie reviewed
FOR COVER AGE OF THE 2012 S TATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS, VISIT K ALEO.ORG/BLOGS
i
Celebrate Seijin no Hi by trying on a kimono at UH
Report
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Page 2 | Ka Leo | Friday, Jan. 27 2012
Features@kaleo.org | Maria Kanai Editor |Alvin Park Associate
Weekend Venue
Weekend events N F L P RO B OW L C H E E R L E A D E R AND MASCOT APPEARANCE
CHINESE NEW YEAR AT AL A MOANA CENTER Celebrate the Year of the Dragon and ring in the Chinese New Year – it’s all happening at the Center Stage at Ala Moana Center. View the Chinese Lion Pole Jump by Wah Ngai. Cost: Free When: Friday, Jan. 27; 7 p.m. Where: Ala Moana Center, 1450 Ala Moana Blvd. Contact: 808-955-9517
Gather at Ala Moana Center for special appearances by the NFL cheerleaders, mascots and All-Star NFL Japan cheerleaders. Don’t miss this special event, leading to the Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium. Cost: Free Where: Ala Moana Center, 1450 Ala Moana Blvd. When: Friday, Jan. 27; 5 p.m. Contact: 808-955-9517
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Cost: Free When: Saturday, Jan. 28; 12-4 p.m. Where: Ala Moana Center, 1450 Ala Moana Blvd. Contact: 808-955-9517
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Newsroom (808) 956-7043 Ka Leo O Hawai‘i is the campus newspaper of the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. It is published by the Board of Publications three times a week except on holidays and during exam periods. Circulation is 10,000. Ka Leo is also published once a week during summer sessions with a circulation of 10,000. Ka Leo is funded by student fees and advertising. Its editorial content reflects only the views of its writers, columnists, contributors and editors who are solely responsible for its content. No material that appears in Ka Leo may be reprinted or republished in any medium without permission. The first newsstand copy is free; for additional copies, please come to the Ka Leo Building. Subscription rates are $50 for one semester and $85 for one year. ©2010 Board of Publications ADMINISTRATION The Board of Publications, a student organization chartered by the University of Hawai‘i Board of Regents, publishes Ka Leo O Hawai‘i. Issues or concerns can be reported to the board (Ryan Tolman, chair; Ming Yang, vice chair; or Susan Lin, treasurer) via bop@hawaii.edu. Visit hawaii.edu/bop for more information.
S H A RO N ʼS R I D E/RU N/ WA L K F O R E P I L E P S Y 2 012 Join the Epilepsy Foundation of Hawai‘i as it raises money to continue providing its programs and services. There will be 5K and 10K timed runs into Diamond Head, and 35K, 75K and100K bike rides. There will be prizes for the biggest teams, top individuals, and team fundraisers. Registration begins at 6 a.m. Cost: $35-$80, depending on type of race When: Sunday, Jan. 29; 7 a.m. Where: Kapi‘olani Community College, 4303 Diamond Head Rd. Contact: www.hawaiiepilepsy.com
Football fans, gear up for the Super Bowl by attending the 2012 Pro Bowl at Hawai‘i’s very own Aloha Stadium. Prepare to watch the AFC and NFC’s all-stars battle it out on the gridiron. Gain VIP access through NFL On Location and experience insider extras and pregame hospitality. Cost: $52-$137 per ticket Where: Aloha Stadium, 99-500 Salt Lake Blvd. When: Sunday, Jan. 29; 2 p.m. Contact: www.nfl.com/probowl
COMPILED BY TONIA BOIES Staff Writer NIK SEU/ KA LEO O HAWAI‘I
Features@kaleo.org | Maria Kanai Editor |Alvin Park Associate
Page 3 | Ka Leo | Friday, Jan. 27 2012
Weekend Venue
Kimono culture at UH
Cycle Ex c h a n ge
R IE M IYOSHI Staff Writer This Saturday, Jean Sakihara, lecturer and adviser of kimono culture at the University Lab School, will give the local community a chance to experience the Japanese tradition of seijinshiki. This coming-of-age kimono dressing festival is held annually in honor of people turning 20 – when they receive the right to vote and drink and are subject to adult laws in Japan. Women often wear furisode (long-sleeved kimono) and men wear hakama (full, pleated pants worn over kimono). Sakihara moved to Hawai‘i in 1967 to teach Japanese and compile Japanese textbooks for University of Hawai‘i Press. In 1982, she established the Kimono Program at the University Lab School. She earned her kimono teaching certifi cate from the Hakubi Kyoto Kimono School, and in 2009, the emperor of Japan awarded her the prestigious Order of the Rising Sun with Gold and Silver Rays for her efforts in preserving and teaching kimono culture in Hawai‘i. Sakihara believes the most important aspects of kimono dressing are “comfort and beauty,” a lesson she learned at the kimono school. Kimonos and backdrops are provided at the event, but participants should bring cameras if they want to be photographed. The event is open to everybody free of charge, although donations are appreciated. Although seijinshiki is often set aside for 20 year olds, Sakihara encourages members of all ages to attend, dress up and take family portraits. In addition to the seijinshiki, other kimono dressing events are available for New Year’s and Shichi-go-san, or “seven-fi ve-three.” The latter event celebrates 3- and 7-year-old girls and 3- and 5-year-
