Available Courses

In this course, students will be introduced to computers and the components of a business information system. Students will have “hands-on” exposure to office productivity applications and learn how information technology can be applied to satisfy business needs.

WRI 1200 continues WRI 1100’s focus on writing. This course will delve deeper into research, integrating, synthesizing and attributing research as well as the art of argumentation. Students will write a research paper synthesizing information from a variety of evaluated sources to support a logical and organized argument. In addition students will accurately credit sources following the latest MLA and APA guidelines.

Hawaiian 1 emphasizes skills in listening, reading, writing, and speaking so that students can communicate effectively in various situations which range from exchanging greetings to providing information about themselves, family, friends, school, etc. Hawaiian culture is integrated throughout the course.

Hawaiian 2 continues to emphasize the four skill areas of listening, speaking, reading and writing. Greater emphasis is placed on accuracy of pronunciation, expanding vocabulary and learning more complex grammatical structures in new situations that may be culturally relevant.

One goal of the intermediate language course is to consolidate and improve previously developed communication skills. A second logical goal is to apply the maturing skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing through class assignments or individual projects. Much of the class will be conducted in Spanish. Students may be required to purchase a workbook – approximately $25.00.

Honors Spanish 4 will expand on what was learned in level 3 and focus on specific student needs. Students will refine their language and critical thinking skills through the discussion and analysis of literature, history, and cinema. Language aside, students should find that much of the work in fourth-year Spanish is similar to the rigor of their high school English courses. This course should help students perform well on university placement exams or the SAT II. Students may be required to purchase a workbook – approximately $28.00.

This semester course provides an overview of the foundational elements of cinema studies, covering the technical, historical, and theoretical aspects of the field. Course topics include: cinematography, editing, production design, primitive cinema, classical cinema, the function of genre, avant-garde film, and documentary film. Components emphasized include the language of film studies and the early history of film.

Calculus, the mathematical study of change, is a branch that goes beyond what algebra and geometry offer. Calculus is required for degrees in science, economics, business, engineering, computer science, medical and dental school, and even an MBA. This course is intended for students who have successfully completed math courses through Pre-Calculus. Topics covered include: review of Pre-Calculus, limits, continuity, derivatives, integrals, applications of derivatives and integrals, finding area between two curves, and volumes of revolution. This course covers material found in a typical first semester college calculus course. The dual credit curriculum will follow college standards, therefore the pace and rigor will be different from the high school curriculum. Courses offered for Calculus dual credit include both MATH 2214 & MATH 2215 taught at any college/university. Grading methods may be different than those of the traditional Kamehameha math class.

Elementary linear algebra with applications in the sciences, to computers and economics. Topics include: systems of linear equations; matrix theory, determinants and eigenvalues, geometry of Euclidean nspace; abstract vector spaces, bases, linear independence, and spanning sets, linear transformations, null space and range, diagonalization of matrices; eigenvalues and eigenvectors. Upon successful completion of the course, students will: 1. Know and apply the definition of span, arguing algebraically and geometrically 2. Know and apply the definitions of linear dependence and independence 3. Take matrices to RREF, identify matrices in RREF 4. Solve systems of equations or show there is no solution, including the use of parametric form 5. Compute with matrices and vectors (scalar multiply, add multiply, find inverses, determinants) 6. Know and apply the definition of linear transformation, identify linear or nonlinear transformations, find the matrix of a linear transformation 7. Determine whether a set is a basis, find a basis of sample 8. Find or change coordinates 9. Find eigenvalues, eigenvectors, diagonalize a matrix if possible.

Pre-Calculus emphasizes the essential concepts needed to pursue the study of calculus and other advanced math courses. The course is intended for students who are on a Calculus track and are interested in a STEM related field of study after high school. Students should enter the course having acquired a strong command of algebraic properties, an understanding of common algebraic functions and their graphs and exhibit inductive and deductive reasoning techniques. Topics covered include a review of quadratic, polynomial, rational, exponential and logarithmic functions, , inverse functions, sequences and series, trigonometric functions, conic sections, polar coordinates, complex numbers, and limits. We also seek to develop the studentʻs analytical thinking and problem solving skills in preparation for their transition to Calculus.

This course is recommended for students who have successfully completed Algebra 1A/1B, Geometry A/B, and Algebra 2A/2B, although Algebra 2A/2B is not a requirement.
Statistics is the grammar of science. To be fluent in life, knowing how to interpret and communicate mathematically is a valuable life skill. This is an introductory course to topics in probability and statistics. Topics include conditional probability, binomial probability, measures of central tendency, variability, sampling, and analyzing data.

