HAWAII ~ Course Description
Hawaii Orientation
Hawaii is your gateway to the Pacific. With complex cultural influences from Asia and far-off Pacific Island Nations, Hawaii dazzles visitors with its cultural diversity and natural beauty. We here at I.C.E. recognize that within a program such as this, the students who enroll hail from different regions, backgrounds and sets of experiences. Hawaii will be our gathering place: a place of coming together as a group to explore our own diversity and commonalities. We all have unique reasons for embarking on this journey, and it will be a focal point during our orientation period to explore these motivations. Over the first few days of the program, group-building exercises, an overview of the course itinerary, and program rules and regulations will be covered. Below are some of the places, people, and topics that may be covered in our orientation period. Most often times we begin the program in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. In semesters where we are running multiple programs at the same time, a group may begin their studies in Hilo. Orientation now runs for the first twelve days of the program. We have extended this from the duration specified in the older brochure so that we may more fully introduce the great diversity of I.C.E.'s home base and allow for more time to come together as a group before splitting up for the internship period. During orientation, we will visit several, but not necessarily all, of the locales specified below.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
A key component of our orientation period will take place in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. As you travel southwest from Hilo to the Park, we invite you to note the change in vegetation as you leave the humid lowlands for the cooler mountain slopes. On the flanks of Kilauea, the world's most active volcano, you will see the real Hawaii: up close and personal.
During the week, early risers have a chance to walk to the caldera rim and catch a glimpse of the fire goddess Pele in all her glory. Discover volcanic blocks and bombs, Pele's hair, lapilli and an assortment of geological products. Ponder magnificent cinder cones as you stand at the base of a mountain of ash created from towering fountains of liquid earth. Descend into lava tubes and listen to the steady drip of water percolate down through porous rock. A hike across Halemaumau Crater where the goddess Pele resides will provide an experiential glimpse of the ideas shared during the lectures. A video presentation on Pele's destruction of the nearby town of Kalapana allows for spirited discussions on whether Pele acts out of vengeance or whether she is a purely natural phenomenon. Add depth to your on-foot investigation with a visit to the Jagger Museum located on the rim of Kilauea. Learn to identify rock types found within the Park and read about mythological battles waged in the Hawaiian pantheon. The culminating experience of our inquiry into Hawaii volcanoes will come in the form of an evening hike along the coastline to the point where lava is flowing into Pacific Ocean waters. Stand footsteps away from the active flow.
The Park is not all lava rock however. A diverse Hawaiian rainforest covers a good portion of the landscape. Enjoy a day with a Hawaiian biologist and enter a rainforest world rich in biodiversity. The plight of native Hawaiian birds will be of special interest. As the remotest island chain in the world, Hawaii is vulnerable to outside threats such as the feral pig and mongoose. Learn firsthand about what you can do to preserve this last piece of paradise.
Finally, add breadth to you island understanding with presentations from guest speakers on commerce, ecology, and Hawaiian history. Interspersed between presentations will be recreational activities to include ultimate frisbee, day-hikes and ever-popular hackie sack contests.
Hilo
Your orientation continues in the city of Hilo. Enjoy a walk through the historic downtown and shop at the farmer's market. Visit the Tsunami Museum and learn firsthand about how nature's fury punished this small seaside town. Finally, enjoy protected Hilo Bay and look for rainbows in this, the rainiest city in America.
Waipio Valley
A one-hour drive delivers you to Waipio Valley for an unforgettable day hike over ancient trails, through high coastal forests, against the backdrop of some the world's most spectacular scenery. Visit waterfalls, taro patches, ancient temples, and time permitting, ongoing archaeological excavations. Talk to local residents whose families have tilled the fertile lands for centuries. And watch surfers defy the mighty breaks at the mouth of the bay.
Kona Coast
The Kona Coast is the keeper of many dry land attractions. En-route, stopover at Parker Ranch-Hawaii's largest cattle ranch-and hear from resident paniolos (Hawaiian cowboys) about life on the range. Further up the coast, walk through an ancient fishing village whose stonewalls remain in place and whose spirit yet touches the sensitive visitor. Other highlights include an exploration of Kailua, the main city on the dry side of the Big Island. And, as Kona Coast waters are among the clearest in the islands, don the snorkel and mask and enter a water world unlike any you have ever seen.
Hakalau
Selected I.C.E. groups will have the opportunity to visit the largest wildlife refuge in Hawaii. Home to our Native Hawaii Now internship, students will have a chance to contribute their labor and knowledge in a three-day reforestation effort. The refuge is home to some of the rarest bird species in the world. Join the refuge manager on a walk through time.
