KC3 FINAL ESSAY : Moanalua Valley

   The island of O'ahu has a lot of knowledge hiding behind the curtains. The beauty of the island is hiding beneath the bosom of the smiling faces all around. O'ahu is flooded with many natural, cultural, and historical landmarks. Though, there are several that many people are not familiar with. One of the common landmarks still standing untouched to this day would be the Moanalua Valley Trail. Moanalua Valley Trail is one of the best examples towards what O'ahu was like before modernism struck.

    Moanalua Valley Trail, also known as Kamananui Valley Road or The Damon Estate, has been best preserved for decades and decades. The rich history behind this valley is locked up in a bottle and it will continue to be. The old road from the early 1900s is made of cut lava rock. Along the path in the valley, the remains of the road are still stable and very much visible. Now, the pathway or the road is of eroded concrete, but it's still there and you can still reminisce. Moanalua Valley was considered "The Damon Estate" because it was property owned by a man named Samuel Mills Damon. Before Samuel Mills Damon gained ownership of the 3,716 acre valley, it was owned by Kamehameha the Great or King Kamehameha I. That of whom was the very first ruler of Hawaii and all the other Hawaiian islands, hence "The Great" and "The First." He was the big man. Moanalua Valley went through a great succession of owners such as King Kamehameha I, then passed down to his grandson, Prince Lot, then passed down to his great-granddaughter, Princess Bernice Pauahi Paki Bishop, then later to Samuel Mills Damon and his family. Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop was the one who willed the valley to Samuel Mills Damon when she died in 1884. Even as Samuel Mills Damon passed on, the Damon bloodline was carried on as the owners of the estate(s) that he and his family were willed. 
   

KC3 Rough Draft - MOANALUA VALLEY

   The island of O'ahu has so much more to it than just the beautiful beaches, the gorgeous hula dancers, the wonderful weather, those scenic helicopter tours, etc. Its background is based on a very rich history. There is a lot of knowledge hiding behind the curtains. From the very first ali'i or chief king of the island, to the conquering of the other 7 islands of Hawaii, to the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy, to the loss of our island's individuality, to the time we officially became the 50th state of the US. The beauty of the island is hiding beneath the bosom of the smiling faces all around. We, here, do still get stereotyped with the usual questions such as, "Can you read? What's it like, living in a grass hut? Is it comfortable to go around in a grass skirt and a coconut bra?" and what not. What some people fail to notice is we are just like them and there is not much that makes us differ from them. It is just that we have a bigger, more in-depth history. Though, we do have something that makes us unique. O'ahu is flooded with many natural cultural and historical landmarks. O'ahu is flooded with many developed and if we're lucky, undeveloped ahupuaa's or land divisions from mountain to sea still standing. That is what makes us unique.
    The island has many cultural and historical landmarks, both developed and undeveloped. Finding undeveloped landmarks on the islands is a very rare thing, especially considering how modernized we've gotten over the past years. Lucky for O'ahu, there are still several landmarks that have been untouched. One would be Kamananui Valley, also known as Moanalua Valley. Alongside Kamananui Valley being known as Moanalua Valley, it was also considered as The Damon Estate. Before Samuel Mills Damon, the 3,716 acre valley was owned by Kamehameha the Great or King Kamehameha I. That of whom was the very first ruler of the Hawaiian islands. Princess Bernice Pauahi Paki Bishop, the great-granddaughter of King Kamehameha I, was the one who willed the valley to Samuel Mills Damon when she died in 1884. 

QUERENCIA FINAL: My Escape ❤

No ignorant boys, no stuck up girls. No stress, tears, or pain, but only my inner happiness and greater self-liability to gain. All I can hear is the fresh, calming breeze blowing past me, causing me to close my eyes as a whole bunch of thoughts start to fill my mind. Thinking to myself, "What am I good for? Why am I here? What was I given the opportunity to achieve? What is my purpose?" The sweet sound of the birds softly chirping while they roam above me, around me, and beyond what I can see. The sound of the leaves from the trees being blown by the wind across the grassy ground, catching my attention as well. It is peaceful. I have absolutely no cares in the world at all. Nothing can phase me, nothing can and nothing will bother me. It is my time; it is all me. Earphones: in, music: on, outside world: off. The beauty of nature and what impact it has on me. This is my place. This is my backyard.
In my life, just like anyone else, I have trials and tribulations that block my path to happiness. Sometimes, I need to fight for myself. Sometimes, I need to focus on pleasing myself once in a while rather than always trying to please everybody else around me. Just like everyone else, I need an escape. From everything here and there. I need a piece of paradise and my backyard is just that place.
Mom and dad yelling, mom and dad judging, peers pressuring, peers making me feel bad about myself, more than I already do. It's hard to fit up to the expectations of others if what I do isn't enough, no matter how hard I try. This world is a very stressful place to be now days. It is very difficult to lay back and enjoy all of the good things the world has to offer when all kinds of pointless disputes are going on at every corner you turn. It is difficult to just be you. In this case, it's difficult to just be me. I am scared of being me because I scared of being judged. With the calm vibes my place gives off - the calm wind wiping across my face, the fresh, open air surrounding me, the sun glistening right above me; not too hot, nor too cold, but just right.
It is definitely an escape.

