Pacific Islands Studies Certificate

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The interdisciplinary Pacific Islands Studies Certificate Program is an adjunct to a student’s academic major. Students will have an opportunity to deepen their knowledge of Pacific Island environments, cultures, political-economy and history. Course work in the certificate program focuses on the Pacific as a complex region of island states and territories with common regional concerns, and reviews the problems and prospects of island peoples in the contemporary world.

Certificate program students will have the opportunity to attend guest lectures by visiting experts on a range of Pacific Island related issues and will be encouraged to participate in Pacific-themed social events. Certificate program students will also be able to take advantage on occasion of the Center for Pacific Island Education (located in the UH Hilo Campus Center). The Center will provide a space for Pacific Islander students to gather to study, socialize and support one another, as well as enable other students regardless of their ethnic background to learn about the Pacific Islands and its rich histories, cultures, and contemporary issues.

Students will be required to take 12 credits of core classes and 9 elective credits.

Pacific Islands Studies Certificate Faculty and Staff

Besio, Kathryn J, Ph.D., University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Geography
Inglis, Kerri A, Ph.D., University of Hawaii at Manoa, History
Kawelu, Kathleen L.
Luangphinith, Seri I., Ph.D., University of Oregon, Post-Colonial Theory and Literature and Pacific Islands Literature
McDermid Smith, Karla J., Ph.D., University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Biology of Marine Plants
Mellon, James P “Jim”
Mills, Peter R., Ph.D., Univ. of California, Berkeley, Archaeology, historic archaeology, lithics, website