Hawaii: A Homeschool Unit Study

Lapbooking Resources

Oceanography & Marine Ecology Lapbooking Resources

If you enjoy lapbooking, then this list is a must! The following links will help you create several fabulous lapbooks. You may also wish to explore the Free Printables for Keiki section for additional materials.

Lapbooking Squidoo Lens

Are you unfamiliar with lapbooking? Follow this link to learn everything there is to know about this creative and engaging learning activity.

Coral Reef Animal Study & Lapbook

Lapbook templates, mini-books and resources to enhance your study of coral reefs.

The Atlantic Ocean

Lapbook templates, mini-books and resources to enhance your study of oceans, specifically the Atlantic (some materials may need to be modified for the Pacific).

Jellyfish

Lapbook templates, mini-books and resources to enhance your study of jellyfish.

Manatees

Lapbook templates, mini-books and resources to enhance your study of manatees.

Dolphins

Lapbook templates, mini-books and resources to enhance your study of dolphins.

Hello Ocean (literature based)

Using a children's book as a spine or foundation, this link provides lapbook templates, mini-books and resources to enhance your study of oceans.

Sea Turtles

Lapbook templates, mini-books and resources to enhance your study of sea turtles.

Sharks

Lapbook templates, mini-books and resources to enhance your study of sharks.

Whales

Lapbook templates, mini-books and resources to enhance your study of whales.

Free Printables for Keiki

Coloring pages, word searches and lesson activities.

Maui Field Trip Guidebook & Activities

A compilation of activities and teaching materials that I created for my children to record their observations.

The Forest Jewels of Hawai'i

Coloring pages of the many forest birds endemic (found only) to Hawai'i.

Pacific Coral Reef Coloring Book

This book is a contribution to the celebration of the coral reef, and especially the children of the South Pacific--who will inherit the reef.

Hawaiian Division of Forestry & Wildlife

A variety of lessons and free printables.

Sea Turtles

A coloring book in English and Hawaiian about the native green sea turtle.

Monterey Bay Aquarium

Critter Cards to print for use in games & lapbooking.

The Coloring Spot - Ocean Life Index

This site has MANY pages representing nearly every animal a child can think of.

The Kids' Corner

The Creature Feature pages here are fun to color, but they're are also great activity planners too! Use them to plan your next family outing to the shoreline.

Reef Relief Children's Resources

More great coloring pages and links to additional web resources.

Experiences You Won't Want to Miss

Learning opportunities that are fun, rewarding, and educational!

Turn your vacation into the field trip of dreams! The following activities provide great opportunities to learn about the cultural history and the ecology of the Hawaiian Archipelagos.

National Parks Junior Ranger Program

Rather than tying their park experiences only to the scheduled programs, Junior Ranger Programs are designed to provide participants with the flexibility to see and interact with the park at their own pace and within the limits of their own time. Click here for more information about this opportunity.

Eco-Tours (Pacific Whale Foundation)

Snorkel the pristine reef of an ancient underwater crater. Encounter wild humpback whales off the island of Maui. Search for spinner dolphins off the shores of Lana'i. Do all 3!

Volunteer on Vacation

Worldwide, there's a new travel trend that's dramatically changing the way we think about our free time away from home. In increasing numbers, travelers are trading beach mats and lounge chairs for work gloves and hand tools in a movement called "volunteering on vacation." It's a way to "give back" to the places they love to visit, while also meeting other like-minded people and learning about the local environment and culture.

Pacific Whale Foundation Discovery Classes & See Wees Programs

Pacific Whale Foundation offers a variety of educational programs in our classrooms or on board their vessels. They have thematic classes for preschoolers (See Wees) and Discovery Classes for older learners. They also host a monthly Making Waves Lecture Series as well as Moonlight Tidepool Exploration opportunities for the entire family. Follow this link for more information about what they offer.

Maui Ocean Center

Looking for an exciting ocean challenge? Leave the land behind and embark on an under-sea adventure full of discovery and fun at Maui Ocean Center. While there, you may wish to complete their Hawaiian 'Sea'fari, an onsite marine life scavenger hunt. This 'sea'fari will take you on a journey from the shallow waters of the coral reefs to the vast expanses of the open ocean - all without going on a boat or getting wet!

