Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 407-427). / Also available by subscription via World Wide Web / xiii, 427 leaves, bound ill., maps 29 cm

Poly'nAsia is a practice based research project that identifies and builds from the affinities between traditional Tongan and Indian textile techniques. It seeks to explore and synthesize the parallels between two textile traditions - tapa1of Tongatapu in Tonga and kalamkari2 of Masulipatnam and Kalahasti in Southern India.The project functions within the framework of the wider cultural and social contexts. It does not follow a strictly premeditated path or a rigid time line. An intuitive, organic approach is adopted instead, to complement cultural traditions, taking time to build understanding, trust and respect. A collection of contemporary fashion garments and textiles is produced, inspired by yet distinct from these traditional textiles. The collection is synthesized i.e., it combines elements of tapa and kalamkari to form a coherent whole. This collection has contemporary relevance, while retaining the traditional handcrafted component of tapa and kalamkari. The investigative and creative process that culminates in the Poly'nAsia collection is documented in this exegesis. The collection was presented at a fashion show on 3rd February, 2005.

This dissertation research presents the elemental and technological analyses of basalt adze quarries from the Samoan Island of Tutuila. Both Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) and Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) were utilized in the chemical characterization of basalt samples and artifacts. Elemental concentration data derived from both INAA and EDXRF successfully differentiated between multiple Tutuilan basalt adze quarries, and these data were utilized to determine the most efficacious elemental analysis technique for Tutuilan basalt adze provenance study. Elemental concentration data from the Lau’agae quarry were utilized with technological attribute analysis of artifacts recovered from that archaeological site to investigate the potential for economic specialization in the manufacture of basalt adzes. Analysis of both the technological attribute data and the elemental concentration data provided evidence for potential specialization at the Lau’agae quarry. When these data were compared to similar data from other Polynesian archaeological sites it further supported the potential for specialized production at Lau’agae. Ultimately, it was determined that multiple skilled producers created various types of basalt adzes at Lau’agae with the intent to export and exchange their products.

French Polynesia went through a political crisis from 2004 to 2005 which constituted an important chapter in the history of this recently upgraded 'Pays d'Outre-mer'. After the general elections of May 2004 in Tahiti, a series of controversial events unfolded which created polarity among the local people and which destabilised the government. This research aims to study qualitatively how the Tahitian political crisis is constructed by the French press, namely, le Figaro, le Monde and la Libération. Based on the CDA framework and Halliday's systemic grammar, this research embarks on Foucault's idea of subjectivity which governs the formation of discourse, by examining the linguistic structure of the clause in the press representations. The analysis reveals that events and people from the crisis can be configured in different ways in the clausal structure, which is, to a certain degree, triggered by the subjectivity of newspapers. La Libération offers a socialist view of the crisis through its discursive constructions which are more inclusive of the local people and by showing Temaru's rise to power in an optimistic manner. As for the conservative newspaper le Figaro, power hierarchies can be observed in some representations while certain individuals' responsibilities are hidden in the clausal structure. Even le Monde, which claims to maintain a neutral ground, exposes its intellectual and critical conceits in the construction of clauses which represent Tahiti's recent political crisis.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 201-208). / xii, 208 leaves, bound ill., maps 29 cm

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2011 / Pacific Islands Studies

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2005 / Pacific Islands Studies

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2000 / Pacific Islands Studies

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2002 / Pacific Islands Studies

Poly'nAsia is a practice based research project that identifies and builds from the affinities between traditional Tongan and Indian textile techniques. It seeks to explore and synthesize the parallels between two textile traditions - tapa1of Tongatapu in Tonga and kalamkari2 of Masulipatnam and Kalahasti in Southern India.The project functions within the framework of the wider cultural and social contexts. It does not follow a strictly premeditated path or a rigid time line. An intuitive, organic approach is adopted instead, to complement cultural traditions, taking time to build understanding, trust and respect. A collection of contemporary fashion garments and textiles is produced, inspired by yet distinct from these traditional textiles. The collection is synthesized i.e., it combines elements of tapa and kalamkari to form a coherent whole. This collection has contemporary relevance, while retaining the traditional handcrafted component of tapa and kalamkari. The investigative and creative process that culminates in the Poly'nAsia collection is documented in this exegesis. The collection was presented at a fashion show on 3rd February, 2005.