GG 103 - Geology of the Hawaiian Islands

Course Description

  • Prerequisite: Placement in ENG 22/60

Survey of Hawaiian rocks, minerals, volcanism, erosion, sedimentation, landscape evolution, geologic history, and regional geology.

Student Learning Outcomes

Successful completion of this course satisfies the physical science (DP) requirement for the natural science area requirement for Honolulu Community College's General Education Core.

Upon successful completion of GG 103, the student will be able to:

  • Describe the geologic setting of the islands.
  • Describe the structure and composition of the primary minerals of which Hawaiian rocks are composed.
  • Demonstrate familiarity with the range of composition and types of Hawaiian rocks.
  • Describe and recognize the nature and variety of volcanic processes, products, and features.
  • Describe the cycles, stages, and individual characteristics of the Hawaiian volcanoes.
  • Describe and reecognize landforms and characteristics of various stages of stream erosion cycles.
  • Demonstrate understanding of the nature of erosion, transportation, and deposition by streams.
  • Demonstrate understanding of how valleys are shaped by stream erosion and mass wasting.
  • Demonstrate understanding of the weathering process, and the role of moisture in the island environment.
  • Describe and recognize the processes that shape the coastal environment and the landforms which they create.
  • Demonstrate understanding of the role of sea level and climatic changes in the geologic history of the islands.
  • Demonstrate understanding of the relationship between the origin and ages of the islands and global tectonic processes.
  • Describe the relative ages of the islands and the individual volcanoes on the various islands.
  • Describe the main geologic features on the eight major islands.