BELL: Hawai'i: Program Details
Environmental Ecology and Hawaiian Culture for High School Students
This Spring, the Brown Leadership Institute will return to Hawai'i to study its environment and culture. Students will study the island's biological, ecological and cultural diversity through a core curriculum of marine science, volcanology and Hawaiian culture.
Approximately 1,500 years ago Polynesian voyagers sailed thousands of miles to the islands using the stars, waves, wind and birds as their primary navigational tools. Since then the island has been home to a rich mix of traditions, languages and practices from the Polynesian, Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, American and European cultures.
Our program focuses on the interdependence of land, sea, and the life systems they support.
The first half of this course will take place in Volcanoes National Park, where students will explore the dynamic geological processes which continue to shape the island.
The second part of the program is based on the shoreline north of Kona providing the perfect site for investigating marine life and the ways in which the sea has transformed life on the Island.
Brown has partnered with The Kohala Center to offer this rigorous program for exceptionally motivated pre-college students with interests in science, leadership, and cultural studies. The Kohala Center links together a diverse network of Island-based institutions with expertise in the physical and cultural sciences, education, and history. Brown University and The Kohala Center are committed to helping Hawai'i residents preserve and enhance the intellectual, cultural, and natural assets of the Island.
In this course, students will:
- Investigate the geological processes which form the chain of Hawaiian islands
- Explore native Hawaiian culture, traditions and legends by spending time with hula instructors, local botanists and story tellers
- Hike through Volcano National Park and observe steam vents, lava tubes, calderas and kipukas
- Observe the lava flow at night-(depends on weather and lava flow)
- Be welcomed at the Kilauea Volcano through a traditional Hawaiian ritual
- Hike through dramatic rainforests and learn about the geological forces which shape this coast line.
- Explore the differences in climate and observe changes in vegetation and wildlife in tropical rainforests, dryland forests, and maritime environments
- Kayak and snorkel and observe the amazing biodiversity of a coral reef
Please be aware that due to the island’s active volcano, high concentrations of volcanic gas and ash can be found in certain areas of the island. Those with asthma or other types of respiratory illnesses are advised to consult with a physician regarding their program participation and follow physician recommendations. If applicable, please come prepared with appropriate medications.
Additional information about these environmental conditions, can be found at http://governor.hawaii.gov/emergency-information/important-information-about-vog/
Your program fee includes:
- Tuition fee for all courses
- All lodging as part of the course
- Breakfasts, lunches, and dinners
- All transportation, field trips and site visits as described in the program description
- Transfer from/to airport on day of arrival and departure
Your Program fee does not include:
- Air travel to Hilo International Airport and from Kona International Airport
- Pre/post-program accommodations