Hawaiian Studies (HWST) Graduate Courses

This is content from the Catalog 2019–2020 back issue. Please visit the current catalog for current information.

Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikōlani/College of Hawaiian Language (KHUOK)

Built upon a core commitment to Hawaiian language and culture education, Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikōlani provides courses that also address the broader world of indigenous peoples and the use of Hawaiian as an official medium of education for the State of Hawaiʻi. Courses are marked with an initial K (for Keʻelikōlani) followed by an appropriate alpha, e.g. HAW (Hawaiian), HWS (Hawaiian Studies), IND (Indigenous Studies), ANT (Anthropology), ED (Education), etc.

See How to read course descriptions for information about the formatting used.

HWST 661 Advanced Hawn Music (3) Examination of indigenous and foreign forms found in acculturated Hawaiian music. Pre: Admission to MA program in Hawaiian Language and Literature. Recommended: KHWS 462, 463.

HWST 662 Applied Hawaiian Chant (3) Applied study of the performance of various Hawaiian chant styles. Pre: Admission to MA program in Hawaiian Language and Literature. Recommended: KHWS 462, 463, 473, 474.

HWST 663 Traditional Hawn Literature (3) Focuses on indigenous oral and written literature forms and their relationship to folk tales. Pre: Admission to MA program in Hawaiian Language and Literature. Recommended: KHWS 462, 463.

HWST 664 European Influenced Hawn Lit (3) Hawaiian literature developed on European models such as biographies, late nineteenth-century histories and journals. Pre: Admission to MA program in Hawaiian Language and Literature. Recommended: KHWS 462, 463.

HWST 665 Ethnological & Hist Narratives (3) Descriptions written in Hawaiian regarding traditional Hawaiian culture and history. Cultural topics range from religion and court life to farming and fishing. Conducted in Hawaiian. Pre: Admission to MA program in Hawaiian Language and Literature. Recommended: KHWS 463; ANTH 385, HWST 213, 663.

HWST 690 Study in Overseas Ind Lg Comm (3) Individual off-campus field work experience in an overseas endangered indigenous language community. Participant-observation and interviewing to learn about endangered status of the language and ongoing revitalization work. Comparison to Hawaiian as an endangered language.


HWST x94 Special Topics in Subject Matter (Arr.) Special topics chosen by the instructor. Course content will vary. May be repeated for credit, provided that a different topic is studied. Additional requirements may apply depending on subject and topic.

HWST x99 Directed Studies (Arr.) Statement of planned reading or research required. Pre: instructor’s consent.

Additional Courses

Also see the HWST undergraduate-level courses.