SSM 310: Tradition and Sustainability: Learning from the Past to Create a Sustainable Hawai`i

For many years islands have been recognized as natural laboratories for sustainability. The Hawaiian archipelago in particular with its combination of geographical isolation and variable resource distribution provide an opportunity to understand the challenges and opportunities a society faces on its path to sustainability. This course looks at sustainability in three related contexts. The first section explores the historical context of various strategies Pacific Islanders, and Hawaiians in particular, implemented to regulate and enhance natural resources. The second section explores the current state of Hawaiian ecosystems, with a particular emphasis on ecological restoration in the context of natural resource management. The final section will focus on the issue of resiliency, particularly in light of the challenges faced by a changing climate.