The History Department's emphasis on historical development reflects the most current scholarship in this area. Teachers in the History Department are involved in a number of professional development activities, ranging from reading the advanced placement exams to conducting or attending workshops both locally and on the Mainland. Members of the department participate in a number of professional organizations such as the Organization of American Historians, the American Historical Association, the Hawaii Council for the Social Studies, and the National Council for the Social Studies.

Through the required courses (Geography, World Civilizations, Modern European History, and United States History) students gain a fundamental understanding of the world today. Additional electives reflect student demand and teacher scholarship in other important areas: American History Studies, Asian American Experience, Asian Studies, