Description of the Re-proposed Graduate
Maritime Archaeology and History Certificate Program
Prepared by Hans Van Tilburg, June 2002
(Note: this program was terminated by the administration at the
University of Hawai’i in June 2002)
Executive Summary
The interdisciplinary field of maritime archaeology and history is a relatively new and exciting area of research, and great potential exists particularly in the Pacific region. Maritime study links the disciplines of history, anthropology, archaeology, and science and technology in the pursuit of unique aspects of ocean-related cultures. It combines the discovery and interpretation of documents with the discovery and interpretation of artifacts and wreck sites. Survey, discovery, interpretation and preservation all feature a truly oceanic perspective, something not included in any other program in the Pacific. The University of Hawai`i has the opportunity to support a unique interdisciplinary ocean-related program and take the lead in this field. We propose to offer a certificate in maritime study that can complement advanced degrees as well as stand alone as a credential of professional training.
Background
The islands of Hawai`i possess some 1,500 years of continuous maritime activity in adjacent waters. Polynesian sailors long ago adopted an oceanic lifestyle and continue practicing long distance voyages. All historic western contact in Hawai`i took place within the maritime context. Spanish, British and American ships of exploration and trade changed the nature of voyaging in the Pacific. Chinese and Japanese junks and sampans as well spread across the ocean.
Sailing skills, navigation, and wooden ship construction were inherent elements of Pacific discovery, the Manila galleon trade, the movement of sandalwood, whaling, and early colonial regimes. Steam propulsion and iron hull technology in the mid to late 19th century heralded plantation economies, contract labor migration, and colonial competition. Steamships required coaling stations and territorial expansion, and ultimately the emergence of modern navies. World War II in the Pacific introduced amphibious operations as well as naval aviation. The maritime impact continues today with global issues of containerization, national boundaries and resource stewardship, and security from maritime threats. The skills of seafaring cultures and technological change have shaped and reshaped the Pacific over hundreds of years.
The history and anthropology of the maritime past is critical to understanding change in the Pacific region, and artifacts as well as documents are records of that past. In Hawai`i there are literally hundreds of maritime sites: submerged fish ponds, stone fishing tools, remains of ships of discovery, whaling vessels, plantation cargo and steam engines, ruins of landings, navy ships, submarines, and more than 1,300 sunken US navy aircraft. All these sites are, in a sense, time capsule representations of the past. Furthermore, Hawai`i features some of the best collections of archival data on Pacific maritime history in the world. The Bishop museum, the Hawaiian Historical Society, and the collections at Hamilton library house major works on the histories of whaling, exploration, plantation societies and contract labor migrations.
There are only a few institutions in the U.S. which feature research and education programs in this field: East Carolina University, Texas A&M, and Florida State University. All three focus on other locations and none have entered the Pacific region in any permanent way. No other institute of higher learning in the Pacific has a program similar to the proposed UH program. No other agency in Hawai`i itself is dedicated to this type of research and education. Other institutions, such as the Naval Historical Center (NHC), the Smithsonian Institute, the National Park Service (NPS), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) would like to see work accomplished in Hawai`i and the Pacific, but do not have the local capability.
The Marine Option Program, beginning in 1989, has been the only agency to focus on the maritime past. Initial annual public workshops led to joint field projects, and ultimately the establishment of a graduate certificate in 1996. Operating on a shoestring budget and part-time staff and volunteers, the program has accomplished many things: 1) coordinated Hawai`i’s only national annual conference on maritime history and nautical archaeology issues; 2) run 12 student field projects, creating Hawai`i’s first submerged cultural resource inventory; 3) served as the state’s only submerge cultural resource manager in compliance with the terms of the 1987 federal Abandoned Shipwreck Act; 4) obtained $63,700 in project grants; 5) created the UH maritime program web pages, and recruited from national conferences; 6) tied UH to a network of national and international institutions. These include the National Park Service (Submerged Resources Unit, Santa Fe NM), USS Arizona Memorial Pearl Harbor National Landmark, Naval Historical Center, Washington D.C., North American Society for Oceanic History, Program in Maritime Studies East Carolina University, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Waimanalo Neighborhood Board, Lana`i Ranch, California Maritime Archaeology Resources (CMAR), Society for Historical Archaeology, Flinders University, Society for Hawaiian Archaeology, and others.
