Chapter 17 - Hawai’i and the Pacific Islands PDF

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Summary

If students have a picture of Hawai’i in their minds, it has likely been shaped by mass media and perhaps visits to the state as tourists. The challenge of Chapter 17 is to move students beyond these stereotypes and towards a deeper understanding of the complex history and interactions that have cre...

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Chapter 17: Hawai’i and the Pacific Islands

Overview If students have a picture of Hawai’i in their minds, it has likely been shaped by mass media and perhaps visits to the state as tourists. The challenge of Chapter 17 is to move students beyond these stereotypes and towards a deeper understanding of the complex history and interactions that have created this unique place. This means understanding a bit about the role of tourism, but also elements such as Hawai’i’s strategic role in the Pacific, the agricultural economy, and the physical geography created the islands.

Outline 1. Environmental Setting a. Landforms b. Weather, Climate, and Hazards c. Biogeography and Biodiversity d. Environmental Geography: Adaptive Radiation in Hawai’i e. Hazards and Water Resources 2. Historical Settlement a. Settlers from the Pacific Islands b. European and American Settlement 3. Regional Economies and Politics a. Agriculture b. The Crossroads of the Pacific c. Tourism 4. Culture, Peoples, and Places a. Economic Geography: Should Hawai’i Legalize Casino Gambling? b. Oahu and Honolulu c. The Big Island d. Cultural Geography: Eddie Would Go e. Maui and Its Neighbors f. Kauai and Niihau g. The Pacific Islands 5. The Future of Hawai’i

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List and locate the eight largest islands in the Hawaiian island chain. Discuss how the processes of plate tectonics and volcanism have formed the Hawaiian Islands over time. Describe how the trade winds form, and list at least two impacts of these winds on human activity on the Hawaiian Islands. Discuss some of the ways that the natural ecosystems in Hawai’i were disrupted by early human settlement. Compare and contrast the very different weather patterns on the dry Kona coast and the Hilo area caused by their location on two different sides of Hawai’i’s Big Island.

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Identify some of the most damaging environmental hazards that regularly strike the Hawaiian Islands. Summarize the origin and evolution of the pineapple and sugar cane industries in Hawai’i from the mid 19th century up to the present day. Explain how Hawaii’s location at the Crossroads of the Pacific has contributed to its rapid economic development since early Euro-American settlement. Discuss the geographic concept of elasticity of demand and explain how it helps explain the rise and fall of tourism in Hawai’i over the years. Compare the broad patterns of contemporary settlement of the Hawaiian Islands as these patterns relate to physical features such as mountain ranges, volcanoes, and coastal zones.

Teaching Strategies for Chapter 17: Hawai’i and the Pacific Islands 1. Environmental Setting There is no doubt that the physical geography of the Hawaiian Islands is distinctly different than any of the regions of mainland North America. In fact, Chapter 17 provides an opportunity to teach students about island biogeography using Hawai’i as a model. However, hopefully students will recognize and be able to build on their understandings of basic concepts in physical geography as well. The Hawaiian Islands are a chain of volcanoes; however, these volcanoes are significantly different than the other active volcanoes the text discusses in North America, the Cascades. Whereas the Cascades are being formed by the convergence of the North American and Juan de Fuca Plates, Hawai’i is located over a “hot spot” in the Earth’s mantle (see Figure 17.4). As the Pacific Plate moves over this hot spot, new islands are formed. Students should understand that the oldest islands in the chain are located to the northwest and the youngest, the Big Island of Hawai’i, is located at the far southeast and is still volcanically active. Hawai’i’s volcanoes are also different than the Cascades in terms of their form and types of eruptions. These are shield volcanoes, created by numerous eruptions of slow-moving lava that creates new land. These lava flows have created the rugged topography of the islands but, over time, these rocks weather to form rich volcanic soils that support the growing of many crops. As discussed in Chapters 15 and 16, Hawai’i’s climate is impacted significantly by its topography and location in the Pacific. The surrounding ocean moderates temperature changes, making Hawai’i’s climate relatively mild year round in comparison to continental climates. However, there can be dramatic variations in relation to local topography and elevation. Because of its location significantly to the south of the continental United States, the main winds that impact the region are not westerly, but rather subtropical “trade winds” that blow from northeast to southwest. From this information, students should be able to conclude where the majority of rainfall happens and which side of the islands tends to be drier. Rainfall on the northeastern slopes can be extreme, whereas the southwest sides of the islands fall in the rain shadow. As seen in California and the Pacific Northwest, temperatures are impacted by elevation, with warm to hot conditions year round at sea level and occasional snow on the highest mountain peaks. These local climatic variations also create a wide variety of habitats that local plants and animals have adapted to. The location of the islands so far from any other land masses has meant that relatively few species were able to travel to the islands and colonize them. Chapter 14 discussed threatened endemic species of the desert Southwest. Because of the unique isolation of the Hawaiian Islands, more than 95 percent of plants and animals

