COURSE DESCRIPTION

 This interdisciplinary course will focus on environmental problems and their regional and global causes.  The impacts of these problems on different people, cultures and global society as a whole will be studied from varying perspectives based on different values and world views.  The course is designed to provide a forum for discussion, debate and critical evaluation, which will be provided by students exchanging ideas during this field study.  This course satisfies the Liberal Education requirement (Area 10) for an Environmental Issues course.  There are no prerequisites.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

The major purpose of this course is to heighten awareness of environmental challenges and the interconnectedness of human and natural systems in confronting these challenges.  Students will integrate various disciplinary perspectives on environmental problems and solutions and employ critical thinking in reflecting on the value basis and ethical dimensions of environmental decisions.  Students will gain an understanding of the bio-physical-ecological foundations for environmental processes and the social-cultural-institutional influences that shape human impact on the environment.  In light of these impacts, possible improvements in these institutions will be considered.  Immersion in the Hawaiian Wilderness provides a unique venue for considering environmental challenges with a unifying theme of the meaning of wilderness in the modern world.

COURSE FORMAT

The interdisciplinary survey of environmental issues will be provided through the series of instructional sessions, many by guest presenters, throughout the Hawaiian field study.  These sessions will expose students to a breadth of multidisciplinary perspectives on environmental issues focusing on problems in Hawaii.  The 50^th state presents a unique environmental learning opportunity because the island ecology is a microcosm for many global environmental challenges. The learning method will be problem-solving oriented.  Environmental problems will be identified and related causes, implications and principles will be evaluated. Integrative thinking will be emphasized throughout by challenging students to synthesize the various perspectives provided in the series of presentations.  Active learning will be enhanced not only through field study but also through exercises and group activities conducive to discussion, interaction and collaboration as goals of the liberal education experience.  Critical thinking and values clarification should also be enhanced by the blend of the multidisciplinary presentations and group discussions.

WEB-BASED COURSE READINGS

Syllabus for Wilderness Ethics is Linked here

Pat's Sustainability powerpoint slides linked here

Climate change, global warming and impacts on Hawaii projected by EPA

Hawaii forests, esp koa (more on forests)

State of Hawaii DNR page

State of Hawaii site on Endangered Species

Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk Project (HEAR) with USGS, great site and links, esp. “miconia in Hawaii”, “alien species in Hawaii” and “invasive frogs” with audio of loud piercing calls

Two sites on Birds of Hawaii, including endangered species: (1) and (2)

USGS on 2 volcanoes, Kilauea & Mauna Loa

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (surf all sections)

Special Site we'll visit, "The Place of Refuge" or Pu'uhonua-O-Honaunau

Site on the Ohi’a Tree 1

Site on the Hala (Pandanus ) 1

Two sites on the Ironwood Tree 1 2

Plants used by the native Hawaiians

Hawaiian native plants

Hawaiian History

Good overview: Overthrow of Hawaiian Monarchy

Summary of Royalty through history of Monarchy

Amazing Web version of entire History written by Queen Liliuokalani herself

Learning Guide to accompany PBS documentary “ Hawaii’s Last Queen”

Brief summaries on Queen Liliuokalani

1 2 3 4 5 6

US Apology for Overthrow in 1894, comes century later in 1993

Sovereignty Movements

freedictionary

Hawaii Nation

Univ. Dayton

Links on Hawaiian Sovereignty

deephawaii

yahoo

gohawaii

Hawaiian Culture Links

National Geographic Magazine Article Dec. '02 on Rebirth of Hawaiian Culture

Hawaii Nation

Lanikaahumanu

Cultural Perspective on the Environment

opihi

ECONOMICS

University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization Homepage (click link to left for UHERO working paper, "Environmental Evaluation and the Hawaiian Economy" in pdf format.)

Potential Economics Under Sovereignty

opihi

R. Gregory

Economic Crisis?