WELCOME TO HAWAIIAN STUDIES PROGRAM AT KAUA'I COMMUNITY COLLEGE! 

The Associate in Arts in Hawaiian Studies is a 60-credit degree program intended to either provide the first two years of a baccalaureate program in Hawaiian Studies or prepare the student for study in other, broader fields of science, humanities, arts, and social sciences.

Graduation Requirements:

The program will be governed by the same admission policies as the current Liberal Arts A.A. program, and advising and counseling will be available from Kalei Carvalho. Click here to book an ACADEMIC ADVISING appointment.

Program Student Learning Outcomes (PSLOs) approved 03/18/2015:

  1. Describe aboriginal Hawaiian linguistic, cultural, historical, and political concepts.
  2. Apply aboriginal Hawaiian concepts, knowledge, and methods to the areas of science, humanities, arts, and social sciences in academics and in other professional endeavors.
  3. Engage, articulate, and analyze topics relevant to the aboriginal Hawaiian community using college-level reading skills, research methods, and writing and speaking techniques.
  4. Apply appropriate mathematical and logical concepts and methods to understand, analyze, and explain issues.
  5. Synthesize aboriginal Hawaiian problem-solving skills and creative thinking strategies with other approaches then applying this learning to new and varied situations.
  6. Identify, allocate, and utilize technological and natural resources effectively and responsibly.

GUIDED PATHWAYS TO COMPLETION

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Hawaiian Studies Associate in Arts Degree (AA)

Hawaiian Studies Associate in Arts Degree, 60-63 credits

  Fall Semester 1

  • ENG 100 - Composition I (3 credits)
  • HWST 101 - Elementary Hawaiian I (4 credits)
  • HWST 107 - Hawai'i: Center of the Pacific (3 credits)
  • Diversification (DS): ANTH 200, ANTH 220 or BOT 105 (3 credits)

Note: 

  1. ENG 100: This course fulfills the Foundations: Written Communication (FW) category.
  2. HWST 107: This course fulfills the Hawaiian, Asian, and Pacific Island Issues (HAP) graduation requirement.
  3. Diversification: Social Sciences (DS): A total of 6 credits are required and are recommended to be completed in semesters 1 and 4. Any two courses from different disciplines are required. ANTH 220, BOT 105, and HWST 211 are recommended options.

 Spring Semester 2

  • HAW 102 - Elementary Hawaiian II (4 credits)
  • Diversification: Arts (DA), Humanities (DH), or Literatures (DL) (3 credits)
  • Diversification: Biological Sciences (DB) or Physical Sciences (DP) (3 credit)
  • Diversification: Laboratory (science) (DY) (1 credits)
  • Electives - Hawaiian Studies AA (3 - 4 credits)
  • Oral Communication: SP 151, SP 185, SP 231, or SP 251 (3 credits)

Note:

  1. Diversification: Arts (DA), Humanities (DH), or Literatures (DL): A total of 9 credits are required and are recommended to be completed in in semesters 2 and 3. Two of the three courses (6 credits) must be taken from different designations.
  2. Diversification: Biological Sciences (DB) or Physical Sciences (DP): Only 1 DB course and 1 DP course is required. If the DB course is taken in semester 2, the DP course should be completed in semester 4 or vice versa.
  3. Diversification: Laboratory (science) (DY): Only 1 credit of DY is required (may be completed in semester 2 or 4). BOT 130L is recommended.

  Fall Semester 3

  • Diversification: Arts (DA), Humanities (DH), or Literatures (DL) (6 credits) - Hawaiian Studies A.A. (6 credits)
  • Electives - Hawaiian Studies A.A.(3 - 4 credits)
  • Foundations: Global and Multicultural Perspectives (FG): Any FGA, FGB, or FGC course (3 credits)
  • Foundations: Quantitative Reasoning (FQ): Any FQ course (3 credits)

Note:

  1. Diversification: Arts (DA), Humanities (DH), or Literatures (DL): A total of 9 credits are required and are recommended to be completed in in semesters 2 and 3. Two of the three courses (6 credits) must be taken from different designations.
  2. Foundations: Global and Multicultural Perspectives (FG): A total of 6 credits are required and are recommended to be completed in semesters 3 and 4. Any two courses with different FG designations are required.