native to Hawai’i are endemic to it. In fact, because so few species made it to the islands, many species experienced what is called adaptive radiation, in which one species becomes many species as individual variation allows them to take over new ecological niches (Box 17.1). 2. Historical Settlement At first glance the Hawaiian Islands appear to be an unlikely place to be included in the United States. They are located far from the mainland United States and share few physical characteristics. However, these islands were for many years strategically important for both trade and military reasons. When the first European explorers came to the islands the native people organized themselves in groups ruled by chieftains, but European military technology allowed one chief to conquer the islands. During the 19th century, the Hawaiian Islands continued to be ruled by a native monarchy, but American interests in the region were growing. Settlers included whalers, missionaries, and wealthy plantation owners who established large farms on the islands. During this time, thousands of Asian immigrants came to Hawai’i to work on these plantations. The film Picture Bride (1995) tells the fictionalized story of one Japanese woman from that period. In 1893, the United States deposed Queen Liliuokalani and annexed Hawai’i, which allowed them to set up a navel base on the islands. It is possible to read the queen’s own account of her life in Hawaii’s Story written in 1898 (http://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/liliuokalani/hawaii/hawaii.html). It is a rather long and detailed biography, but it does provide a native Hawaiian perspective on that period. Another useful site for understanding the history and culture of Hawai’i is HawaiiHistory.org, a community-based site with articles, a timeline, and historic photos of the region. 3. Regional Economies and Politics The economy of Hawai’i has generally relied on three industries: agriculture, the military, and tourism. The region’s location made it a key stopover point for transPacific shipping. Today this continues to be the case, but many of the stopovers are now planes rather than ships. Like California and Florida, Hawai’i’s climate provides it with the ability to grow crops that other regions of North America cannot. Hawai’i’s status as part of the United States also gave it a competitive advantage because crops could be sold in the United States without tariffs. Today, globalization and free trade agreements have negatively impacted Hawaii’s agricultural sector because of rising labor and transportation costs in relation to other regions. Even though agriculture now produces a very small percentage of Hawaii’s economy, its major crops—sugar cane, pineapple, Kona coffee, and macadamia nuts—have all become iconic symbols of Hawai’i. The creation of a commercial airline industry in the late 1950s and Hawai’ian statehood in 1959 contributed to making Hawai’i a major tourist destination and tourism the main industry in the region. Tourism has brought development to Hawai’i, but there are some disadvantages for locals when the region is so dependent on one industry, and tourism in particular. Most resorts and hotels in Hawai’i are not owned by local interests, so much of the profits don’t go to benefit local people. Also, jobs in service industries such as tourism tend to be relatively low-paying. The available land in Hawai’i is extremely limited. Tourism and population growth has driven up land values, making it one of the most expensive places to live in the United States. Unlike sectors that supply basic goods and services, tourism is a sector that experiences a high degree of elasticity of demand. When people lose their jobs or face economic stress, they tend to cut out travel and

vacations first. This means that when there is a global economic slump, the tourist industry faces a major downturn. Box 17.2 covers the issue of legalizing casino gambling in Hawai’i. This would be an interesting topic for a class discussion because it is an issue that many communities facing difficult economic conditions consider.

4. Culture, Peoples, and Places From this section students should learn to distinguish the eight major islands of Hawai’i from one another. They should also begin to get a picture of the cultural and ethnic diversity of the islands today. Table 17.2 shows population growth in the five largest cities in Hawai’i, showing that the region continues to experience rapid growth. The largest ethic group in the region is Asians, but about 30 percent of the population is Euro-American and there are large populations of Hispanic and native residents as well. This ethnic diversity creates a blending of cultures that is uniquely Hawaiian. One example of the way that Hawaiian culture blends elements from a number of traditions is the development of surfing (see Box 17.4). Surfing was invented by native Hawaiians but is now a sport that attracts people from around the world. So websites like Club of the Waves (http://www.clubofthewaves.com/) now provide a sense of a global surf culture.

Conceptual Checkpoints 17.1 How have adaptive radiation and other related biogeographical processes contributed to Hawai’i having one of the most unique ecosystems in the world? Because Hawai’i is located so far from any other land masses, only a few species were able to colonize the islands. More than 95 percent of native species on the islands are endemic to Hawai’i. The many different habitats available on the islands encouraged adaptive radiation. This is when one species becomes many species through adaptation to different habitats or new food types. 17.2 Discuss the relationship between the Hawaiian monarchy and the U.S. government throughout much of the 19th century that eventually resulted in Hawai’i being annexed as a U.S. territory in 1898. Students should know that the U.S. government took a distinct interest in Hawai’i after the U.S. opened up Japan to international trade in 1853. The Hawaiian monarchy maintained an uneasy relationship with American agricultural and shipping interests, but remained in control of Hawai’i until the last monarch, Queen Liliuokalani, was deposed in 1893. The United States formally annexed the Hawaiian Islands as a territory in 1989 with the interest of promoting trade and establishing a U.S. naval base. 17.3 Work with a partner to sketch the location patterns of the eight largest Hawaiian Islands and other Pacific Islands that are U.S. possessions. Students should have a sketch similar to Figure 17.3 in the text.

