Course outline
Module 1
Module 1: Introduction to Hawaiian History
Introduction to Hawaiian History
Knowledge check
Q1. What is the name of the ancient Hawaiian system of governance that was based on a hierarchy of chiefs and commoners?
- A. Alii system ✓
- B. Makahiki system
- C. Kahiko system
- D. Moʻolelo system
Why: The Alii system was the traditional Hawaiian governance structure that organized society into a hierarchy led by aliʻi (chiefs) and included commoners (kānaka maoli).
Q2. Which of the following is a traditional Hawaiian canoe used for fishing and voyaging?
- A. Waʻa kaulua
- B. Waʻa kahoa
- C. Waʻa hōkūleʻa ✓
- D. Waʻa moʻo
Why: The waʻa hōkūleʻa is a traditional Hawaiian voyaging canoe that was used for long-distance navigation and fishing.
Q3. What is the name of the Hawaiian New Year festival that celebrated the harvest and featured games, competitions, and feasting?
- A. Kāhiko
- B. Makahiki ✓
- C. Hula
- D. Lanai
Why: Makahiki was the traditional Hawaiian New Year festival that marked the beginning of the agricultural season and included various cultural activities.
Q4. Which of the following is a traditional Hawaiian art form that involves storytelling through dance and movement?
- A. Kapa
- B. Hula ✓
- C. Koa
- D. Lauhala
Why: Hula is a traditional Hawaiian dance that tells stories through movement, chants, and rhythm, often accompanied by instruments like the pahu (drum).
Q5. What is the name of the Hawaiian language?
- A. Hawaiki
- B. Hawaiian
- C. ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi ✓
- D. Kānaka maoli
Why: The Hawaiian language is called ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, which means 'the language of Hawaiʻi'.
Module 2
Module 2: Hawaiian Language and Oral Traditions
Hawaiian Language and Oral Traditions
Knowledge check
Q1. What is the native language of Hawaii?
- A. English
- B. Hawaiian ✓
- C. Spanish
- D. French
Why: Hawaiian is the native language of Hawaii and is an official language of the state.
Q2. What is a traditional Hawaiian story called?
- A. Song
- B. Hula
- C. Kanaka
- D. Mōʻolelo ✓
Why: Mōʻolelo refers to traditional Hawaiian stories, which are an important part of Hawaiian oral traditions.
Q3. What is the term for a Hawaiian chant?
- A. Hula
- B. Mele ✓
- C. Kahiko
- D. Hōkūleʻa
Why: Mele is the term for a Hawaiian chant, which can be spiritual, historical, or celebratory in nature.
Q4. Which of the following is a Hawaiian language alphabet?
- A. Latin
- B. Greek
- C. Hawaiian ✓
- D. Cyrillic
Why: The Hawaiian language uses its own alphabet, which includes letters like ʻ and ʻokina, unique to Hawaiian.
Q5. What is the significance of oral traditions in Hawaiian culture?
- A. They are used for entertainment only
- B. They preserve history and knowledge ✓
- C. They are not important anymore
- D. They are only for children
Why: Oral traditions in Hawaiian culture are vital for preserving history, knowledge, and values passed down through generations.
Module 3
Module 3: Native Hawaiian Governance and Sovereignty
Native Hawaiian Governance and Sovereignty
Knowledge check
Q1. What is the term used to describe the traditional system of Native Hawaiian governance before Western contact?
- A. Aliʻi system ✓
- B. Kahiko system
- C. Makahiki system
- D. Moʻolelo system
Why: The Aliʻi system refers to the traditional governance structure led by aliʻi (chiefs) who held political and spiritual authority over their people and land.
Q2. Which of the following is a key principle of Native Hawaiian sovereignty?
- A. Colonialism
- B. Self-determination ✓
- C. Assimilation
- D. Land privatization
Why: Self-determination is a core principle of Native Hawaiian sovereignty, emphasizing the right of Native Hawaiians to govern themselves and make decisions about their culture, land, and future.
