After exploring our cultural identities, we have created mandalas using symbols to represent our ethnicities, nationalities, values, beliefs, languages, gender, interests, and education. Feel free to read our explanations of the symbols and listen to our podcasts. To listen to each podcast, click the links. We look forward to feedback. Mahalo!
A Warrior's Mandala
Coming from the vast Pacific Ocean, my Micronesian warriors, are symbolized by
the blue color of the sea and the stars.
Even with my nation’s history of oppression and racism, I am still proud to be an American
as represented by the bald eagle.
My first language learned and the language I speak everyday is English.
Being born from a family that has fought to be where they are now
this is what makes me idolize being a professional fighter someday,
and that is what the gloves represent.
Although I have goals of fighting professionally someday, I still believe that education is key.
The weird symbol here is a Nigerian tribal that represents the supremacy of god.
I come from a line of men who have fought and worked all their lives, I too fight and work in my life
The Pineapple comes from a quote I once heard, “Stand tall and wear a crown.”
This represents my royal bloodline.
The great Phillipine eagle and the most famous fish “Bangus” represent my Filipino identity.
Even though I don’t have enough knowledge about the history of my nation,
I am proud to be born and raised as a filipino.
I am a woman who loves to protect her dignity and who have a goal in life.
Moving to another country as a teenager, I am responsible to attend school,
and I am proud to be a Viking.
I am a Christian who believed in God and the Bible. I listen and sing the beautiful songs
in church, and I pray being thankful for my family.
My professional language is Tagalog but I can also speak English and Illocano.
I speak Tagalog if I with my relatives and since we moved to America
I use English to speak with other people.
Since I was a kid, I loved to play sports, especially basketball.
Like the tree, I am strong standing in my on foot because of the love given by my family.
My family is the most important part of my culture.
My Samoan culture is very important to me because it is one of those cultures that are becoming extinct. I used the coconut tree as a symbol because the coconut tree is a really big tool for Samoan people.
For my nationality, I used the flag of Western Samoa because there are two islands of Samoa: one is American Samoa and one is Western Samoa. I didn’t use American Samoa because American Samoa is evolving into a place where the Culture of Samoa is going extinct.
I chose the Hilo High School Viking symbol for my school because this is by far the best school I have ever gone to. Coming to Hilo High is the best decision I have ever made because I feel more comfortable talking to others and also putting myself in a position to make more friends.
I drew a male because I am a male.
For my religion I used the cross because it represents what I believe and trust in. Also because this what Jesus died to take away all of our sins.
For my language I used a Samoan design because I have a lot of passion for my culture and how it represents who I am.
For interests I used the symbol a rugby ball because Rugby is my favorite sport and it helps me feel calm throughout the times that I am feeling stressed.
For my family I used a star that has hands and heads because it represents how strong my family can be when we're together. It also shows how much love we have for each other.
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A Marshallese Protector's Mandala
My first symbol is a pandunus tree in the Marshall Islands because I had fun climbing pandunus trees
and because the roots is in the Marshall Islands
I am proud to be Marshallese because in our culture we take care and love each other
I am a male who is protective, caring, and loving of my family.
I love school because in school I have outgoing friends, awesome teachers, and amazing subjects
I was raised to go to church and to believe in God, and I pray everyday to show how much I love God
as a Christian, and I will always love God
I speak, read, and write English at school and outside of school; however, I speak Marshallese
mostly with family and with my Marshallese friends.
The basketball and football symbolizes sports because I love it, and it’s fun
Lastly, the heart symbolizes family because there is a lot of love in my family. My parents don't
have a favorite because both my parents love all of my brothers and sisters, including me.
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A Future Doctor's Mandala
My mandala represents the most significant parts of my cultural identity. The first is a Mexican flag because I think that the country that most represents my identity. In the second part is a male symbol because I identify myself as a man . In the next part is a book with a medical symbol on it because I want to study to become a doctor. In my language part I wrote Spanglish because I read, write, and speak both Spanish and English.
In next part is a heart with three points on the top that makes a family symbol. Family symbol is one of the biggest parts of my cultural identity. In the next part is a pencil because I like to draw, and I think that is part of my cultural identity. The next part means my friends, another big part of my cultural identity. The last part I drew a symbol that summarizes all that I like.
A Chinese Gamer's Mandala
The peony, a flower in China, represents my Chinese identity.
Although I’m in America now, I am also Chinese; this is something I can’t forget.
I’m a male high school student. My school is HIlo HIgh School so I’m a Viking.
I believe in science as my theology because there are many things with no
explanations..
I use English a lot, but my first language is Chinese, and I don’t want to forget my language.
The interest I like most is the gaming that is why I draw a gameboy.
The railroad track symbolizes the journey of my family; we cam from form far away to Hawaii.
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A Filipino Artist's Mandala
Since my family is artistic, I drew a pencil drawing a flower. It symbolizes the fruit of my parent’s love as they represent the two leaves protecting me and taking care of me.
I am happy to be born in the Philippines and being a Filipino. The Filipino eagle represents my pureness along with my culture ways of living with my family.
I am a male that has dreams, goals, and hopes to achieve for my family.
Inheriting my father’s arts skills, I have been an artistic person gaining his knowledge and techniques. I am also interested in video games.
I was raised as a Catholic, I was born to believe and pray for my family and others sake to the heavens above.
My professional language is Tagalog. However, I can also speak English very well. I can also understand Ilocano language a little bit but my capability of speaking the language is not there yet. Thus overall, I use my native language around my family and to the people that have the capability of speaking the language as well.
I drew a Viking inside the Big Island as it represents my education as a viking with knowledge, pride, integrity, respect, determination, and excellence here at this school.
A Chuukese Nurse's Mandala
Growing on high mountains with coconut trees and traveling with boats, my Chuukese ancestors thrived
and this is who I am.
Although Micronesians are not healthy because of the radiation from American bombs,
I’d still go back home and live there until I no longer live.
I am a girl who painstakingly tries to work and become a nurse and go back home and make a change.
Since I want to make a change back home, I work hard as a sophomore at Hilo High School,
and I try to reach for my professional degree and become a nurse.
Raising up to be a Christian I believe in bible, heaven, hell, and God, I go to church every Sunday
and participate in all kind of things our church has provide.
I read, write, and speak Chuukese. When I am around our Chuukese elders, I speak Chuukese.
I have been learning the English language since nine years old and it what I speak when I am in public.
My interest is to be a nurse so I can help serve people especially the ones back home because they
have bad health.
The symbol of family is the mom dad and the children. I don’t look like my parents or siblings;
I take after my dad's family. My family shows respect and kindness to people.
A Hard-Working Marshallese's Mandala
The BIBLE represents who I believe in and is God and my family raised me with
knowing God and go church all the times
The flag represents my islands, and I am proud to be Marshallese
I am a student at Hilo High School on the Big Island. I came here to get a better education
and work with my friend and my teachers
I am the oldest boy, and I have one younger sister and another who is older than me.
I play basketball and baseball which are my favorite sports
I read, write, and speak two languages: my first language is Marshallese and my second one is English.
I want to thanks my family for raising me to be a better person. My father always tells me
to respect and humble myself to one and other
My island is a mix of coconut milk with almost every food like sashimi, rice and bread.
I am proud to me Marshallese.
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