The Class of 2016 visited the Hawai‘i Maritime Museum, located next to the Aloha Tower Marketplace. Inside the museum, the studnets learned about Hawai‘i’s rich maritime history. Unfortunately, they could not tour the Falls of Clyde, the world’s only four-masted, fully rigged ship, because it was being renovated.
The students found interesting exhibits about Polynesian voyaging and migration, exploration, and whaling. There were numerous artifacts on display, like fishhooks, traps, and weapon made of shark teeth. Hanging from the ceiling of the museum, they saw different types of canoes and a humpback whale skeleton.
There were two interactive programs at the museum. First, the students pretended to be scientists exploring the Northwest Hawaiian Islands. They identified birds and plants of the region. Also, they experimented and collected data on various pollutants found in the area.
The second program focused on the Polynesian voyagers who discovered the islands. The students built models of single- and double-hulled canoes. They learned how the early voyagers used natural resources to survive.
From the early discovery of the islands by the Polynesians to the present day, the Class of 2016, teachers, parent chaperones, and special chaperone, Governor Lingle, experienced an eye-opening adventure.