Q3. What event is often cited as the beginning of the end of Native Hawaiian sovereignty?
- A. The arrival of Captain Cook
- B. The signing of the Treaty of Paris
- C. The annexation of Hawaii
- D. The overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy ✓
Why: The overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy in 1893 marked a significant turning point, leading to the eventual annexation of Hawaii by the United States and the loss of Native Hawaiian sovereignty.
Q4. What is the name of the legal framework that recognizes Native Hawaiian rights and self-governance?
- A. The Hawaiian Reconciliation Act
- B. The Native Hawaiian Governance Act ✓
- C. The Hawaiian Sovereignty Act
- D. The Hawaiian Restoration Act
Why: The Native Hawaiian Governance Act (NHGA) is a legal framework that supports the establishment of a self-governing Native Hawaiian organization and recognizes their rights and self-determination.
Q5. What is the primary goal of the Hawaiian sovereignty movement today?
- A. To return Hawaii to the United States
- B. To establish an independent Hawaiian nation
- C. To promote Hawaiian culture and language
- D. To restore Native Hawaiian rights and self-governance ✓
Why: The primary goal of the Hawaiian sovereignty movement is to restore Native Hawaiian rights, self-governance, and the recognition of their people as a distinct and sovereign nation.
Module 4
Module 4: Hula and Traditional Hawaiian Performing Arts
Hula and Traditional Hawaiian Performing Arts
Knowledge check
Q1. What is the primary purpose of hula in traditional Hawaiian culture?
- A. To entertain only the elite class
- B. To tell stories and preserve history and genealogy ✓
- C. To compete in athletic events
- D. To serve as a form of modern dance for tourism
Why: Hula is a traditional Hawaiian dance that serves as a means of storytelling, preserving history, genealogy, and spiritual beliefs.
Q2. Which of the following is NOT a traditional instrument used in hula performances?
- A. Pahu (drum)
- B. Ukulele
- C. Taro root ✓
- D. Hōkūleʻa (canoe)
Why: Taro root is a food source, not an instrument used in hula performances.
Q3. What is the significance of the movements in hula?
- A. They are random and have no meaning
- B. They represent the movements of nature and the world ✓
- C. They are used only for showing strength and agility
- D. They are designed to mimic the movements of animals
Why: The movements in hula are symbolic and represent elements of nature, the world, and Hawaiian cosmology.
Q4. Who is traditionally responsible for teaching hula?
- A. The king or queen
- B. The chief or leader of the community
- C. The kumu hula (hula teacher) ✓
- D. The priest or kahuna
Why: The kumu hula is the traditional teacher of hula, responsible for passing down the knowledge and traditions of the dance.
Q5. What is the name of the sacred chant that is often performed in hula?
- A. Mele ✓
- B. Hula
- C. Kahiko
- D. Hōkūleʻa
Why: Mele refers to the traditional Hawaiian chants that are often performed in hula, and they are an important part of the performance.
Module 5
Module 5: Hawaiian Navigation and Wayfinding
Hawaiian Navigation and Wayfinding
Knowledge check
Q1. What is the traditional Hawaiian method of navigation without the use of modern instruments?
- A. Using stars and the sun
- B. Wayfinding ✓
- C. Using maps
- D. Using compasses
Why: Wayfinding is the traditional Hawaiian method of navigation that relies on natural signs such as stars, ocean swells, and bird behavior.
Q2. Which celestial body was most important to Hawaiian navigators?
- A. The moon
- B. The sun
- C. The North Star
- D. The Pleiades ✓
Why: The Pleiades star cluster was one of the most important celestial markers used by Hawaiian navigators for long-distance voyaging.
Q3. What is the name of the ancient Hawaiian sailing vessel used for long voyages?
- A. Canoe
- B. Vaka
- C. Wa'a kaulua ✓
- D. Waka
Why: The wa'a kaulua is a traditional double-hulled canoe used by ancient Hawaiians for long voyages across the Pacific.
