ENV 131 - Intro to Environmental Issues in Hawaii

2 credit(s)
This pre-trip course for Environmental Issues in Hawaii (ENV 132) will use readings, lecture, and discussion to introduce students to Hawaiian culture and the plant and animal communities of the Hawaiian island arc. Participants will learn about common species in local habitats ranging from the coast to the forested volcanoes. We will use ecology, life history, and behavior to build frameworks that define tropical terrestrial and marine communities. We will explore Hawaiian history and investigate the cultural connections that bind Hawaiian people such as the kua’ina to the natural world. By identifying connections between culture, geology, climate and the biotic realm, students will gain a better understanding of the interplay between people and this unique landscape.
Core Requirement(s): International and Diverse Perspectives; Sustainability.