HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER INSIGHTS TO THE 1859 ERUPTION OF MAUNALOA VOLCANO, HAWAI‘I: APPLICATIONS TO GEOSCIENCE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION

The Hawaiian archipelago has a rich and ongoing history of volcanism that provides unique opportunities for geoscience research and education. Hawaiian language newspapers published between 1834 and 1948 contain invaluable information about a huge range of subjects, including volcanic eruptions and other geologic and natural events. Previous studies on Hawaiian volcanos have referenced Hawaiian language materials [e.g., Kauahikaua and Camara, 1996, 2000; Kauahikaua et al., 2002; Riker et al., 2009]. This work expands on these studies. We investigate the 1859 eruption of Maunaloa Volcano from Hawaiian languages newspaper articles that were published while the eruption was occurring. The 1859 lava flow is the longest (51 km) known in the volcano’s historic record, flowing from high on its flank down to the western coast of the island of Hawai‘i and into the ocean. Hawaiian language newspapers give insight to the event from a different point of view. This work is a case study demonstrating the wealth of knowledge contained in the newspaper repository, and its applications to both scientific research and place-based geoscience education. Accounts of lava flows in Hawai‘i are particularly relevant given the recent 2018 eruption of Kīlauea Volcano. Geoscience lessons can be developed in both English and Hawaiian, focusing on volcanic activity in Hawai‘i. The indigenous language resource contributes a distinct perspective to volcanic events in Hawai‘i, providing a more comprehensive understanding of Hawai‘i’s history.