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Hawaii Unit Study

Explore the geography, culture, and traditions of Hawaii with our literature-based unit study. Read Lei and the Fire Goddess, explore traditional stories from Tales of Polynesia, discover how volcanoes formed the Hawaiian Islands, and explore the islands’ landmarks and geographical features through mapwork and notebooking activities.

Along the way, you’ll meet artists Herb Kāne and Solomon Enos, explore hula and mele Hawaii, learn about the traditional Hawaiian sport of heʻe hōlua, discover the sounds of the ʻukulele, prepare sweet butter mochi, and play the traditional strategy game Kōnane.

Hands-On Geography and Cultural Activities for Kids

Our Hawaii unit study is designed for both homeschool families and classroom educators. Whether you’re supplementing your social studies curriculum or building a world geography unit, this resource invites students to discover a world of learning through stories, science, art, music, and hands-on cultural activities.

$7.00

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How This Unit Study Works

Global Explorers unit studies are literature-based frameworks built around curated books, mapwork, journaling, and cultural activities. Books and some media resources are referenced but not included. Each study provides structured lesson plans and ready-to-use printables, guiding families as they explore the world together.

💡Need help getting started? Visit the Tutorials & Resources page for tips on using our curriculum and planning your week.

What’s Included in the Hawaii Unit Study

What you get

With your purchase

Explore Hawaii through geography, literature, science, art, and hands-on learning activities with our ready-to-use printables and an optional digital planning tool.

Hawaii Notebooking Page: Students record important facts, color the national flag, document their favorite discoveries, and draw scenes from Hawaii’s geography, culture, plants, and wildlife.
Hawaii Mapwork Activity: Students will locate major cities, geographical features, and cultural landmarks on an outline map and are encouraged to personalize their maps with illustrations, labels, and symbols that reflect what they’ve learned about the country.
Literature Study: Read and discuss Lei and the Fire Goddess by Malia Maunakea and explore traditional Hawaiian stories from Tales of Polynesia: Folktales from Hawaiʻi, New Zealand, Tahiti, and Samoa.
Circle Round: Listen to several folktales from Hawaii and follow up with guided writing activities based on Judith C. Hochman’s The Writing Revolution method.
The Writing Revolution Resources: Build writing skills with sentence-based exercises that connect directly to what students are learning about Hawaii.
Hawaiian Volcanoes: Discover how a volcanic hotspot and the movement of the Pacific Plate formed the Hawaiian Island chain, explore some of Hawaiʻi’s active volcanoes, and complete a guided science notebooking activity.
Elapsed Time Task Cards: Build real-world math skills by solving elapsed time problems connected to places throughout Hawaii.
Artist Studies: Meet Herb Kāne and explore how his paintings help tell stories of Hawaiian history and Polynesian voyaging. Then discover contemporary Native Hawaiian artist Solomon Enos and explore how he combines Hawaiian culture, the natural world, and imagination in his work.
Music Appreciation: Explore mele Hawaiʻi with musician Kalani Peʻa and learn about hula as a Native Hawaiian performing art.
Cooking Class: Learn how to prepare butter mochi, a chewy Hawaiian local favorite made with sweet rice flour and coconut milk.
Global Games: Learn to play Kōnane, a Hawaiian strategy game, and discover heʻe hōlua, a traditional Hawaiian sledding practice.

Russia unit study, both print and digital resources available

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Bonus Printables & Planning Tools

Along with your core activities, you’ll also receive our Hawaii unit study overview sheet, a country-specific Global Explorers cookbook page, our Discover Hawaii: Bingo Challenge activity, and more than a dozen additional printables to support hands-on learning. Plus, you’ll get access to our optional Notion planning tool to help keep your lessons organized and easy to navigate.

want to explore more of oceania?

Unlock all 8 country unit studies, along with exclusive bonus resources like 3-part map cards, a Market Math activity, and Infinity Street, in our complete Australia & Oceania Continent Bundle.

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who we are

At the Global Explorers Club, we believe in an education that respects each child’s unique personhood, fosters a love of learning, and embraces the diversity of the world. Our unit studies are designed with flexibility and freedom in mind, allowing your family to explore each topic at your own pace and according to your interests. Whether you’re completing every activity or selecting just a few, the goal is to inspire a sense of wonder and connection to the world.

Wondering if Global Explorers is the right fit for your family?

Take a look at our 10-question guide to see if our flexible, family-style approach fits your homeschooling style.

read the guide

Hawaii unit study, part of the Global Explorers Club's literature-based homeschool geography curriculum featuring hands-on cultural activities for kids

Frequently Asked Questions

Our Hawaii unit study is best suited for ages 6–12, but activities can easily be adapted for younger or older learners.

The duration is flexible and depends on how deeply you want to explore each topic. On average, you might spend 2-4 weeks on this unit.

You’ll receive PDF files for easy printing, plus an optional Notion database for digital planning.

Subjects covered include geography, social studies, language arts and literature, science and math, creative arts, cooking and culture, and character education.

Yes! This resource is ideal for homeschool and classroom use. You may use it as part of world geography, social studies, or cultural enrichment.

Yes, the unit study includes a curated list of books, websites, and extension ideas to support continued learning and exploration.

Grab Your Passport to Hawaii and Start Your Adventure Today

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Continue Your Journey

Every country offers a new adventure. The Complete World Geography Curriculum includes more than 70 literature-based country studies across five continents, with Australia & Oceania included as a free future update. Explore the world together with one complete curriculum.

Explore the Complete World Geography Curriculum

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Prefer a Membership Instead?

The Global Explorers Curriculum Library gives you online access to our growing collection of literature-based country studies through an affordable monthly or annual membership.

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