Hawaii Nature Center

Two very special experiences await Maui visitors and residents alike at the Hawaii Nature Center's Facility in Iao Valley on Maui. Their Interactive Nature Museum (INM) and Rainforest Walk have been designed to interpret and experience Hawaii's natural history in a museum setting and a natural environment. This entertaining and educational combination of activities is perfect for individuals and families who want to know why Maui and the whole island chain are unique and precious.

Kepaniwai Heritage Gardens

This multi-ethnic garden in the Iao Valley features a Japanese garden, a Chinese moon gate, a Portuguese outdoor oven, a New England salt box, and many other glimpses into Hawaii's past.

Cultural & Historical Links

Kalaupapa National Park

The primary story being told at Kalaupapa National Historical Park is the forced isolation from 1866 until 1969 of people from Hawai'i afflicted with Hansen's disease (leprosy) to the remote northern Kalaupapa peninsula on the island of Molokai.

USS Arizona Memorial

The USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor is "ground zero" where World War II began for the United States. The event where Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto stated: "I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant..."
The USS Arizona serves as the final resting place for many of the battleship's 1,177 crew members who lost their lives on December 7, 1941.

Haleakala National Park

This special place vibrates with stories of ancient and modern Hawaiian culture and protects the bond between the land and its people. The park also cares for endangered species some of which exist nowhere else.

Hawaii State Parks Archeology & History

Where did Hawaiians come from? How did Hawaiians survive? Click here to read more about the everyday life of the early Hawaiians.

Habitats of Hawaii ~ Online Resources

Did you realize Hawai'i was so diverse?

Hawaii Tropical Moist Forests

One of the world's biological treasures, the Hawaiian Tropical Moist Forests ecoregion is home to a high diversity of endemic species. For 70 million years, the Hawaiian Islands have been isolated from the rest of the world by vast stretches of the Pacific Ocean, and this isolation has resulted in the evolution of an incredible diversity of fungi, mosses, snails, birds, and other wildlife. In the lush, moist forests high in the mountains, Koa and `Ohia'lehua trees are draped with vines, orchids, ferns, and mosses. This diversity of habitats and richness of life make Hawaii's moist forests some of the most spectacular places on Earth.

Hawaii Tropical Dry Forests

Believe it or not, Hawaii has dry forests! This ecoregion harbors a number of specialist species that thrive with little rain, including native hibiscus trees and several rare shrubs. Almost one-fourth of native Hawaiian plant species are found in these dry forests, which often get less than 10 inches (25 cm) of rain a year.

Hawaii Tropical High Shrublands

Hawaii is an island made of and by volcanoes, some of the largest being Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa, Hualalai, and Haleakala. The tops of these high volcanoes present challenging places for plants to grow and animals to live. The higher slopes of many of the volcanoes support shrubland habitats.

Hawaii Tropical Low Shrublands

Coastal and lowland dry shrublands occur on the lowest leeward slopes of the higher Hawaiian Islands and on all but the summit regions of Lana'i, Kaho'olawe, and Ni'ihau.

Hawaiian Plants ~ Online Resources

Native Hawaiian Plants

The University of Hawai'i at Kapi'olani is architecturally integrated with its beautiful natural surroundings. The building names serve as a reminder to students of the natural environment and reference native plants that are either endemic or indigenous to Hawaii. These pages will introduce you to the plants whose names grace the campus buildings.

Hawaiian Plants

The Big Island of Hawaii is often called the orchid isle and has many orchid growers as well as some orchids that have naturalized.

Hawaiian Alien Plant Studies

A forum to promote public awareness and exchange of information regarding problems associated with the spread of alien plant species (weeds).

Geology of Hawaii ~ Online Resources

Haleakala National Park

This special place vibrates with stories of ancient and modern Hawaiian culture and protects the bond between the land and its people. The park also cares for endangered species some of which exist nowhere else. Come visit this special place - renew your spirit of adventure amid stark volcanic landscapes, sub-tropical rain forest and the unforgettable experience of hiking the backcountry.

Dive and Discover : Expeditions to the Seafloor

Dive and Discover is an interactive web site designed to immerse you in the excitement of discovery and exploration of the deep seafloor.

Other Places to Go & Things to Do

Additional Resources for Consideration

Hawaii State Parks

Visit here to read important tips for safely enjoying Hawaii's parks and natural areas. You can also download PDFs of a variety of trail maps, brochures, and educational materials.