Kili's Blog

Environmental Justice Environmental Justice, what is it? Also known as EJ, is the principle that people of all different racial backgrounds should have access to equal protection from the environment.  Every human being should have equal access to a quality of life where economic equality, healthcare, and shelter are sustainable.  In other terms, environmental justice is putting efforts toward eliminating privilege and exploiting someone's health and the use of societal resources.    One of the main aspects that inhibit EJ is the media.  As many people know, the media has a strong impact on issues in the U.S. today.  And the mass media is owned by large corporations.  It makes sense why media reports rarely make the connection on the definition of environment that includes issues of civil rights, housing, employment, or quality of life.  Some media and advertisements on the issue of EJ tend to divert our attention to blaming the behavior of i...

Sense of Place, Solastalgia, Eco-Anxiety and You  Beach - Waimanalo Beach Growing up on an island, you tend to have a very specific sense of place.  Where is a place that is everywhere in Hawaii?  The beach, since the beaches surround the borders of the island of course.  More specifically for me, the beach that I have the most sense of place associated with it is Waimanalo beach.  Time after time again, this specific beach has been the go-to.  "Da spot" as we local Hawaiians call it.  This beach is where my family has had most of our birthday parties or any kind of hangout!  Whenever I'm there, I'm in the present, I'm not thinking about that homework that's due or about having to go to school or work the next day.  Since I basically spent most of my life at this beach, I have a strong emotional connection to it and it's sad to see what has come of it recently.   Ever since I was little, local Hawaiians have been able to go to the b...