Answers to Review Questions 1. Define and give an example from the Hawai’i region of each of the following physical geography concepts: rain shadow, ecosystem, endemic species, and adaptive radiation. Rain Shadow: Leeward areas below mountain crests that receive low average rainfall. The student could mention the Islands of Kahoolawe, Lanai, and Niihau, which are drier because they are in the rain shadow of their larger neighbors, or a similar example from the text showing that the rain shadow produces drier areas. Ecosystem: Complex of evolving and interacting plants and animals living within a particular natural environment, usually mutually dependent on each other through energy exchange. Students could write about the Hawaiian coral reefs, or they could talk about the ecosystem of Hawai’i that was disrupted by the arrival of the Polynesians. Endemic Species: A type of plant or animal native to its current zone of habitation. Students could give an example from any of the native species to Hawai’i, such as the Hawaiian or Nene goose, Honeycreepers, or they could point out that Hawai’i has no endemic land mammals. Adaptive Radiation: Genetic changes in organisms as they disperse (radiate out) from a central point. Students could mention the Honeycreepers, who are closely related to the North American Finch. Biologists believe that the Finches were blown off course or flew to Hawai’i. Over the years, their descendants adapted to over 22 distinct species, each evolved to feed on particular types of native Hawaiian pants. 2. How have volcanism and erosion helped shape the physical landscapes of the Hawaiian Island chain? Students should know that Hawaiian volcanoes follow a pattern of eruption, building, and erosion. Volcanism builds up the active submarine volcanoes of the Hawaiian chain until they crest the surface of the ocean. Once the volcanoes are above water and dormant, weather and erosion can affect them. The volcano diminishes back into the oceanic crust due to its massive weight and loses elevation. Rain erodes the volcano, creating deeply incised valleys. 3. What are the trade winds, what are their general patterns in the tropics, and how do they contribute to Hawai’i’s unique weather and climate? Trade winds are persistent winds that blow from east to west in tropical oceans throughout the world. Trade winds are driven by warm, moist air rising at the equator and travelling at high elevations before sinking in the subtropics at about 25 degrees north and south of the equator. The air sinks in the subtropical region and flows along the surface of the Earth back toward the equator. This produces a steady wind that is then deflected by the Coriolis effect from east to west. When this waterladen air, moving over the ocean encounters the volcanoes of Hawai’i, it is forced to rise again, depositing copious amounts of rainfall along the east and north coasts of the island. 4. Who were some of the earliest indigenous settlers to discover and settle the Hawaiian Islands? Indigenous settlers are a bit of an oxymoron, but the earliest settlers that would have been the most local to Hawai’i would be settlers from Polynesia.

5. What were some of the locational, economic, and political reasons why the U.S. government was interested in gaining control over the Hawaiian Islands from the earlier monarchies that had long ruled these islands? The U.S. government was interested in gaining control of the Hawaiian Islands as a center to promote trade, and as an advance base for military control of the Pacific. 6. Why did the tourism industry in Hawai’i decline during the first decade of the 21st century? The student should mention that the tourism that Hawai’i depends on is itself dependent on the global and national economies. With the decline in the global economy in the early 21st century, a corresponding decline happened in tourism in Hawai’i. This led Hawai’i to consider the legalization of gambling to try and boost its tourism. 7. What are some of the economic and political challenges that have disrupted pineapple and sugar cane production in Hawai’i during the past half-century or so? The student can mention high labor costs relative to Southeast Asia for pineapple, and relative to Louisiana for sugar. Many sugar plantations are being converted to coffee plantations. 8. What are some of the seismic hazards that regularly disrupt life and landscape in Hawai’i, and why do these kinds of events occur so frequently here? Earthquakes are not unusual in Hawai’i. They are caused by rising magma that wedges the earth apart. The text reports that 14 earthquakes on the Big Island have exceeded 6.0 on the Richter scale since 1868. An even bigger hazard to life on Hawai’i are earthquakes that may not directly affect the Hawaiian Islands, but generate tsunamis. Tsunamis are large waves caused by earthquakes, submarine landslides, or volcanic eruptions. Many travel long distances across the Pacific following earthquakes in East Asia, and can take 5 to 15 hours to cross to the Hawaiian Islands. However, tsunamis can be generated by local events as well, and can be more dangerous because they could strike the Hawaiian Islands with little warning....