Honouliuli Internment and POW Camp Archaeoloical Field School

Located on the island of O‘ahu about 15 miles west of Honolulu, the Honouliuli Internment Camp contains over 125 features related to the incarceration of American civilians, resident aliens, and prisoners of war during World War II. As it was during its occupation, the site is set in a hidden gulch surrounded by agricultural fields. Contributing resources in the 120-acre site include intact standing buildings, numerous building foundations, rock walls, fence remnants, artifact scatters, and other features. As the largest and longest-lived of the Hawaiian internment sites, the site provides a tangible link to the World War II internment of American citizens and residents, and the effects of martial law. In addition, Honouliuli is one of the best-preserved prisoner of war camps in the nation. Students will learn the fundamentals of archaeological survey, mapping, excavation, site recording, and photography. The focus will be on archaeological techniques for investigating large twentieth-century sites, adapting methods to research questions, and considering formation processes and site types in research design. Students would be introduced to a variety of sampling methods, ranging from traditional hand excavation to metal detecting and excavating with heavy equipment. Hands-on experience would be provided in GPS and instrument mapping, on-site artifact analysis, and feature drawing. The Honouliuli site provides an excellent opportunity to demonstrate the integration of archival information, oral history, and archaeology, and students would be involved in several phases of research that will have practical applications in the future management and interpretation of the site. Because the Honouliuli site is important to different interest groups, an important part of the field school will be the study of the site’s historical context and its current role in the community. For a portion of the fieldwork, students would work alongside volunteers, sharing insights and perspectives. Guest lecturers and field trips would cover general topics such as World War II history, public interpretation for diverse audiences, and the politics of historic preservation. Students would produce final products based on their individual interests and abilities.