Q4. Which of the following is NOT a skill taught to wayfinders?
- A. Reading ocean swells
- B. Identifying cloud formations
- C. Using GPS devices ✓
- D. Recognizing bird behavior
Why: Wayfinders rely on natural signs and do not use modern technology like GPS devices.
Q5. What is the name of the ancient Hawaiian navigational system that uses stars, ocean swells, and bird behavior?
- A. Celestial navigation
- B. Wayfinding ✓
- C. Star navigation
- D. Ocean navigation
Why: Wayfinding is the comprehensive system used by ancient Hawaiians that includes stars, ocean swells, and bird behavior for navigation.
Module 6
Module 6: Cultural Practices and Modern Challenges
Cultural Practices and Modern Challenges
Knowledge check
Q1. What is a traditional Hawaiian practice that involves storytelling and music?
- A. Hula ✓
- B. Kapa making
- C. Lanai building
- D. Hōkūleʻa navigation
Why: Hula is a traditional Hawaiian practice that involves storytelling and music, often performed with chants and rhythmic movements.
Q2. Which of the following is a modern challenge faced by Hawaiian cultural practices?
- A. Increased tourism
- B. Language preservation
- C. Both A and B ✓
- D. None of the above
Why: Both increased tourism and language preservation are modern challenges faced by Hawaiian cultural practices.
Q3. What is the name of the traditional Hawaiian canoe used for long voyages?
- A. Waʻa kaulua
- B. Waʻa kīhikihi
- C. Waʻa moʻo
- D. Hōkūleʻa ✓
Why: The Hōkūleʻa is a traditional Hawaiian canoe used for long voyages and is famous for its modern revival of wayfinding.
Q4. Which Hawaiian language term means "the sacred?"
- A. ʻAloha
- B. ʻŌlelo
- C. ʻIina ✓
- D. ʻĀina
Why: The term "ʻIina" means "the sacred" in the Hawaiian language.
Q5. What is the significance of the Hawaiian festival called "Pāʻakai?"
- A. It celebrates the harvest
- B. It is a time for family reunions
- C. It honors the dead
- D. It is a festival of first fruits ✓
Why: Pāʻakai is a festival of first fruits, marking the beginning of the agricultural season and expressing gratitude to the land.
Module 7
Module 7: Environmental Stewardship in Hawaiian Culture
Environmental Stewardship in Hawaiian Culture
Knowledge check
Q1. What is the Hawaiian term for environmental stewardship?
- A. Kupuna
- B. Kiai ✓
- C. Hula
- D. Moʻolelo
Why: Kiai refers to the practice of environmental stewardship in Hawaiian culture, emphasizing the responsibility to care for the land and sea.
Q2. Which Hawaiian concept reflects the relationship between people and nature?
- A. ʻOhana
- B. ʻAina ✓
- C. Kūpuna
- D. Hānai
Why: ʻAina represents the land and is deeply connected to the Hawaiian people, reflecting a reciprocal relationship between humans and nature.
Q3. What is the primary purpose of a loko iʻa?
- A. To grow taro ✓
- B. To fish
- C. To store water
- D. To protect the environment
Why: A loko iʻa is a traditional Hawaiian fishpond used primarily for growing taro, demonstrating sustainable agricultural practices.
Q4. What is the significance of the Hawaiian concept of lokahi?
- A. It refers to the art of hula
- B. It represents harmony and balance ✓
- C. It is a type of canoe
- D. It is a sacred mountain
Why: Lokahi signifies harmony and balance, a core value in Hawaiian culture that emphasizes living in balance with the environment.
Q5. Which Hawaiian practice involves the careful management of natural resources for future generations?
- A. Hula
- B. Kiai ✓
- C. Kūpuna
- D. Moʻolelo
Why: Kiai is the practice of environmental stewardship that includes the careful management of natural resources for future generations.