No previous experience is necessary. The main goal of this course is to introduce the young person to the world of theatre and its elements. Acting fundamentals include the basic understanding of the acting process and how it is applied to stage and film across world cultures. This process involves preparation, observation, imagination, memorization, concentration, characterization, analysis of text, critiquing, trusting your instincts, learning to appreciate the aesthetic values of other cultures, and a willingness to take risks.
Technical theatre, script writing and directing are but a few of the supplementary topics covered in this course. Activities include theatre games, improvisation, scene and character study as it pertains to storytelling and cultural/ historic background, monologue and scene acting, set design and construction, lighting and peer critique.

This is an active, hands-on course that provides students many opportunities to plan, prepare, and taste a great variety of healthy, delicious foods from around the world. Students will learn the how-to of proper food selection and preparation, the principles of good nutrition, healthy meal planning, and lots of creative ways to cook simple, scrumptious meals. Learning tools include food lab activities, demonstrations, videos, guest speakers/demonstrators, videos, lectures, independent research, and field trips.
REQUIRED PURCHASE: Students will be responsible for one foreign food demonstration at their own expense.

– Fulfills 1.0 credit towards KHS science graduation requirement.
– Three (3) HPU Dual Credits for PHYS 1020 will ONLY be earned during semester 2.
Astronomy is the scientific study of the contents of the entire universe. This introductory course enables students to develop and apply knowledge of the universe and compare the conditions, properties, and motions of bodies in space. The content includes, but is not limited to, historical astronomy, astronomical instruments, the celestial sphere, the solar system, the earth as a system in space, the earth/moon system, the sun as a star, and stars. Emphasis shall be placed on concepts basic to Earth, including materials, processes, history, and the environment. Astronomy is a dual-credit, elective course offered in partnership with HawaiÔi Pacific University (HPU). The course satisfies the graduation requirements of Kamehameha Schools High School Science, as well as requirements for Physics 1020 (Astronomy) at HawaiÔi Pacific University.

– Fulfills 1.0 credit towards KHS science graduation requirement.
– Three (3) HPU Dual Credits for BIOL 2170 will ONLY be earned during semester 2.
This lecture/lab course will have two major areas of focus: 1. Identification of Flowering Plant Families, and 2. Propagation of plants. Emphasis will be placed on part and important Angiosperm families, as well as the flora of Hawai_i. Student will learn and apply their understanding of plant anatomy and evolution in the identification of unknown plants, and learn to propagate plants by seed, cuttings, air layering, and grafting.

– Enrollment must be concurrent with Algebra 2A or higher, or instructor approval. – Three (3) HPU Dual Credits for CHEM 1000 will ONLY be earned during semester 2.
Honors Chemistry is a rigorous lab-based course covering topics including: atomic structure, chemical reactions, kinetics, equilibrium, thermodynamics, periodic trends, gas laws, bonding, acids and bases, electrochemistry, and nuclear chemistry. Students are expected to study extra hours outside the classroom and have stronger math skills. Students are required to have a scientific calculator.

In this transdisciplinary course, hauma_na will learn about local and global sustainability challenges and will brainstorm and enact meaningful solutions. Students will build STEM skills and explore STEM career pathways. They will engage in ___ina-based projects and lessons that will challenge their scientific and mathematical skills while applying engineering design concepts and multiple forms of technology, like digital software and physical tools/equipment. Haum__na will take a deeper dive into the problems involving wai, kai, ikehu (energy), and ___pala and brainstorm possible solutions that could help create more sustainable futures. Additionally, haum__na will create a virtual STEM portfolio to showcase their deep thinking and learning throughout the year.

This very rigorous course is meant to expose students to varying institutions, perspectives, and philosophies relating to power and government. This rigorous course prepares students to begin studies leading towards degrees and careers in government, law, community organizing, and other fields. This course has a particular emphasis on the politics of Hawai_i, both in the present and past. Students will also create or participate in a civic-engagement project by the end of the course.

DC Honors World Civilizations is a very rigorous course that seeks to critically analyze and examine the ways in which we understand the past. It also recognizes the implications that those perspectives have on our present and future. During the first semester, students will learn more about early human history along with the development of complex societies around the world until the 1500s. In the second semester, students will examine cultural interactions between different societies from the 1500s until the present by identifying changes and continuities that have existed within communities, networks, and the way that goods have been produced and distributed as a response to globalization. In addition to the rigorous content that will be learned, students will cultivate historical thinking skills by evaluating various primary and secondary sources which will enable them to recognize nuances in the way that the past is interpreted and explained. Also, this is a reading and writing-intensive course that will require students to develop historical claims that are supported by strong factual evidence and sound reasoning.
*Pending NCAA designation

In this college-level course, students will understand the history of the International System, International Relations (IR) as a discipline as well as the major theories of IR. Students will also learn about theory – what it is and different kinds of theories. Equipped with this fundamental knowledge, you will then explore the key topics forming the core of International Relations:
the evolution of sovereign states,
the causes of war and conflict
the struggle for peace and international organizations international political economy
Other topics which may be covered under the label of International Relations, but this course is designed as a complete introduction to give students a solid knowledge and understanding of the core elements of the discipline.

