The topics covered in Hawaiiana include the time period from the initial settlement of the island by Polynesian voyagers to the events which have shaped the islands of the present day. The class progresses chronologically, beginning with the ancient Greeks and ending with the world of 1990. This is a vast amount of material to cover and requires constant diligence and hard work by the student. The honors section, while covering the same content, is intended for students who intend to fulfill their history requirement by enrolling in AP courses such as AP US History or AP European History. Students are enrolled in the honors section partially based on their performance in Hawaiian History as ninth graders and their willingness to be placed in a second of world history featuring a faster pace and additional assignments, which are evaluated stringently.
Students can anticipate nightly homework assignments involving reading, writing or both.
They are expected to take notes in class and on reading assignments. Reading assignments will average six pages per night. Should students miss class for reasons other than illness, they will be responsible for any work assigned. In a fast paced class such as this, the student who stays on top of assignments and rarely misses class has the greatest chance for success. World History is designed to give sophomores a perspective on events and people that have shaped much of the environment in which they live.