Submitted by Emily Black on the 2022 winter session program in Hawaii sponsored by the College of Health Sciences…
This week on my study abroad program, to Honolulu, Hawaii, our group explored the history of Hawaii. We went to the Bishop Museum to learn about the importance the environment has on the culture. We also got to tour the Iolani Palace, which used to be home to Hawaiian Royalty and is the only palace in the United States. Lastly, we also went on a walking tour on Waikiki’s Historic Trail, which is a trail located on the beach with landmarks with descriptions of the site’s historical significance on surfboards. Through these combined experiences I was able to learn a lot about how Hawaii’s history plays a role in its modern healthcare system. For example, Hawaiian’s have always valued women as members of society, long before it was embraced by western culture. Because of this, one of the Queens of Hawaii founded a Women’s Health Center for the Hawaiian people, long before women’s health was considered a specialty of medicine.
