Wow, What a Year

Aloha and Happy New Year to all my fellow classmates from our great class of 1972.

As I sit here freezing (not really, it's 7 degrees outside and 68 inside), my thoughts turn to home in the Hawaiian islands and I wonder what the heck I'm doing here in Binghamton, NY and contemplating when would be a good time to head back to Oahu for a visit. I'm glad 2008 is over and 2009 is a here with such promise. We have a Punahou grad headed for the white house with a vision of hope and change. I wish him well in helping our nation overcome the many challenges we all face in the world and at home.

I was reading a book this morning entitled "The Great Human Diasporas: The History of Diversity and Evolution." Yesterday evening I watched a program entitled "The Journey of Man: A Genetic Odyssey," with geneticist, Dr. Spencer Wells. It is fascinating to find that our history is encoded in our DNA and to learn of the use of population genetics and molecular biology to help determine human origins. This type of research has been extremely important in helping to resolve a long-running debate on where modern humans first evolved.

Last year, I had my DNA analyzed through a project called The Genographic Project which is sponsored by the National Geographic Society, IBM, and the Waite Family Foundation. Initially, I had my Y-chromosome for my paternal line analyzed out to 12 markers with The Genographic Project, then out to 25 markers once transferred to the Family Tree DNA project. Not surprising, my haplogroup is a common one out of western Europe, R1b1b2a1b. I'm having my dad's mtDNA analyzed for our maternal lineage which I believe will show connection to our Polynesian maternal ancestor, a woman named Hio. I encourage you to do the same, especially with parents who are still with us.

Hawaii has a unique place in the history of man. One author on geocities discusses it as such. "As Polynesians trekked through the Pacific, using a sophisticated celestial navigation system and large, sturdy boats, they settled the western part of Polynesia first. They were intentional settlers. When they left, they provisioned their longboats with all the things they knew were essential for life on a new island: chickens, pigs, dogs, taro root, bananas, coconuts and other foodstuffs. In the beginning, they also took pottery, but by the time they settled Hawaii, Polynesians had lost the craft of making pottery; they had stopped taking it with them. Hawaii, the world’s most isolated island chain, was one of the last places on Earth to be settled at about 1600 years ago. Surprisingly, people had managed to "miss" New Zealand and, when Hawaiian voyagers found it around 800 years ago, the world was finally "full."

I don't know if it's been proved inconclusively that Hawaiian voyagers found New Zealand, but it certainly makes one think about our seafaring ancestors and how bold they were to go forth into the Pacific ocean looking to settle new lands or if by chance they were adrift and found the islands by chance. For myself, I feel good about being here on earth getting ready to voyage forth into our 55th year.

So I close this blog entry with good thoughts of the future to come and hope this entry finds all of you in good health and good spirits.

Aloha,
Tommy Thompson KS 72
Binghamton, NY