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The Japanese celebrate the second Monday of January as Seijin no Hi, or Coming of Age Day. Women don colorful furisode, or long-sleeved kimono, for the occasion, like those modeled here. old boys. “I’ve had mothers bring their 7-year-old daughters for the Shichi-go-san kimono dressing,” recalls Sakihara, “They loved the experience and my work so much that they came back years later for the seijinshiki.” For people further interested in kimono culture, Sakihara offers free kimono dressing courses by appointment. “I can easily teach UH Mānoa students kimono dressing, especially since the campus is located so close to my offi ce at UH Lab,” she said. Besides the convenient location, she chooses to teach because she believes strongly in imparting her knowledge about Japanese traditions. “At UH Mānoa, they
teach tea culture. Along with that course, I think taking kimono dressing is a good way to learn Japanese culture,” she said.
COMING-OF-AGE HOLIDAY KIMONO DRESSING Cost: Free Where: The Band Room, Multi-Purpose Building at UH Lab
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Page 4 | Ka Leo | Friday, Jan. 27 2012
Features@kaleo.org | Maria Kanai Editor |Alvin Park Associate
Weekend Venue Sore Sor o e gum gums? ums? Bad B Breath? Bleeding Bleedin ng Gums? G
Dental Hygiene Services Services for $25.00 Hemenway Hall 200 Bring in coupon and receive free toothbrush and toothpaste after completed appointments!
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February 8th 2012
‘Red Tails’ takes a nosedive BACHMAN QUACH Contributing Writer
A professor once taught me to be wary of the term “Inspired by true events.” I didn’t know how to react to a film as uninspiring as “Red Tails.” Released Jan. 20 by Lucasfilm and 20th Century Fox, the film retells the story of the famed Tuskegee Airmen, the fi rst African-Americans allowed to fly in the U.S. military. The plot follows the generic underdog template. The Tuskegee pilots must prove their worth on the battlefield or else the entire program is scuttled. They are told that their regiment will never equal the skill of the white pilots, and must be content with using secondhand aircraft and being given zero-risk missions. Overcoming racial barriers, the Tuskegee pilots show their tenacity and bravery, becoming one of the most highly decorated regiments in World War II. When the film does show them overcoming their hardships, it happens too early on. The movie then becomes a disparate jumble of subplots woven together by shiny planes flying. However, given the track record of Lucasfilm since “Return of the Jedi,” it all seems par for the course. The movie ought to have portrayed the Tuskegee airmen as real people, rather than the ragtag band of two-dimensional archetypes seen in the final cut. The film is the feature debut of director Anthony Hemingway, who is known mostly for his work on TV shows, such as critically acclaimed drama “The Wire,” and was co-written by Aaron McGruder (creator of cult favorite “The Boondocks”). While Hemingway and McGruder were credited, it is apparent that Lucas had the final say in the production. It’s no secret that the great space battles of Lucas’ “Star Wars” saga were inspired by footage of aerial dogfights from WWII. “Red Tails” gave him the opportunity to bring that inspiration full circle, but he didn’t take full advantage of the Industrial Light and Magic special effects. The pioneers of CGI stumbled in recreating the air battles, casting them with the same sterility that plagued all of the “Star Wars” prequels. Though we are meant to feel a sense of excitement and danger in these high-flying skirmishes, I was left completely detached from the events at hand.
I had the same problem with the cast. Though Cuba Gooding Jr. and Terence Howard are given top billing in the marketing of the film as characters Major Emanuel Stance and Colonel A.J. Bullard, they essentially exist for inspiring and stern speeches. The main focus of the story are characters Captain Martin “Easy” Julian, played by Nate Parker, and Lieutenant Joe “Lightning” Little, played by David Oyelowo. Easy deals with leadership pressures by drinking, and Lightning is characterized as a rebellious hothead. Sadly, the film glances over these issues instead of exploring them with any real depth. Popular musician Ne-Yo is also part of the cast, but I only make a note of this because his presence with a “Sling Blade” impression is so utterly baffl ing. The fi lm has been a personal project for George Lucas since 1988, and he faced his own struggles making it, as executives balked at the idea of making an action fi lm starring a predominantly black cast. Lucus eventually fi nanced the fi lm on his own and should be commended for bringing stories of minority Americans into the public spotlight. Overall, the film is earnest in delivering action, but the story’s lack of personality fails to make any of it compelling. While it’s great that the Tuskegee Airmen are recognized on the big screen, the tale has been told before through different mediums – with better results.
