Field Schools
The Department of Anthropology provides undergraduate and graduate students with opportunities to participate in instructional, field-based archaeological and ethnographic research for academic credit. Field schools may be offered during the Fall, Spring, or Summer sessions.
North Shore Ethnographic Field School
Our ethnographic and oral history field school is currently working on the North Shore in Waialua, Oʻahu. It is a weekend, ʻāina based program that focuses on sustainable living of past and present people in the area. Students spend time interviewing, mahiʻai, lawaiʻa, kiaʻi, and others. Cultural practitioners and other volunteers in the North Shore community also share their knowledge and perspectives with the field school at "talk story" events and at hosted visits to certain cultural locales.
- Contact: Shelby Ka’ena Cook (scook38@hawaii.edu)
- Additional Details
Punaluʻu Archaeological Field School
During this program, students will work in an outdoor “classroom” where they will learn how to identify, document, and investigate archaeological features, artifacts, and other cultural materials. Field school research will expand knowledge of traditional agriculture, investigate the mo‘olelo of Kekuaokalani, and provide a greater understanding of wahi kūpuna (ancestral sites) within Punalu‘u Valley. Results of this research will inform community engagement, cultural heritage, and stewardship activities within Punalu‘u.
- Contact: Dr. Seth Quintus (squintus@hawaii.edu)
Other UH Field School Opportunities
- UHM Marine Option Program - Maritime Archaeology Surveying Techniques (summer).
Non-UH Field School Listings
There are a number of field school opportunities offered through other universities and programs. In most cases, if a field program offers academic credit through an accredited institution, those credits can be transferred to UH Mānoa and be used towards major or minor elective requirements. However, prior to signing up for a non-UH field program, students should check with the UH Mānoa Admissions Office and anthropology advising to make certain that any credits earned can be transferred.