At Kamehameha Schools Maui, high school social studies courses focus on content in specific areas such as culture, history, geography, government, individuals and society and economics. While one of these discipline areas may be the major focus of an individual course, other discipline areas may serve in supporting roles or could be completely integrated into the study of the primary discipline. In each course, however, students develop skills for thinking, skills for inquiry and research, and skills for participation in a democratic society.
Moʻomeheu Hawaiʻi – Hawaiian Culture [MH03204] – Semester A/B
0.5 Credits. This course is an introduction to the culture of the Hawaiian people. Areas to be covered during the course include: 1) the natural world and Hawaiian attitudes toward nature, 2) the structure of traditional society and the various roles of its classes and citizens, 3) the traditional philosophies as expressed in our moÿolelo – our history, and 4) a general history of our namesake and father of the Hawaiian nation, Kamehameha. Emphasis will be placed on a critical analysis of the Hawaiian worldview and the relevance of traditional philosophy to our contemporary society. Required for all freshmen.
U.S. History [MH03165] – Semester Daily
1 Credit. This course examines the development of the United States through historical concepts of change, continuity, and causality. It requires students to judge the past on its own terms, not by present day or current standards, to understand people in the context of their times, and to also understand that standards and ideas are constantly changing. Students will examine key ideas, events, people, and movements in the United States, assisting them in developing their own personal, national, and world views necessary to make informed decisions. Required for all Sophomores.standards and ideas are constantly changing. Students will examine key ideas, events, people, and movements in the United States, assisting them in developing their own personal, national, and world views necessary to make informed decisions. Required for all sophomores.
World History [MH03170] – Semester Daily
1 Credit. This introductory course is designed to understand the record of the adventures of humankind throughout the world. Topics discussed will be themes of political change and economic development, the influence of geography on cultures, growth of science and technology, effects of contact between people of various civilizations and countries, and creativity in the arts. Students will engage in a variety of learning activities that encourage interaction and participation, as well as independent work. Required for all juniors.
Moʻolelo Hawaiʻi – Hawaiian History [MH03202] – Semester Daily
1 Credit. This course gives students an historical understanding of the people and events from Kamehameha on that gave shape to who we are as contemporary Hawaiians. Students will learn about pre-contact society and the changes which gave shape to our modern conception of ancient Hawaiʻi. They will study the effects of Westernization and colonization on Hawaiian political, social and economic systems. They will examine the specific events which led to the overthrow, annexation and subsequent admission to the Union as the 50th state, as well as the range of issues facing Hawaiians today, including the quest for sovereignty, challenges to Hawaiian entitlements and defining Hawaiian identity. Students will be challenged to formulate their own opinions on issues and take stands for what they believe in. Required for all seniors.
Modern World History [MH03157] – Semester Daily
1.0 Credit. Modern World History is broad in scope and focuses on ways in which geography, culture, government, and specialized labor have interacted to create the world in which we live today. The course investigates major events of human history chronologically from 1789 A.D. to the present, studying the 19th and 20th Centuries to understand their impacts on our 21st Century world. Topics include the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars, the Industrial Revolution, the two World Wars, the Great Depression, the Cold War, the Technology Revolution, and the modern clash between Western Civilization and the Islamic world. Students will identify important people, places, events, and philosophical theories; think critically about both sides of issues; debate issues using cause and effect; interpret problems involving the political spectrum; and write complete and thoughtful essays. Prerequisite: U.S. History.