The program has created the University of Hawai`i’s presence in this field. The program has been small, critical, and unique. This program was terminated in May 2002 by SOEST. It needs to be refined and revived.
Aims and Goals
The goal of this program is to provide students with a standard body of knowledge from the maritime field, which can be tailored to the individual’s academic and/or career objectives. The curriculum will consist of three components: traditional coursework, practical field or lab experience, and an integrating seminar/major paper. The coursework will consist of required core courses in history and anthropology, supplemented by related electives from an approved list. An advisory three-person committee, drawn from program faculty, will guide each student. Ultimate approval for each certificate will be determined by a steering committee. The certificate represents a specialization in the maritime field, as well as a stepping stone to related masters and/or doctoral programs.
Critical Criteria
Serving the State of Hawai`i:
The task of surveying for, locating, and assessing historically significant maritime sites is part of established preservation law. Cultural resource managers are (or should be) well aware of the National Historic Preservation Act 1966 and the federal Abandoned Shipwreck Act 1987. If a given state’s historic preservation division has not in the past fulfilled its responsibilities for submerged cultural resources, then the UH program would be even more important in its critical role of resource management. Submerged historic resources are currently subject to damage by dredging, shoreline construction, waste dumping and looting. All of these destructive processes apply to the state of Hawai`i. The state’s Historic Preservation Division, though, has never carried out survey in this field, nor taken any actions in regards to submerged resources or related maritime research. The proposed UH program will make contributions to local museums and tourism opportunities, as well as federal and state resource management mandates.
Further Developing the University’s Pacific/Asian Focus
The program will take advantage of Hawai`i’s unique location and history by enhancing multicultural perspectives. In many ways Hawai`i is a cultural crossroads in the Pacific. For instance, Japanese fishermen on Japanese-built sampans opened the commercial tuna industry in Hawai`i. Today, Japanese long liners are frequently seen in local waters and ports. The annual maritime conferences have, in the past, featured Chinese and Japanese maritime topics. The potential exists for the program to host a special thematic offering on Japanese mariners in the Pacific.
Relationships to Other UH Programs
The proposed UH program will open completely new education and research opportunities to students and faculty, benefiting other programs as well. These opportunities may easily expand into other thesis and dissertation topics. UH now has a new certificate program in Museum Studies, as well as hosting the Historic Preservation program for a number of years. Both of these programs are closely related to programs in maritime research and preservation. Likewise, due to the fluid and international nature of the maritime realm, the proposed program is closely related to the World History Association (based at UH), and the proposed Center for World History. Furthermore, the proposed program will benefit the established fields of anthropology and history by expanding the general opportunities in each discipline. Certificate students will add to the enrollment of related electives in these and other disciplines.
During research and training dives, Pisces sub pilots have on a number of occasions encountered cultural resources such as amphibious landing craft and naval aircraft in deep nearshore waters. The previous UH maritime program has already begun to assist the UH Hawai`i Undersea Research Lab (HURL) with the identification of these resources, as well as identifying new target locations for future survey.
Comparison with Similar Programs
As previously mentioned, there are only a few programs of this type in the U.S. East Carolina, Texas A&M, and Florida State universities offer professional degree level training in the maritime field. Additionally, St. Andrew’s College and other institutions abroad offer training in maritime archaeology. The Australian Institute for Maritime Archaeology (AIMA) is a museum-based program, and does not grant academic degrees or certificates. None of the above programs focus on Pacific or Hawaiian resources.
Only two outside agencies have conducted any research so far in Hawaiian waters. The National Park Service began investigating submerged cultural resources in Pearl Harbor in the mid 1980’s, and continues a monitoring program on the USS Arizona today. Dr. Paul Johnston of the Smithsonian Institute’s American History museum completed several seasons of field work on Kaua`i, excavating the remains of the Hawaiian yacht Ha’aheo o Hawai`i, ex-Clepatra’s Barge.