Spring Semester 4

  • Diversification: Biological Sciences (DB) or Physical Sciences (DP) - Hawaiian Studies A.A. (3 credits)
  • Diversification: Social Sciences (DS) - Hawaiian Studies A.A. (3 credits)
  • Electives - Hawaiian Studies A.A. (3 - 4 credits)
  • Foundations: Global and Multicultural Perspectives (FG): Any FGA, FGB, or FGC course (3 credits)

Note:

  1. Diversification: Biological Sciences (DB) or Physical Sciences (DP): Only 1 DB course and 1 DP course is required. If the DB course is taken in semester 2, the DP course should be completed in semester 4 or vice versa.
  2. Diversification: Social Sciences (DS): A total of 6 credits are required and are recommended to be completed in semesters 1 and 4. Any two courses from different disciplines are required. ANTH 220, BOT 105, and HWST 211 are recommended options.
  3. Foundations: Global and Multicultural Perspectives (FG): A total of 6 credits are required and are recommended to be completed in semesters 3 and 4. Any two courses with different FG designations are required.

Total credits: 60-63

Graduation Requirements (to be satisfied within the 60-63 credit A.A. degree)

  • Graduation Requirement: Hawaiian, Asian, and Pacific Issues (HAP): At least one HAP course
  • Graduation Requirement: Writing Intensive (WI): At least 2 WI courses

Enroll Now!

Hawaiian Studies Academic Subject Certificate (ASC), 26 credits

  Fall Semester 1

  • HAW 101 - Elementary Hawaiian I (4 credits)
  • HWST 107 - Hawai'i: Center of the Pacific (3 credits)
  • Electives: Culture, History, and Arts (3 credits)
  • Electives: Hawaiian Environment course (3 credits)

  Spring Semester 2

  • HAW 102 - Elementary Hawaiian II (4 credits)
  • Electives: Culture, History, and Arts (3 credits)
  • Electives: Any Hawaiian Environment (3 credits)

  Fall semester 3

  • Electives: Any Hawaiian Language (3 credits)

Total credits: 26

Enroll Now!

The Ho‘okele (Polynesian Voyaging) Academic Subject Certificate program 18 credits, is designed for students interested in exploring, experiencing, and understanding the scientific, historical, and cultural aspects of non-instrument wayfinding as it pertains to the exploration and settlement of Polynesia.

Program Student Learning Outcomes (PSLOs) approved 05/01/2013:

  1. Identify the basic principles of non-instrument wayfinding.
  2. Describe how the major starlines are utilized by contemporary wayfinders in navigating.
  3. Describe the basic physics of sailing in the Pacific Ocean.
  4. Explain the movement of people in Polynesia from a cultural and historical context.

  Fall semester 1

  • HWST 107 Hawai‘i: Center of the Pacific (3 credits)
  • HWST 281 Hoʻokele I : Hawaiian Astronomy and Weather (3 credits)
  • Electives (6 credits) - Ho'okele (Polynesian Voyaging) (6 credits)

 Spring semester 2

  • HWST 282 Hoʻokele II: Hawaiian Navigation (4 credits)
  • Electives (2 credits) - Ho'okele (Polynesian Voyaging) (2 credits)

Total credits: 18

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The Mālama ʻĀina Academic Subject Certificate program 22-23 credits.

The Mālama ʻĀina program is designed to provide a theoretical and practical foundation for students interested in exploring the scientific and cultural aspects of Hawaiian land stewardship. Students will learn about plants and animals in the context of Hawaiian ecosystems and their inter-connections with the people of Hawaiʻi. Participation in field study will provide the opportunity to progress from study to practice, thus giving back to the ʻāina that feeds us.

Program Student Learning Outcomes (PSLOs) approved 09/23/2024:

  1. Observe, analyze, and describe the ecosystem of Hawaiʻi using indigenous terminology and methodology.
  2. Observe, analyze, and describe the ecosystem of Hawaiʻi using Western scientific terminology and methodology.
  3. Apply Hawaiian and Western knowledge and technological skills to active land stewardship practices.

Fall semester 1

  • HAW 101 Elementary Hawaiian I (4 credits)
  • HWST 107 Hawai‘i: Center of the Pacific (3 credits)

Spring semester 2

  • HWST 207 or IS 201 (3 credits)
  • Electives: Humanities or Science Pathway (3-4 credits)

Note
Electives: Humanities or Science Pathway: A total of 12-13 credits are required and are recommended to be completed in semesters 2, 3, and 4.

Fall semester 3

  • Electives: Humanities or Science Pathway (6 credits)

Note
Electives: Humanities or Science Pathway: A total of 12-13 credits are required and are recommended to be completed in semesters 2, 3, and 4.

Spring Semester 4

  • Electives: Humanities or Science Pathway (3 credits)

Note
Electives: Humanities or Science Pathway: A total of 12-13 credits are required and are recommended to be completed in semesters 2, 3, and 4.

Total credits: 22-23

Enroll Now!

Hawaiian Studies Academic Subject Certificate program