Chapter 18: Images of Hawaii

Below, you will see pictures of my trip to Hawaii from May 2009. I went to Oahu and went to Pearl Harbor, met a Pearl Harbor survivor, visited Diamond Head, the Dole Plantation, The Polynesian Cultural Center, Paradise Cove, and saw the clearest, warmest, and most amazing beaches.

Chapter 18: Hawaii

**The picture of the beach is a great shot I was able to take from one of the most amazing beaches along the North Shore.

Hawaii is surrounded by the Pacific Ocean. Hawaii is not part of what is normally called the "mainland," but it is certainly a very popular state in the nation. It is visited by people all over the country and the world. In fact, the state garners most of its revenue via tourism.

Hawaii's origins are volcanic. Hawaii has a history of Asian, Polynesian, and European cultures. About 75% of the state's population live in the Honolulu area, which is in the island of Oahu.

It is a very beautiful island, with lots of beautiful beaches and tourists attractions. The Polynesian Cultural Center is a very well-visited location that highlights the state's background.

In terms of agriculture, Hawaii is known for sugar and pineapple growth. The Dole Plantation is one location in which visitors can trace the history of the state's agriculture and crops.

Livestock is not abundant in this region. For this region, milk is a costly product.

Hawaii's beaches are also all public, unlike beaches in California, which can be owned by those with money who possess access to what we call "private beaches." This is not the case in Hawaii. The people fought against any legislation that would take any type of ownership of its beautiful beaches.

The state is also known for its military bases. Pear Harbor is one such famous example.

I visited the island of Oahu in May 2009, and was able to capture breathtaking sites. I have some pictures here to share.

Chapter 16: The North Pacific Coast

Seattle is one of the largest cities in the Pacific Northwest. It is often considered to be "one of America's livable cities" because it offers the urban feel and occupation opportunity with a very green environment.

The Pacific Northwest has only a few large metropolitan cities, which include Vancouver (Canada), Portland (Oregon), and Seattle (Washington).

The Pacific Northwest is often referred to as "Ecotopia." According to lecture, Ecotopia is characterized by being "coastal, having lofty, snow-capped mountains, attractive cities, migration destination," which means it has raised concerns among locals who worry about overpopulation.

This is true of Seattle. Residents of this gorgeous city have increasing concerns because of traffic. There are more lanes being added to the freeway, but it is difficult because instead of minimizing traffic, it might only add more.

It is difficult to get around Seattle since there are not many highways, and sometime ferries have to be used to get across the water.

As mentioned in previous chapters of this blog, precipitation is not what most people assume for this region. The text explains, "[W]hen precipitation falls, it seldom takes the form of heavy thundershowers; more typical is a gentle, light, frequent rain that feels like a heavy mist. This form of precipitation lessens runoff, normal in heavy rains, and enables vegetation to make maximum use of the moisture" (325).

Another interesting fact is that Oregon and Washington have the lowest peaks in the Coast Ranges.

Vancouver, Portland, and Seattle have large populations with over 1.9 million people (329). These cities all have great harbors.

Seattle, Washington has large industries, one of them is Microsoft. Seattle is also known for the University of Washington, which is a leader in research, particularly in healthcare. Other important sectors include technology and biotechnology.

When I was there, I saw state of the art facilities which specialized in women's health and children's health as well. The city's residents are very friendly, progressive, and active outdoors. Some of the websites I visited proclaimed Seattle as "one of the most healthy and active cities in the nation."

It is also a very highly educated city with an astonishing library. The Seattle Art Museum is also a very beautiful cultural landmark. Moreover, Seattleites have a growing Asian population, and it is the home of the first Starbucks.

Much of the agriculture in the Pacific Northwest is for local consumption, and this is something that Seattle is maintaining as a core value through legislation proposed for this year. Grape production is also high in Oregon and Washington, and these states are known for having great wineries. Dairy products are also significant in the Wilamette valley in Oregon as well as the Puget Sound lowland in Washington.

Fishing is also an important aspect of the region's economy. In Seattle, Pike Place has a wonderful Farmer's Market that sells several varieties of fish. This is a very well-visited tourist attraction for people. I was also told by locals that Seattle hosts a Cheese Festival each year in May. People from all over the world bring their most delectable types of cheese.

Chapter 15: California

California is a very significant state in the country. It is one of the largest states in the United States, and it has a very high population. According to the course textbook, California is home to 12% of Americans.

It is a very urban state. In fact, no other state is as urban as California is.

Like Seattle, California tends to be more progressive politically than other states.