NATURAL BEAUTY ❤

No ignorant boys, no stuck up girls. No stress, tears, or pain, but only my inner happiness and greater self-liability to gain. All I can hear is the fresh, calming breeze blowing past me, causing me to close my eyes as a whole bunch of thoughts start to fill my mind. Thinking to myself, "What am I good for? Why am I here? What was I given the opportunity to achieve? What is my purpose?" The sweet sound of the birds softly chirping while they roam above me, around me, and beyond what I can see. The sound of the leaves from the trees being blown by the wind across the grassy ground, catching my attention as well. It is peaceful. I have absolutely no cares in the world at all. Nothing can phase me, nothing can and nothing will bother me. It is my time; it is all me. Earphones: in, music: on, outside world: off. The beauty of nature and what impact it has on me. This is my place. This is my backyard.

NANNA'S SPECIAL (: - FINAL -

     Spending time with my mom's side of the family has been such a huge part of my life from when I was first born, to now, and will continue to be in the future that lays ahead of me. We would always have family dinners or get together's at least 3 to 4 times each month to celebrate even the smallest of things such as good grades, birthdays, if any of the children made cuts for an athletic team/squad, etc. That is how close we were. That is how close we are. What the good part about all of this is especially the fact that my nanna LOVES cooking for us. It's almost as if she never takes a break. For example, if you were to hold out a "STOP" sign in front of her, she wouldn't obey it at all. That is how hard working  she is and that is also one of the very many reasons why I love her so dearly. My nanna's main specialty dish for these dinners and get together's would have to be her Pork or Chicken Adobo. Whenever my aunty and my older cousin's come in from the Mainland to visit, that is what they are always looking forward to. The Pork or Chicken Adobo is the very thing that is automatically expected to be served for dinner.

     As my family and I walk up to the driveway, that savory aroma of the vinegary and shoyu dish is already lingering out the door and onto the streets. The smell is so strong, it smells so delicious. Your mouth would be so watery that by the time you step through the front door, it'll feel like you've stepped onto a platform of heaven. As the smell of the special dish lingers all over the place, it turns into one of those that can be very easily identified.

     Adobo is a very popular Filipino dish. Coming from my family, it is almost like the anchor of our ship. It is what we all grew up on and what we all learned to love. It is like the main focal point of our entire painting. The ingredients to the dish includes a certain meat, either pork or chicken, vinegar, peppercorn, garlic, and bay leaves. This dish is special because nanna uses only one type of vinegar and the bay leaves are the most important to include. Her ingredients, plus the way she throws them together is what makes it so flavorful. Especially flavorful when served with  rice. You can never, ever miss the rice.

     Without the adobo on the table when family goes over to nanna's house for dinner, it is most definitely not complete. To me, my nanna's adobo has got to be the best overall that I have ever tasted. My mom tries to make it, my aunties try to make it, however it is not the same. Just slightly different. It is not only because I'm already prone to eating my nanna's adobo as of growing up with it, but because my nanna breaks stress and sweat in the process. She works her butt off to keep us happy because she knows what we want. She knows what we like and she knows what we expect. Of course, my family and I , would not constantly bother her to make it for us. We do not go up to her and say, "You know what I want. Make it." We don't have to. She does it on her own intentions because it is her passion. Plus, if it is not obvious enough, she does it because she loves us, as well. She loves us all so much. I would never trade my nanna for anyone else or anything else in the world. 

NANNA'S SPECIAL :)

  Spending time with my mom's side of the family has been such a huge part of my life from when I was first born, to now, and will continue to be in the future that lays ahead of me. We would always have family dinners or get together's at least 3 to 4 times each month to celebrate even the smallest of things such as good grades, birthdays, if any of the children made cuts for an athletic team or squad, etc. That is how close we were. That is how close we are. What the good part about all of this is especially the fact that my nanna LOVES cooking for us. It's almost as if she is such a busy body, she never takes a break. For example, if you were to hold out a "STOP" sign in front of her, she wouldn't obey it at all. That is how hard working my nanna is and that is also one of the very many reasons why I love her so dearly. My nanna's main specialty dish for these dinners and get together's would have to be her Pork or Chicken Adobo. Whenever my aunty and my older cousin's come in from the Mainland to visit, that is what they are always looking forward to. The Pork or Chicken Adobo is the very thing that is automatically expected to be served for dinner.

 

As my family and I walk up to the driveway, that savory aroma of the vinegary and shoyu dish is already lingering out the door and onto the streets. The smell is so strong, it smells so delicious. Your mouth would be so watery that by the time you step foot through the front door, it'll feel like you've stepped foot onto a small platform of heaven. As the smell of the special dish is lingering all over the place, it turns into one of those that can be very easily identified.

 

  Adobo is a very popular Filipino dish. Coming from my family, it is almost like the anchor of our ship. It is what we all grew up on, what we all learned to love. It's like the main focal point of our entire painting. The ingredients to the dish includes a certain meat, so in this case, mostly pork or chicken. Some additions to the meat would be vinegar, peppercorn, and bay leaves. This dish is special because nanna uses only one type of vinegar and the bay leaves are the most important to include. Her ingredients and the way she throws in all these interesting tweaks to the dish while in the making is what makes the dish so flavorful. Especially flavorful to serve over or with rice.

 

   Without the adobo on the table when family comes over to nanna's house for dinner, it is most definitely not complete. To me, my nanna's adobo has got to be the best overall that I have ever tasted. My mom tries to make it, my aunties try to make it, nope. It is not the same. No, not only because I'm already so prone to eating my nanna's as of growing up with it, but because my nanna breaks stress, sweat in the process. She works her butt off to keep us happy because she knows what we want.  She knows what we like and she knows what we expect. Of course, my family and I , we don't constantly bother her to make it for us, or we don't go up to her and say, "You know what I want. Make it." No. Why not? Because we don't have to. She does it as her own intentions because it's her passion. Because if it is not obvious enough, she does it because she loves us.