Collections and Archives
The Pacific Collection at UHM
One of the world’s finest collections of Pacific materials, with over 90,000 volumes relating to the islands of Melanesia, Polynesia, and Micronesia is housed in the Pacific Collection in the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Hamilton Library.
Pacific Islands Report
An archive of daily news, commentary, and analysis from across the Pacific. PIR ceased publication in October 2017 with over 100,000 articles written throughout its 20 years of service.
Moving Images of the Pacific Islands
MIPI is a searchable wiki repository that houses comprehensive information about more than 6,000 moving images of the Pacific Islands. The database is intended as a reference for those interested in films related to the Pacific Islands—that is, films produced about the Pacific Islands (Melanesia, Polynesia, and Micronesia) or Islanders or filmed in the Islands. In addition, many of the films were written by, directed by, produced by, or star Pacific Islanders.
This website is currently being updated.
CPIS YouTube Channel
When possible, the center video records seminar talks and other events and makes these recordings available on its YouTube channel for those who are unable to attend events in person.
Plants and the Environments of the Marshall Islands
An introduction to plants and vegetation zones found across the Marshall Islands. This website is an adaptation of the book Plants and the Environments of the Marshall Islands in collaboration with lead author Dr. Mark Merlin.
Pacific Studies Initiative Syllabi and Bibliography Collection
Instructional materials for teaching about the Pacific Islands, primarily in higher education. Included are course descriptions, reading lists and bibliographies from specialized courses on the Pacific as well as non-specialized courses that may facilitate teaching about the Pacific in general humanities and social science curricula.
This website is currently being updated.
Pacific Maps and Charts
Maps and informational charts that may be downloaded and printed for classroom use, but may not be altered in any way and may not be used in any publication without the written permission of the Center for Pacific Islands Studies. To obtain permission, please write to the Center for Pacific Islands Studies, 1890 East-West Road, Moore 209, Honolulu, Hawaiʻi 96822; or email the center at cpis@hawaii.edu.
Please allow 1-2 weeks for a response regarding map requests. Mahalo!
- Map of the Pacific Islands
- Unlabeled map of the Pacific Islands
- The Republic of the Marshall Islands (new orthography ) (old orthography )
- Political Entities of Micronesia
- Political Statuses of the Pacific Islands
Resources for Teaching
Pacific Worlds (K–12th grade)
The Hawaiʻi Geographic Alliance and the Center for Pacific Islands Studies invite K-12 teachers to view a new Pacific geography website for students and teachers. The website, created by geographer Doug Herman, at Towson University, features sites in Hawaiʻi, the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Yap, and Palau. Other locations in Hawaiʻi and the Pacific will be added to the site.
Pacific Island Economies (6–8th grade)
Pacific Island Economies was created as a classroom tool for seventh-grade teachers in Hawaiʻi who are teaching Pacific Islands Studies. In simple, engaging language, it defines what an economy is, compares statistical information on different Pacific nations, and discusses the kinds of resources that make up Pacific economies. It is accompanied by charts, photos, glossary, and a list of additional resources. The module was introduced in a summer course for teachers at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa in 1999 and modified along the lines suggested by teachers.
Pacific Places (7th grade)
The Pacific Places curriculum unit addressed three Hawaii Department of Education benchmarks for the seventh-grade Pacific Islands Studies course PRIOR TO 2019: the World in Spatial Terms (PI.7.1) benchmark and two Human and Physical Characteristics in Spatial Terms benchmarks (PI.7.2 and PI.7.3). The unit is designed as a self-contained package that can be used by teachers who are new or familiar with the Pacific Islands. It contains four lessons taught over a span of twelve classroom periods, and includes procedures/activities, resources/tools, and assessment instruments.
Resources for Health Professionals
Understanding Marshallese Patients
Online resources on health care in Micronesia, particularly the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