Seattle is known for having residents with higher levels of education. Most residents in Seattle are White. Some resources estimate that more Seattle's White population is between 65-70%. California, however, is much more ethnically diverse.

California faces several problems such as water shortages, an increasing population due to its attractive climate, and economic issues. These problems are also internal because Northern California and Southern California have a very divisive and in some ways, antagonistic relationship with one another. One of these problems stems from the growing concern of water distribution. Much of Southern California's water comes from the Owens Valley, which is coming directly from Northern California. Residents become upset and irate to learn that they face water shortages now and have to pay a price for this shortage. Southern California has more political clout than Northern California, and is able to continue receiving water.

Nevertheless, water has become an increasingly difficult resource to acquire. There are water shortages because of misuse and overuse all over the country and world.

Earthquakes are part of California's history. Seismologists estimate that California is bound for another earthquake in the near future, although it is difficult to name when this will happen and where the epicenter will take place.

Seattle has Mt. Rainier which is a site for volcanic activity.

Chapter 14: The Southwest Border Area: Tricultural Development

The Southwest Border Area of the United States is one of several mental constructs that many people easily identify. It is geographically easy to locate on a map, and people hold several notions of what the region is like. Because this area shares a border with another country, Mexico, it also has a long history of relations with people from Mexico.

Additionally, there are three major coexisting cultures: Spanish American, American Indian, and European American. In its early settlement period, the Southwest was not regarded as a very attractive destination for migrants because of its arid land. Over time, it became a popular destination for many migrants because of the long period of warm climate.

The Spanish settlement created missions along California, which has left an imprint in the state's landscapes, housing, and history.

This region has a growing population of people from Mexico and Latin America, particularly because of its proximity to Mexico. The United States relied on foreign labor for agriculture. It is less reliant now because machinery is able to do a lot of work that was formerly done by hand.

The Bracero Program (1942-1964) was instituted in order to hire temporary workers from Mexico for agriculture. This was a means to make up for the shortage of labor during World War II.

Native Americans are mostly in reservations, though there is a growing number of Native Americans from various tribes who are integrated into mainstream culture.

Los Angeles, California is home to a rapid growing number of Native Americans who do not live on reservations.

Seattle, by contrast, is mostly White, with a very small Hispanic population. It has a highly educated populace. This differs from the Hispanic neighborhoods found in the Southwest who have typically a low SES (socio-economic status).

Chapter 13: The Empty Interior

More than 70% of Utah is Mormon. According to the text, "Mormons still have a substantial impact on the Empty Interior. Of the region's roughly 14.5 million people, about one in seven are Mormons" (262). This is a stark difference from the residents of Seattle who are generally do not attend church services. Thus, this region is very secular. In fact, it is considered to be one of the most secular regions of the country.

The Empty Interior is dominated by plateaus and mountains. It is the principal region of the Mormon religion. This section of the United States is characterized by low population density.

Also, this region has agriculture, but it often needs irrigation, which creates problems for the residents of this area.

"Much of the Empty Interior has a precipitation pattern that leaves it arid or semiarid. The dryness becomes increasingly apparent toward the region's southern zones. Nearly all of the area in the United States that can be classified as desert is found in the Empty Interior or in the Southwest's borderlands. In the Empty Interior's north, especially in northern British Columbia, the Yukon Territory, and Alaska, a long cold season is the dominant climatic theme" (256).

The Empty Interior has two important uses. One is that American Indian reservations are located here and the second is that the U.S.'s largest bombing and gunnery ranges are located here as well.

In contrast, Seattle's original inhabitants are also American Indians, and there are no known bomb testing center located there. Seattleites prefer a very clean, green and luscious town with eco-friendly uses, despite having Boeing as a large industry.

Chapter 12: The Great Plains and Prairies

The Great Plains region is considered to be a largely homogeneous area physically and culturally. However, it is very diverse in several respects. Many of these misconceptions derive from literature that takes place in this region. Much description of this region often depicts this area as being boring, uniform, very plain, and with very little diversity.

Precipitation is also different in this area. The textbook notes, "In Kansas, for example, average annual precipitation varies from a moist 105 centimeters (42 inches) in the southeast to a semiarid 40 centimeters (16 inches) in the southwest" (236).

According to the text, "The Great Plains as a broader region is substantially an academic invention of the twentieth century. It is an idea used to frame responses to the widespread economic and environmental problems that developed in this part of the United States during the Depression of the 1930s. Built on the powerful image of "the Great American Desert" and reinforced by literature and film, the Great Plains entered Americans' conceptual framework of regions" (232).

