http://www.hawaiitokai.edu/modules/news/article.php?storyid=69

In September 2009, Dr. Rob Vaughan took the students of his HIST 284 "History of the Hawaiian Islands" class on a fieldtrip to four sites that are representative of the Hawaiian cultural history of the 1600s, 1700s, 1800s, and 1900s.

The trip began with a driving tour from HTIC through urban Honolulu and up through The Nu`uanu Valley. Along the way students were shown where significant events in Hawaiian history had taken place and place names were explained. At Kaniakapupu, King Kamehameha III’s Summer House in the Nu`uanu Valley, the students explored the ruins of the home and the surrounding grounds, including the ruins of a heiau.

At the Pali Overlook, students visited the site of the climax of the Battle of Nu`uanu where the army of King Kamehameha the Great defeated the Oahu defenders, uniting the Islands under one ruler for the first time.

At Waikalua Loko in Kane`ohe students explored the partially restored Hawaiian fishpond. This gave students a good feel about what a Native Hawaiian ahupua`a looked like in the time before Western contact.

Before going back to the campus, the group made a final stop at Waiola Shave Ice in McCully for a cold treat. Here they encountered a delicious example of local culture, one that grew out of Hawai`i’s plantation experience and the influx of Japanese immigrants.

The fieldtrip provided students with an up-close experience of Hawaiian history by allowing them to explore the actual sites where some of the most important events and cultural activities took place.

http://www.hawaiitokai.edu/modules/news/article.php?storyid=67

Dr Robert Arakaki gave students of his Religion 150 "Introduction to the World’s Major Religions" class a chance to experience some of the major religions of the world first-hand during the 2009 Summer Session.

The class embarked on a number of course-related fieldtrips, which included visits to the Temple Emmanu-El to learn about Jewish beliefs and worship by seeing a Jewish synagogue and its artifacts; the Greek Orthodox Church (Eastern Orthodox) and Central Union Church (Protestant) to experience the diversity of Christian churches by contrasting Eastern Orthodox Christianity with Protestant Christianity; the Hare Krishna Temple to experience Hinduism by visiting one of its temples, taking part in a music demonstration, and eating a vegetarian meal; Honpa Hongwanji (Mahayana) and the Lao Buddhists Society (Theravada) to experience diversity of Buddhist temples and compare Mahayana Buddhism with Theravada Buddhism; and finally, to the Ulupo Heiau, an ancient site for Hawaiian worship to experience the spirituality of the aina and learn about Kane and Kanaloa.

http://www.hawaiitokai.edu/modules/news/article.php?storyid=68

MUS 106 "Introduction to Music Literature" instructor, Dr. Sun Hee Koo, accompanied her class to the music department of UH Mānoa in September 2009 in support of HTIC's goal to promote cross-cultural awareness among its student body. The music students were introduced to the instruments of the Indonesian Javanese gamelan culture and learned to play a short music piece of Javanese origin on three different types of gamelan instruments. At the end of this activity, HTIC students were able to create an ensemble sound by playing a short Javanese melody.

The second part of the field trip was devoted to an introduction to the UH Music Department's world music collection. Dr. Koo introduced her students to the collection of various world instruments stored in the UH music department. This experience offered students a chance to gain a relativistic view toward cross-cultural differences and awareness of diverse global music scenes.

http://www.hawaiitokai.edu/modules/news/article.php?storyid=70

On September 15, Professor Jeffrey Mead accompanied the Liberal Arts' students of his SPEECH 151 "Personal and Public Speech" class to the Hawaii Judiciary History Center at the Hawaii State Supreme Court.

Students visited Aliiolani Hale, home of the judicial branch of the Hawaii state government, which houses the Hawaii State Supreme Court, the Law Library and the King Kamehameha V Judiciary History Center. The students learned about traditional Hawaiian concepts of law and the development of a Western judicial system from Education Specialist, Mr. Keahe Davis.

As part of an "active learning" activity, students were divided into two groups and asked to participate in two short scripted mock-trials, entitled "Furious Riding" and "Oni vs. Meek." They also participated in a follow-up discussion. Each mock trial was based on authentic 19th century court cases.

With two of HTIC's learning outcomes in mind—effective oral communication and critical thinking—the Speech 151 students learned about the importance of rhetoric and public speech in the debate and discussion of law, policies, and the justice system. They also learned about the important role each individual serves in a courtroom situation.