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Welcome to Hawaii!
I hope you’re ready for an adventure! Pack your bags and grab your lei necklace. Let’s learn about the beautiful islands of Hawaii!
This trip is perfect for all you world-wide learners out there who want to travel the world. This trip is perfect for all ages. However, if you are a teacher or parent, there are plenty of fun activities you can do to help your children get fully emersed in the culture of Hawaii.
Teachers/Parents: As teacher’s assistant, I helped a first grade teacher take her students on this exciting trip. Look for the text in italics. Throughout, I will have tips, information, and fun activity suggestions for you as you and your little travelers learn about this great country. I will be using the Hawaii activity booklet. Click here to access it. Tailor this trip to your child(ren) or students. The most important thing is to have fun!
About Hawaii
Where are we going?
Take out your map of the world (Insert link). Can you find Hawaii? What continent is it apart of?
Hawaii is a group of islands in the Pacific Ocean. It is about 2000 miles for the coast of the United States. It is the only state in the United States of America that is not attached to North America.
Help your little traveler find Hawaii on the map in the activity booklet. Have them color the state in a nice, bright color.
What does the flag look like?
The flag of Hawaii is red, white and blue, similar to the American flag.
Have your students/child(ren) draw and color the flag of Hawaii. If you click here, you can access the activity booklet that goes with the lesson, where they can color the flag of France.
Hawaiian Volcanoes
Every island of Hawaii has an active volcano! There are 8 main islands of Hawaii and among them are up to 15 volcanoes. Historically, volcanoes Kilauea and Mauna Loa are the most active volcanoes. They erupt frequently.
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Kilauea erupts most often. It is in the shape of a dome, created by the lava that flows down and hardens as it cools. Kilauea actually slopes right into Mauna Loa. Mauna Loa is the largest single mountain mass in the world. Both of the volcanoes are apart of the Hawaii Volcano National Park.
Fun Facts
Kilauea
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It has been continuously erupting since 1983
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It produced a river of lave that reached the ocean 10 miles away.
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Legends say that one of the craters in the volcano is the home of the volcano goddess, Pele.
Mauna Loa
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Its name mean "Long Mountain" in Hawaiian.
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It is usually snowcapped in the winter.
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Eruptions in 1935 and 1942, the city of Hilo was going to get destroyed by the lava, however the U.S. military dropped bomb to divert the lava away.
Children naturally love volcanoes! The explosions! The lava! What's not to love?
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Feed your little traveler's imagination. Have them draw and color a volcano. Maybe help them make a baking soda volcano. Stir their imagination!
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There are also pages in Hawaii activity booklet with volcano activities. You can access it here.
Hawaiian Nature
Hawaii is home to so much nature! There was mountain, valleys, volcanoes, and oceans. There was massive rainforests with beautiful waterfalls and pretty plants. The many native birds and fish are bright and colorful. If you look at any picture of these islands, you are likely to see the lushness and beauty there is to be seen.
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Since Hawaii is an island, species of plants and animals can only come by the 3 W's: wind, water, and wings. The wind can blow seeds from one place to the other. When the seeds land, they may be able to fertilize and grow. The ocean is big! Different species of plants and animals that can swim can come to Hawaii from the ocean. And lastly, birds and insects that can fly, or different things they carry with them, can come to Hawaii from traveling from one place to another.
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The state flower is the hibiscus. The hibiscus is actually the background picture you see here. Isn't it lovely? It comes in a variety of colors, like pink, purple, yellow and more.
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The state bird is the Nene. It is actually a goose. They love to eat the ohelo berry. These berry grow on lava! Isn't that cool?
Hawaii is beautiful! Help you little traveler explore some of the wonderful nature that Hawaii has to offer. Talk about what you find together.
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There are also pages in Hawaii activity booklet with nature activities. You can access it here.
Polynesian Culture
Hawaii is apart of what's known as Polynesia. Polynesia is a group of over 1000 islands within an invisible triangle. Within this triangle are islands like Tahiti, Fiji, New Zealand, and of course, Hawaii. Each of these Islands are unique in their own way. They have their own nature, animals, food, dances, music, and culture.
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If you go to Hawaii, you may find a place called the Polynesian Culture Center. It is a lot of fun! It takes you through six villages that represent six of the Polynesian islands: Hawaii, Tonga, Tahiti, Fiji, Aotearoa (New Zealand), and Samoa.
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The most popular item of Polynesian culture, especially in Hawaii, are the shows they put on called luaus. A luau is usually a big party with lots of music, dancing and delicious food, like a big roast pig. The outfits they wear to preform are usually very bright and flowy. One of the types of dances they preform is called the hula. Hula dancing is an expression of nature, storytelling and music through beautiful dancing. Can you try hula dancing?
Help you little travelers do a deep dive into Polynesian culture. There is so much to see and learn. There are so many authentic games, such as the Maori game from New Zealand, special dances, beautiful outfits and delicious food!
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There are also pages in Hawaii activity booklet about Polynesian culture. You can access it here.