The proposed certificate program at UH is a relatively modest beginning in the maritime field. Ultimately, a master’s degree level program would put UH at the same level as other major institutions. Before that happens, the certificate program needs to be refined. The first step is to re-propose the certificate in essentially its previous form. Second, the program needs to be tailored to Hawai`i’s specific academic setting.
Student Demand
To date, students from the College of Arts and Humanities, and the College of Arts and Sciences, have been the largest participating bloc. At the time of its termination, the UH maritime certificate had 14 alumnae, though many more students from both the islands and the mainland had participated in the summer field projects. This is a rough average of three certificate graduates every academic year. Higher numbers are anticipated if the proposed program receives adequate funding. The core course of world maritime history (HIST 489) was typically filled to maximum capacity. Summer field courses (ANTH/OEST 688) typically had 10-12 participants, with 12 being maximum capacity. Furthermore, grants obtained by the maritime program have made employment of certificate students a reality.
Hawai`i’s isolated location restricts the number of available local graduate students, and the decision to relocate to the islands for mainland applicants is a difficult one, given that the program has been a certificate minor only and not a professional degree. The potential exists for inclusion of an undergraduate experiential program, one that would be more available to the general public as well (graduate admission not necessary). Such refinement would boost numbers and draw the UH program closer to the general community. There is currently no undergraduate program in this field available anywhere, and many past inquiries into the program and its projects incorporated this issue. Most project participants in past field courses were undergraduates.
Resources
Faculty
Professional researchers on and off the UHM campus can provide the expertise required to run the UH maritime program. The following UH faculty members and associated professionals have been and are still active participants in the maritime field in Hawai`i:
Jim Adams National Park Service
Jim Bayman UHM Dept. of Anthropology
Jerry Bentley UHM Dept. of History
William Chapman UHM Historic Preservation Program
David Chappell UHM Dept. of History
Wendy Coble Naval Historical Center
John Coney UHH Marine Option Program
John Craven UHM Marine Option Program
William Dudley Naval Historical Center
Ben Finney UHM Dept. of Anthropology
Michael Graves UHM Dept. of Anthropology
Bion Griffin UHM Dept. of Anthropology
Karen Jolly UHM Dept. of History
Pete Hendricks State Division of Aquatic Resources
Jerry Hofwolt USS Bowfin Museum
Judith Hughes UHM College of Arts and Humanities
Daniel Lenihan National Park Service
Daniel Martinez National Park Service Pearl Harbor
Sherwood Maynard UHM Marine Option Program
Floyd McCoy Windward CC Marine Option Program
Peter Mills UHH Dept. of Anthropology
Larry Murphy National Park Service
Bradley Rodgers ECU Maritime Studies Program
Yoshi Sinoto Bishop Museum
Mark Staniforth Flinders University
William Still ECU Maritime Studies Program
Hans Van Tilburg UHM Marine Option Program
Existing Resources
Existing classrooms and facilities are sufficient to offer the full complement of courses needed for the certificate. The Marine Option Program has an adequate inventory of diving gear and tools to start the program. Documentary resources (mentioned above) are more than adequate for student research purposes.
The original proposal from 1996 stated:
To start the program, one Professor (I5) with expertise in maritime history and/or maritime archaeology must be added to the existing faculty as a Director to head the new program, get it organized, start its operation, and coordinate its development...within the program’s probation period, a second faculty member should be added with expertise to complement the Director’s, and a secretary should be hired to provide administrative support.
This was never done, and the program’s past successes are chiefly due to a collaborative volunteer effort, and a part-time temporary position. The need for an established position and support structure still exists.
Program Parameters
Admission Requirements
Certificate candidates must be admitted to the University as classified graduate students. Concurrent candidacy for an advanced degree or possession of an earned baccalaureate in anthropology, history, American studies, Pacific island studies, or a related field and equivalent experience will normally be deemed evidence of adequate preparation. A statement of interest, completed certificate application forms, transcripts from previous study, and three letters of reference will be required and reviewed by a faculty steering committee.
Advising and Administration
Each student will form a three-person certificate advisory committee from the list of program faculty. This committee will assist the student in designing an appropriate curriculum and capstone project, and will monitor the student’s progress. Policy guidelines, admissions and approval of petitions, faculty membership and program development will be carried out by a seven-person steering committee.