This course will investigate the history of women in America and the role of gender in society. The first half of the course will focus on how women played an active role in shaping American society despite obstacles, focusing predominantly after the Civil War to the present. While recognizing larger trends and identifying common experiences, this course also highlights the individual stories of women in the national narrative. Additionally, this course will examine how gender, race, class, and religion played an important part in shaping U.S. History. The second semester will focus on Women and Gender Studies and many of the issues will show the correlation between the past and current events. Examples of topics include perceptions of beauty, gendered violence, and LGBTQ+ issues. Students will be engaged primarily in independent work, with cooperative learning activities and discussions. This course will be reading and writing intensive.

Psychology is a science that seeks to answer questions about us allÑ how and why we think, feel, and act as we do. Dual Credit Psychology is a college foundation course in which students will develop the skills and knowledge of the science of human behavior. The course will include the analysis and discussion of case studies, applying concepts through project based activities, and incorporating critical thinking skills through the exploration and research of human behavioral issues. Topics of study include psychological research methods, neuroscience, forms of consciousness, human development, intelligence, motivation, personality, and social and clinical psychology. Mature and sensitive content will be a part of the course.

This course is designed for students who have an interest in learning about the field of broadcast journalism and/or are considering careers in communication. The purpose of this course is to develop awareness and literacy of media and information. Classwork requires analyzing media from cable news networks, Internet news networks, social networking websites, aggregation news resources, vanguard journalism, and participatory journalism sites. Students will also be required to create news stories suitable for television broadcast based on the following skill sets:

PRE-PRODUCTION
• pitching a news story
• researching topic and writing a formal broadcast script
• preparing interview questions
• storyboarding news story
• resource coordination and scheduling
PRODUCTION
• Investigative reporting – (interviews, stand-ups and voice-overs)
• Gathering additional reporting materials – (b-roll and graphics)
• Filming news story via studio equipment (video and audio)
POST PRODUCTION
• final news package via editing software

Job and personal interviewing are requirements of this course. Students in this course are required to participate as a News Anchor on the live daily school broadcast “Puka Mai Ka Lā.” The Speech Department and Video Production Department collaboratively teach this course.

This studio course is for the beginner and includes projects designed for the more advanced student artist. Through demonstration and practice the student will use a variety of materials with an emphasis on skill development, design, creativity, and originality as a means of enhancing self-expression. Students will create artwork from still-life set-ups, human models, photographs and from the imagination. Students will experience the various qualities of the drawn line produced by the graphite pencil, charcoal, pen and ink, colored pencils and pastels. Students will learn about the application of materials and techniques of painting in various media including inks, watercolor, and acrylics. Students will learn to plan and organize the drawing and painting process from conception to sketches to the finished product. Students will be able to convey emotions and make philosophical statements in the content of the artwork. Guidance will be provided on the search for provoking subject matters of student interest. Student artworks from the class will be exhibited and may be used in school publications.

Through the exploration of the camera as a storytelling tool, students learn the fundamentals of both still photography and moving images in video This is a one-semester course exposing students to DSLR cameras and editing programs to shoot and edit both still images and videos, record sound, and utilize the principles of design and composition. With that said, visual stories arenʻt just about aesthetics and equipment, but communicating ideas effectively, which takes skill, practice, and experimentation. This also requires students to self-reflect and develop skills to critically analyze and interpret their work and the work of others.

While the objective for the course is to expose students to the technical aspects of digital still photography and videography, the larger goal is for students to gain a voice and identity as a Hawaiian and their role in our global society as a media content creator. Through the interactions with digital media, students develop skills in Innovation and Creativity as well as Growth Mindset. Projects also focus on the exploration of ʻIke Kūpuna and the importance of moʻolelo and storytelling as a foundation for the technical camera skills in this course.

Class periods will consist primarily of lectures, demos, hands-on learning with cameras and editing programs, as well as critiques to share and discuss projects. Most units will revolve around a series of photographic and video projects, helping students build portfolio materials and explore different techniques, artists, and genres.

The ability to visually document and communicate an idea is a versatile skill. Skills gained in this class are also useful for other Visual Arts courses (like Digital Photography or Photography) or media courses such as Ka Naʻi Aupuni (yearbook), Kā Mōʻī (the school newspaper), Puka Mai Ka Lā, and Video Production. Students considering the fields of the fine arts, photography, computer graphics, advertising, marketing, business, journalism, or communications will find this course valuable.