COURTESY OF WWW.REDTAILS2012.COM
Opinions@kaleo.org | Boaz Rosen Editor | Justin Francisco Associate
Page 5 | Ka Leo | Friday, Jan. 27 2012
Opinions
Are you an airsexual? EDWARD H ICKMAN (DJ F U M AN C HU) Contributing Writer Asking people if they are “airsexuals” might strike you as a personal question, but since air sex almost always happens in public, I declare it a fair question. What exactly is air sex, you ask? It is the proverbial 600 -pound humping gorilla in the room that has somehow gone unnoticed. We’ve all seen airsexuals before. In fact, they are so ubiquitous that they outnumber non-air sexuals 10 to 1 in most nightclubs I’ve been to. I am all for the sexual liberation of my fellow human beings, but I have always found it a bit odd that our dance floors are crowded with people demonstrating their sexual desires in such a crude and disappointing manner.
In a recent TED talk, neuroscientist Daniel Wolpert asserted that the very reason we evolved complex cognitive function was simply that we needed to “move better.” Organisms that can navigate the complexities of their environment more effectively have a higher survival rating than those who can’t. This brings us back to dance and just how important it really is. When we dance we aren’t just having a good time, we’re also demonstrating just how well we can move and subsequently saying something about our reproductive value. A good dancer who can stay on beat while performing physically challenging and technically complex moves demonstrates not only a strong body but an adept mind as well. Put simply, you show me a good
dancer and I’ll show you someone who’d make a good lover. So why, despite the plethora of dance forms available to us, do most people seem incapable of dancing in any way that rises above grunting while thrusting our hips wildly in the general direction of someone we find attractive? I’ve been pondering
set us free. By understanding the problem, we in turn untangle it a bit. So while I’m certainly not suggesting you become intolerant of other people, I am at least suggesting we begin calling a duck a duck. Learn to spot airsexuals in the wild while recalling the subtext that is driving their behavior and then have yourself a good
So why … do most people seem incapable of dancing in any way that rises above grunting while thrusting our hips wildly in the general direction of someone we find attractive? this issue for quite some time, and every hypothesis I’ve come up with to explain it all ultimately amounts to the assertion: we are culturally bankrupt. Bemoaning this sad state of affairs does little to alleviate the problem. However, it is my humble assertion that the truth shall
laugh about how ridiculous it all is. In the short term, it should afford you some amusement; and in the long term, there are few things that can stand up against our collective laughter. On the flip side, if you happen to enjoy watching or even (*gasp*) being an airsexual, then
I say own it. Do it with reckless abandon – otherwise there’s no point. In Jamaica the incidences of “broken penis” (yes, this is a real thing) have tripled as a result of the rise of their particularly virulent form of air sex, colorfully termed “Daggerin.” Broken penises and dark humor aside, we really should be wondering why dance has deteriorated to such a low point. When you consider all the other options available, it is disconcerting to think that air-sex is the best we can do as a culture. So again I ask, are you an airsexual?
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Page 6 | Ka Leo | Friday, Jan. 27 2012
Comics
Comics@kaleo.org | Nicholas Smith Editor
Page 7 | Ka Leo | Friday Jan. 27 2012
Games Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis
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Spell the phrase in the grid above it, writing each unique letter only once. The correct solution will spell the complete phrase along a single continuous spelling path that moves horizontally, vertically and diagonally. Fill the grid from square to square - revisiting letters as needed to complete the spelling path in order. Each letter will appear only once in the grid.
Ka Leo is looking for highly motivated students interested in gaining real world work experience. Gain skills that will set you apart from other students graduating with your same degree. We are recruiting Public Relations Representatives for our growing programs. Do you like business, marketing and promotions? Then check out the options at Ka Leo.
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WHY SHOULD I HIRE Y Ka Leo is looking for highly motivated students interested in gaining real world experience.
