Field Study of
Economics Department
経済学科のフィールドスタディ

2019 Report on the Field Study A in Hawai’i

Report from Professor : Makiko Omura
Field Study A: Environmental Issues in Hawai’i
“The Eighth Field Study in Hawai’i”

The field study (FS) in Hawai’i this year was conducted for 14 days. It had been two years since I last conducted a FS there. There were students who had never been abroad before, as well as those who had been to Hawai’i several times in the past. All of them seem to have experienced their own special Hawai’i.

From my perspective, this year’s FS was very different from previous years, as the program schedule and logistical arrangements were done by a newly created support system at the College of Social Sciences, University of Hawai’i at Manoa (UH), to which the Department of Economics also belongs. From students’ perspectives, it was the first time to stay in a UH student dormitory rather than in a　customary Waikiki condominium. Thus, the students had a bit of taste of local students’ life.

As arranged by the UH, we had opportunities to join activities such as hula dancing and a party together with students from Tohoku University. The students from Tohoku University were not accompanied by a faculty member, but were on their own, and they gave us an impression to be very active and independent. I believe it was an stimulating encounter for both university students.

This time again, students had a brief English language course, then lectures ranging from environmental and resource economics to biological species issues. We had field visits to a cultural heritage site in Kalaeloa, and to Lyon Arboretum to learn about the technologies applied to plant conservation. The lecture and actual snorkeling at Hanauma Bay made us more aware of the difficulty in achieving a balance between tourism and nature conservation. We also made a visit to the Hawai’i Institute of Marine Biology and had a hands-on experience distinguishing endemic and invasive alien marine species. A dolphin tour provided us with another valuable experience in close contacting with the nature and living things. We again visited this year, the largest solar power plant in Oahu Island and one of the key players in achieving the 100% renewable energy goal. A new visit this time was made to the H-Power Plant, an energy-generating incinerator, where we observed closely through the glass windows how piles of rubbish were dealt. Their efforts contribute towards the zero-emission goal of Hawai’i, where large amounts of rubbish are almost inevitable being a major tourist city.

The trip went without any major trouble, and the students were eager to communicate in English inside and outside the course. On our last day at the UH, the students presented their research project in English, incorporating what they had learnt during this FS, with the presence of UH faculty members and staff, as well as the program assistants. It was a rewarding opportunity for them, receiving various feedbacks to their own presentation.

I would like to congratulate all the efforts by the students and wish to express my deep gratitude to everyone who made this trip so excellent.