In “Hawai`i’s Ancient Past,” we delve into the islands’ rich history and evolution—spanning natural phenomena, the Polynesian settlers, and the unique ecosystem developed in isolation. Through interdisciplinary research including biology, archaeology, and linguistics, we uncover a story far different and more nuanced than previously known. The course covers the volcanic origins and unique biodiversity of Hawai`i, the deep Polynesian and Oceanic roots tracing back to Southeast Asia, and the dramatic shifts following human arrival. It examines the impacts of agriculture, invasive species, and human settlement on the islands’ ecology and culture. We explore the advanced agricultural techniques and the sophisticated societal structures of ancient Hawaiians, evidenced by the ritual architecture and cultural landscapes still visible today. Finally, we discuss the profound transformations triggered by European contact, shedding light on the overlooked aspects of Hawai`i’s ecological and social history.
Required Reading
No required reading. All texts will be delivered electronically.
Recommended Reading
Providing good background is a newly published revised edition of Feathered Gods and Fishhooks: The archaeology of ancient Hawai`i (Revised Edition), Patrick Kirch and Mark McCoy (2023), University of Hawai`i Press.
Participants in the course may wish to read The Oxford Handbook of Prehistoric Oceania, Ethan Cochrane and Terry Hunt, editors (2018), Oxford University Press, for a detailed overview of the entire Pacific.
Both books are available for purchase on Amazon. Other recommended weekly readings are available electronically on our course website. These book sources are recommended for more in-depth study, but certainly not required for the content of the course.
Meet Your Instructor
TERRY HUNT is an internationally renowned archaeologist and one of the world’s foremost experts on the Pacific Islands. He has conducted field research in Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Samoa, Hawai`i, Rapa Nui (Easter Island), and in synthetic analyses of Polynesian chronology and migration. He taught at the University of Hawai`i for 25 years and has four decades of experience in the Pacific. The National Science Foundation funds his current and continuing field research collaboration on Rapa Nui.
Location
POETRY CENTER
Dorothy Rubel Room
1508 E Helen
Tucson, AZ 85721
United States
Located on the SE corner of Helen Street and Vine Avenue, one block north of Speedway and three blocks west of Campbell Ave.
