The instructional program offered by CHS is designed to provide an in-depth understanding of Hawaiian history, politics, environment, and culture from the point of view of Hawai`i's indigenous people. CHS currently offers a Bachelor's degree consisting of 38 credits of course work, of which 26 credits are required courses and 12 are chosen in one of six fields of concentration. In addition there are 22 credits of prerequisite courses which can be applied toward fulfillment of the General Education Core requirements.
All Hawaiian Studies majors are expected to have a firm foundation in our `Olelo makuahine (mother tongue); thus, three years of Hawaiian language is required. HwSt 107: Hawai`i, Center of the Pacific, our introductory survey course, and Botany 105: Ethnobotany, a study of the botany of Hawai`i, are both prerequisites that also count toward fulfilling General Education Core requirements.
The main body of coursework taken by all majors includes 26 credits of courses in Hawaiian mythology, history, geography, genealogy research, creative arts and modern issues. Majors are also required to take 12 credits in one of six areas of concentration: Traditional Society, Modern Society, Arts, Natural Environment, History, Language.
Most of these courses are taught by faculty in other university departments, providing students with an interdisciplinary approach to their studies. With the hiring of more faculty and curriculum development, the Center intends to offer more courses in our field. Students may also elect to do independent reading and research with a faculty supervisor to fulfill major elective requirements.
For more specific information, check out the degree requirements and options.
One significant change affecting all current Hawaiian Studies majors is the switch-over from using the School of Arts and Sciences Core course requirements to the University's General Education Core guidelines for our majors. All students are expected to complete the General Core course requirements in addition to the requirements for their specific major. The change is long overdue and reflects the organizational relocation of the Hawaiian Studies program from the College of Arts and Sciences to a Center in the School of Hawaiian, Asian and Pacific Studies.
Although the minimum number of credits for graduation still remains the same (124) this change allows our majors to use nine more credits in areas of their interest.
The switch-over from the Arts & Sciences to the General Education core is a significant change because it allows students to plan free elective credits to earn a second major in another field of interest without exceeding the minimum amount of credits needed to graduate. At present, we have several students earning second degrees in Hawaiian language and in Political Science. Two degrees for the price of one is now a possibility without an extended course of study. Good planning, early advising, and an optimum choice of classes is the only way that this can be done.
For those interested in Hawaiian immersion education, a Minor in Language Immersion Education is now being jointly planned with the UH Hawaiian Language Department, the School of Education and Hawaiian Studies. This degree will deliver basic certification for Hawaiian Studies majors who plan to work in the State Department of Education after graduation.
The number of Hawaiian Studies majors continues to increase at an enormous rate. Twenty two new majors joined us this Fall semester alone. In an effort to make the advising process more effective and accessible for our majors, two new electronic processes are being offered this semester. First, a computerized printout has been developed based upon the student's academic files.
A dated copy of the printout is given to each student and one is placed in his/her file. Students who have been advised using this process in the past two semesters have commented that it is now easier for them to visualize and keep track of their progress through the system. They also say it simplifies planning for their future semesters.
An initial advising session focuses on cataloguing all the credits earned by the student to date. These meetings may run from 30 to 60 minutes depending on the number of credits earned or other difficulties the student may have had prior to advising. For instance, transfer credits earned from other campuses or universities may complicate advising since UH-Manoa may not accept all credits toward graduation. Once initial advising is completed and all the student's credits are entered into the database, succeeding advising sessions each semester are much shorter.
Once the student has received the initial printout, the advising process can be done over the telephone as well as in person. This is the second electronic process. Call-in advising has been available to majors since August. This process is for students who work or are too busy to make the trip up to the advisor's office during the school day.
Extended times for telephone advising outside regular office hours will vary for each semester. Check with the advisor for these times. Students will be able to call for advising and make appointments over the telephone at other hours that may be more convenient once the initial "in person" advising is completed.
Students may still walk-in for advising as in previous years if desired. Student's files are always available for their inspection upon request, and students are encouraged to be responsible for the accuracy and content of their files. A good practice in both telephone and walk-in advising is to call ahead to reserve a time slot.
The large number of majors, the perennial stream of new students declaring majors, and my numerous committee assignments keep the Center's only academic advisor extremely busy. It has been a challenge to develop more efficient and effective means to provide advising services to all our majors.
Please call for an appointment for assistance to determine your course of study (956-6825).
The graduation and academic achievement of Hawaiian students at the University of Hawai`i at Manoa is no small feat. Despite normal rates of high school graduation, Hawaiians are severely underrepresented at the Manoa campus and the university system overall. Currently, Hawaiians comprise 7% of the student body (an increase of 3% over the past 10 years), although Hawaiians comprise an estimated 20% of the general population.
Among the Hawaiian students who enroll at Manoa, completion of college is comparatively infrequent. It is estimated that 25% of incoming Hawaiian students at the Manoa campus drop out by the end of their second year. Even fewer pursue graduate level degrees.
The reasons for Hawaiian underrepresentation at the university are varied:
In the past seven years the Center has played an important role in the University's commitment to service and educate the Hawaiian community, a commitment made all the more compelling since the Manoa campus is situated almost entirely on ceded lands, designated to benefit Hawaiians as well as the general public. Several years ago the Center helped to create Operation Kua`ana, a program designed to recruit and retain all Hawaiian students on campus. Kua`ana is now located under the Dean for Student Affairs, while the Center focuses on servicing its majors.
The Center has helped increase the number of Hawaiian faculty on campus, providing critically needed Hawaiian role models for students (Hawaiians comprise only 1.7% of the faculty up from 1.3% ten years ago). The Center also provides Hawaiian students with guidance and encouragement to complete their undergraduate degrees and pursue graduate studies, which is critical to the future growth of the Center program. The Center has been active in lobbying for increased services and resources (including tuition waivers) for Hawaiians. Moreover, the Center fundraises for and awards two scholarships to provide critically needed financial assistance to students. Finally, the Center provides a cultural scholarly base for Hawaiian students on campus. With the completion of the building this year, the Center will also provide a physical place for Hawaiians at the Manoa campus.