Most people picture uniform and flat land when they think of the Great Plains. Nevertheless, "...[T]he Great Plains and prairies is that all its residents share the same ethnic background. This, too, like images of a homogeneous physical environment, is not the case" (233).

There are several areas of Washington where there is not as much rain or precipitation as is commonly thought. There are also various differences in its topography, although Seattle overlooks Mt. Rainier.

Chapter 11: The Agricultural Core

This is a very important region of the country for its agriculture. There are several transportation routes, which is very beneficial because there are other regions which would greatly benefit from having a transportation routes, which would reduce shipment costs and stimulate economic growth.

Small farms are a growing concern because they are being taken over by larger corporations.

Seattle, Washington has declared the year 2010 to be "The Year of Urban Agriculture." The Department of Planning and Development (DPD) has proposed codes for legislation, which include: allowing urban farms to operate, increasing the number of fowl from 3 to 8, adding farmers markets to other areas, allowing rooftop greenhouses that meet certain criteria and limitations, among others. One of the central goals of this project is to stimulate efforts in agriculture and to increase access to locally grown foods.

Chapter 10: The Southern Coastlands on The Subtropical Margin

This chapter discusses the Southern Coastlands. This region shares a border with Mexico. It is a very important region because of its proximity to another country, which has aided trade for the United States.

The region is humid and is a place that attracts many people to it. Florida is the main destination. It is a very important region in the United States because it has a long growing season, which is imperative for agriculture. According to the text, "Across almost all of the Southern Coastlands, the growing season lasts at least 9 months. But in much of the region, its average exceeds 10 months" (191). An added benefit is the precipitation level. However, soil conditions are a lot more variable than climatic conditions.

Seattle is similar to this region in its abundance of precipitation. However, contrary to popular belief, Seattle does not have as much rain as it is believed to have. It rains, but it does not rain more than certain parts of Texas, for example.

According to http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/Planning/UrbanAgriculture/Overview/,

"Urban agriculture is a type of infill development that fits into growth strategy for Seattle and the region, by adding a missing element of livable communities and stimulating small-scale economic development. There is a tremendous opportunity to develop local sources of healthy food by turning existing lawn and garden space into productive agricultural plots. Small-scale urban agriculture can help create livable, walkable and sustainable communities, and implement City goals of sustainability and economic development."

Seattle's political leaders and communities are invested in the city's agricultural development, especially since it is a fast-growing city. Seattle is one of the few large, metropolitan cities in the Pacific Northwest. Seattle is also known as the "Emerald City," which is something Seattleites are very proud to be known for. As a result, people in Seattle make efforts to maintain the attractiveness of the city, while still being faithful to nature.

Chapter 9: The Changing South

The South has a cultural distinctiveness that sets it apart from other regions in the nation. It is comprised of several subcultural regions -- The Gulf Coast, the Southern highlands, the Georgia-Carolinas' Piedmont, and northern and southern areas of the region as well that are all unique and different from one another. In the South, however, people consider themselves proud of their regional identification and have a strong sense of connection to that region.

The Pacific Northwest is similar to the South in this regard. People living in the Pacific Northwest have a strong link to their region. They are aware that it is unique from other parts of the United States. Seattle is a major city known for its music and cultural events. Unlike the South, however, the political orientations of the people are very different. Most people in the South tend to be conservative, while people in the Pacific Northwest tend to be a lot more liberal.

Also, the ethnic composition of Seattle is mostly white, and the South has a large African-American population. According to different websites, Seattle's African-american population is less than 10%.

Chapter 8: Appalachia and the Ozarks

This is a very conservative Caucasian population with very few resources to divide among many people.

Increasing coal demands have led to issues with air pollution. Many people that live in this region have second homes, whereas many people are moving to areas like Seattle because of economic opportunity.

This region is known to be economically disadvantaged because of its topography. Its population is half rural and half urban. Seattle, however, is a growing urban center.

Chapter 7: The Bypassed East

Seattle, like the Bypassed East, receives plenty of precipitation. It is also known for fishing, but unlike the Bypassed East, Seattle is a livable area with many opportunities.

There is a growth in population in Seattle as well as in occupations. Certain webpages have listed Seattle as "one of the most liveable cities in the United States," which is very different from the Bypassed East that has 'rocky soils' and 'hilly terrain.'

The region in the Bypassed East is 'sparsely populated,' but Seattle is a thriving metropolitan area with a growing population. It is estimated that it will continue to grow because of the many occupations in the service sector and a highly educated populace.

Chapter 5:The North Manufacturing Core

According to http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0108286.html, "Manufacturing industries in Washington include aircraft and missiles, shipbuilding and other transportation equipment, lumber, food processing, metals and metal products, chemicals, and machinery."

