Jack Parsons 9-12-13 4

Pakipika Moku aina (Pacific Island) Part I: Vivid description

The gentle, turquoise water laps against the inviting sugar-like sand that outlines the palm fringed island, like the many others that dot the vast Southern Pacific Ocean. The sun baked island is surrounded by a sharp coral reef, teeming with vibrant tropical fish, give or take some sharks, eels, and octopi as well. The sweet scent of coconut and tropical foliage tames the raw scent of the salty ocean. The flaky freshness of the copious fish is almost present as the fishy smell drifts past ones nose, inviting one to a feast. The water temperature of the ocean is a warm yet refreshing 80 Fahrenheit, perfect for the tropical aquatic ecosystem. The water feels good on skin, especially after a long day, whether its climbing coconut palms, to hunting and fishing, to even relaxing as the sun beats down on the beach. On the interior of the island, away from the beach paradise, is a small, lush jungle. The vegetation is thick, wet, and GREEN! Although it is mostly green, radiant hibiscus and other flowers can be spotted. The plants that occur the most are tropical ferns and banana leaves. These plants are vulnerable for slash and burn farming. The jungle is abundant with tropical birds with piercing mating calls, snakes, geckos, and a few island boars. The sounds of the forest make a beautiful pattern, as the birds chirp, the bugs hum, and the boars prowl, crushing the dry leaves beneath them. The land is not really mountainous, but there could be a few hills depending on the size of the island. The climate is an unpredictable tropical weather pattern, ranging from hot sun and baby blue sky with 75% humidity, to violent tropical storms with

Jack Parsons 9-12-13 4 clapping thunderclouds and striking lightning. This island has many plentiful resources that will last a while, but storms can come at the snap of a finger, and ruin a society in minutes. This is PakiPika Moku aina. This is the Pacific Island. Pakipika moku aina was founded based on its geography.

Part II: Analysis of the problem

The natives of Pakipika Moku aina, like any other civilization, always have the challenge of surviving in the wild. Everyday, there is a new way of facing starvation, thirst, disease, or catastrophe. A remote tropical island may look easy to live on, there is fish, coconuts, boars, trees, and a beautiful view, but it is a tad bit more complicated than it looks. What happens when there is no more coconuts, or the fish are all gone, or when a catastrophic storm strikes and wipes out the shelter, or when rats infest? These are problems that the civilization face everyday. 1.The island is fairly small, so farming is hard because of the scarcity of usable land, also the civilization will need to cut down many palm trees, which will destroy habitat, and animals will die, which will eventually lead to starvation of the citizens. The civilization can rely on the sea, but if all the fish leave, or the coral dies and algae is no longer present, then the whole aquatic ecosystem will die or leave. 2. Water is also a big challenge. Salt water is definitely not an option; It saturates the blood with salt, and large intakes of it will destroy the kidneys, and eventually will shut down the organs, and the brain. It is known to be a common

Jack Parsons 9-12-13 4 killer in survival. Salt water can be boiled to take the salt out, but that will take lots of time, and it could be a waste of firewood. On the other hand, if the civilization stores water, feces, parasites, and diseases that cant be seen or tasted can find home in the water source, which can lead to disease and death. For example, rats may leave their waste in the water, and then the water is contaminated. Deadly diseases like salmonella, and Leptospirosis (Weills Syndrome, a disease when water with rat urine comes in contact with a human) are caused from rat urine and feces. Coconut water is a good water source, but it is limited because there are only so many palm trees. The island is a hard place to survive on, but with some minds and hard work, that can change.

Part III: Proposed Solution

The civilization needs to make many modifications to the land in order to survive. A modification is a way of changing the land that makes the land more suitable for surviving, but it could put other organisms in harm. Some examples of modifications include, cutting down trees, killing animals, and destroying habitats. This may benefit the people, but it harms other living organisms. Water is tough to find and sustain on a tropical island. Frey 79 states, People built deep wells, dams, and systems to irrigate the land. To build off of the Arabs ideas, the island could use a deep well to not only irrigate crops like

Jack Parsons 9-12-13 4 sugarcane and taro, but to also provide a safe alternative to salt water for drinking. Building a well could also have consequences. Digging deep into the earth can kill roots and underground habitats, and it will take valuable farming space away. Therefore, building a well is a modification. Another way to extract/collect water is to find an exceptionally moist tree or plant, which clearly absorbs a fair amount of water, such as a banana tree. The method one could use would be a method where a hollow plant [like bamboo] sharpened and then stuck into a tree. Then, the moisture in the tree will be extracted and will flow through the (bamboo) shaft. This will be the emergency water source, in case of a drought or a dry season. The method is called tree tapping. This method also works with trees like rubber trees, and maple trees Food could also be tough to find as well. The soil of the tropical island is rich volcanic soil, so the people of the island will farm many different crops. The ancient Polynesians of the pacific found the abundant plant, taro. They mashed it up into a carbohydrate-rich paste called Poi, which is still found commonly all over Hawaii and other islands like the Cook Islands, Tonga, and Samoa. Taro can also be grown on the island because it is prone to wet conditions. The other main food source, fish are abundant in the ocean, the only problem is how to catch and sustain surplus of fish without hurting the ecosystem. The simplest method to solve this problem is building traps out of coral that the fish will get caught in. The taro will provide a stable amount of food, so fish can still have a healthy ecosystem. Another primary food source is tiny little limpets, Opihi, sea snails, or crustaceans that stick to the

Jack Parsons 9-12-13 4 rocks. These, along with giant clams, can be easily pried off to make a satisfying, yet chewy meal. Many solutions to solve problems such as sustaining a good water source or finding food are still used today, such as building wells or reservoirs. The Marin Municipal Water District (MMWD) builds reservoirs to collect rainwater and provide a reliable water source for Marin County. Many people still build fish traps, and grow Taro today. Many smart solutions to problems have been passed down, generation to generation, some have changed, some are still the same as thousands of years ago. The island will face many challenges, but with smart technology and brains, life can be a breeze, like the tropical ocean breeze brewing in the air itself.