The deadline for applications for the Study USA Winter Term course GST 258 "Hawaii: Nation or State?" is this Sunday, Sept. 15, at 11:59 p.m. If you are interested, now is the time to apply.
Course Description
Most people think of Hawaii as a tropical paradise where they can be entertained by Hula dancers and opulent luaus. This course is designed to show students the complexity of the Hawaiian islands and the fight that continues to this day for those who are in danger of losing their very identities. We will explore the many tensions that exist in Hawaii that rest under the surface of the tourist propaganda. From classes at the University of Hawaii to talks with native Hawaiian activists, we will look at such issues as whether Hawaii should be seen as its own nation or a state. Historical, cultural and personal aspects of life there will be studied with the hope that students will come to understand in a deeper way the tensions between the image and the reality of the Hawaiian Islands.
Hawaii is a state that differs dramatically from the other 49 in its blend of cultures, with influence from Polynesian, Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Portuguese and other cultures. This results in a unique mixture of traditions and beliefs with occasional tensions among the various communities living in the islands. The design of this course is to explore the heritage of the indigenous peoples of the Hawaiian Islands, and to consider the issues of identity formation and political reality in the Hawaiian Islands. We will examine such issues as the role and impact of colonization on the islands, preservation of the environment, the impact of a native Hawaiian movement to secede from the United States on the political climate, and the historical roots of religious and cultural beliefs and the impact of Christian missionaries on those beliefs. Our major focus will be on how identity is formed in persons and how this plays itself out in the reality of contemporary Hawaii. The course will offer students a new perspective on a land that they usually understand only through tourist propaganda.
This program does require participation in a fall prep course (STU 258-US), which meets on Tuesdays from 4:15-6:15 p.m. This program is open to all students, including first-year.
To apply see the Study USA website.