According to the website above, Washington is also a leader in lumber, although different sources say this fluctuates. Redmond, Washington, near Seattle houses Microsoft Headquarters. It also houses Boeing Company, although its main headquarters has recently moved to Chicago, Illinois. The largest branch is still in Seattle.

Chapter 4: Megalopolis

Megalopolis is unique to the east coast and is characteristic of large, spanning cities and metropoli. Seattle, Washington is not considered to be part of a megalopolis. It is a growing metropolis, however.

The textbook explains, "Megalopolis formed along the northeastern coast of the United States by the gradual coalescence of large, independent metropolitan areas such as Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C. As these cities grew, the effects of their growth spilled over to surrounding, smaller places...The primary theme of Megalopolis is its urbanness. In varying degrees, urban activities like municipal utilities and fire and police protection provide for the millions who live there. And urban forms -- manifested by dense patterns of streets and buildings, industrial centers, retail and wholesale clusters, and governmental complexes -- are far away" (64). This description explains what megalopolis looks like. It also includes green areas like parks. The huge stretch of metropolitan areas is an important feature. These cities have coalesced with one another and are located near important water routes.

In addition to all these characteristics, people who live in this region are also highly educated, work primarily in white-collar occupations, and live near transportation and communication sites (66). In this way, Seattle is very similar to this region because many people in Seattle are educated and are employed in the services sector. However, Seattle does not have the population or too many large metropolitan cities nearby that would coalesce into a megalopolis, at least not anytime in the near future. This is a possibility in the future that would accommodate large cities like Portland and stretch all the way down to northern California and cities like San Francisco. There are still many cities in between, however, that need to grown its services, and its urbanness, in order for this to happen. The water routes are available, but transportation lines/sites, as well as communication and other services and white-collar occupations would have to expand as well.

I would argue that Seattle, Washington has the potential to become a megalopolis in the next few decades with the growing companies that can stretch down Oregon and California. Seattle houses the biggest personal computer software company, Microsoft, as well as Starbucks, Nordstrom, and other big companies.

Chapter 3: Foundations of Human Activity

The United States is believed to have been first inhabited by Native Americans who traveled through the Bering Strait. Some scholars dispute the actual time in which they arrived, but nevertheless, they are the first people in North America, including Canada.

Seattle was first inhabited by Native Americans. Noah Sealth, chief of the local Suquamish Native American tribe, was one of the founders of the city. Seattle is named after him. http://www.seattle.gov/html/visitor/history.htm.


Seattle's residents are primarily Caucasian, followed by Asian, then Black, and then other ethnic groups, including Native Americans.

Chapter 2: Geographic Patterns of the Physical Environment

Seattle, Washington is part of the Northwest Pacific. According to the textbook, "The interior lowlands in this physiographic region -- the Central Valley of California, the Williamette Valley in Oregon, and the Puget Sound lowland in Washington and British Columbia -- are the extensive lowlands near the Pacific Coast. Possessing relatively good soils, these lowlands support much Pacific coast agriculture... Though not as extensive as the Central Valley, the Williamette Valley and Puget Lowland contain productive farmland and are also home for most of the North Pacific Coast's population" (24).

Additionally, according to the text, "Perhaps the simplest way of creating vegetation is to use three broad categories: forest, grasslands, and scrublands (31). Seattle, Washington is known as the "Emerald City" for its luscious greenery.

Seattle is surrounded by water, has precipitation, and coastal forest. Mt. Rainier stands ta 14,410 feet.

Chapter 1: Regions and Themes

According to the course textbook, a region is defined as, "An area having some characteristic or characteristics that distinguish it from other areas. A territory of interest to people and for which one or more distinctive traits are used for its identity."

The state of Washington is certainly considered to be part of the Pacific Northwest. Many students and people use mental constructs to identify locations and regions. Washington is considered to be part of a specific region that comprises parts of Oregon, Idaho, and parts of Montana. Regions are useful because they help people conceptualize broad characteristics that a place shares with others, as well as unique characteristics that set a particular place apart from others. However, regions can also blend in with other regions.

Seattle is a large metropolitan city. Thus, it is an urban center. According to the text, "By the countries' own census definitions, more than 75 percent of Canadian and American residents live in urban areas" (9). Seattle, Washington is 83.9 square miles, according to http://www.demographia.com/db-uscity98.htm.

Aerial View of Seattle, WA

I took this photo just minutes before the plane landed at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. I had the window seat, so I was fortunate to see this. I could not believe how much green I saw all over the place. This was taken in late August of this year.