2445 Campus Rd. Hemenway Hall 107 808-956-7043 www.kaleo.org/jobs
Do you like design, being creative and developing promotions, then check out the options at Ka Leo. We are recruiting Graphic Designers for our growing program. WWW.KALEO.ORG
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DOWN 1 Danish shoe brand 2 Seasonal number 3 Obeyed a court order 4 One who didn’t get in 5 Infomercial knife 6 LAX listing 7 Trendy place to get gas? 8 Kicks off 9 One of the Gallos 10 Drink with sushi 11 Torn asunder 12 Minneapolis suburb 13 Things to face 19 “My World of Astrology� author 21 Turkey diner, probably? 23 WWII invasion city 25 Certain NCOs 26 “Forever, __�: 1996 humor collection 27 Author Sheehy 29 Bust __ 31 Ironically, they might be even 33 Inventing middle name 34 Three-__: sports portmanteau 35 Derisive cries 38 Prepare to be shot 39 Some twitches 42 Like copycats 44 Enthusiastic 46 God, in Judaism 47 Sleazeball 48 Maine resort 50 Humble place 51 Skull cavity 52 Popular rubbers 54 Canadian poet Birney 56 Saucy 58 Pub offer 59 Trouble spots for teens 60 Reason for being denied a drink 62 Row of black squares preceding or following six puzzle answers, thereby completing them
5 1
Solutions, tips and computer program at www.sudoku.com Go to www.kaleo.org for this puzzle’s solution.
3 1 9 8 6 8 4 3 9
6
Puzzles will become progressively more difficult through the week.
HIRE YOU? ACROSS 1 More than irk 7 Ending with neur11 Ring leader? 14 “Take it easy!� 15 Bonus, in adspeak 16 Actress Lupino 17 Wichita-based aircraft company 18 Accordion-playing satirist 20 Soft spreads 21 Pact 22 Idaho crop 24 Santa __: West Coast winds 25 “Sonic the Hedgehog� developer 28 Western symbol 30 Hiker’s chewy snack 32 Chart used for comparisons 36 “I didn’t need to know that!� 37 Family leader? 38 Early Beatle Sutcliffe 40 Lower land? 41 Steakhouse section 43 Coming-of-age ritual 45 Medium 49 Grub 50 Italian bubbly source 53 The Dike Kokaral divides its two sections 55 Earth’s life zone 57 Float __ 61 Where many shop 62 One making big bucks? 63 Payable 64 Default consequence, for short 65 They’re often distinguished by degrees 66 Slalom curve 67 God of lightning 68 Fix, in a way, as a lawn
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Sports@kaleo.org | Marc Arakaki Editor | Joey Ramirez Associate
Page 8 | Ka Leo | Friday Jan. 27 2012
Sports ACAI BOWL W.K
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Last push – thanks to the Pro Bowl
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Since 1980, the Pro Bowl has been played at Aloha Stadium every year except 2010. The site for 2013 is still to be determined.
MANAPUA CUPCAKES POKE RAMEN Vote for the best
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M ARC A R AK AKI Sports Editor Last month when Norm Chow was introduced as Hawai‘i’s next football coach, he stated that one of his top four goals as head coach would be to prepare his players for the NFL . And what better way to get players – or more specifically, potential players – thinking about the NFL than by welcoming the NFL to Honolulu? In what seems to be the ongoing discussion of where the Pro Bowl will be held every year, Aloha Stadium can call itself home to the all-star game, at least for 2012. “Certainly you’re going to get the best players in the NFL coming to Hawai‘i, so from a brand standpoint for our players here and for the recruits, that’s a posi-
tive,” Athletics Director Jim Donovan said. “But we can’t formally have any interaction with the players or with the Pro Bowl because that’s against NCA A rules.” But are formal interactions necessary? It seems as though timing is on Hawai‘i’s side. The Pro Bowl is set for Sunday, while another milestone is within a week: National Signing Day. The University of Hawai‘i football program is making a push to seal as many talented recruits as it can to choose Hawai‘i over other major NCA A programs with National Signing Day (Feb. 1) approaching, And with the Pro Bowl just two days away, recruits may get a glimpse of Hawai‘i’s home field and surrounding community before they put pen to paper on Wednesday.
“The fact that they’ve moved the [Pro] Bowl to the week before the Super Bowl sort of brings it back into play for us,” Donovan said. “Now there’s the potential that recruits may be able to attend the game, whereas before it fell after the National Letter of Intent Day. So that could be a positive for us.” For current Warrior Corey Paclebar, a native of California, it was the “aloha spirit” that convinced him. “I think personally what helped me choose was what they showed at the game. For instance, the countless shots of Waikīkī and Diamond Head,” Paclebar said. “The aloha that was shown to the players – the culture … was also very apparent.” Although we can’t see the effects yet, if it’s true, it’s just another reason why we’re lucky to live Hawai‘i. For full Pro Bowl rosters, visit kaleo.org/sports.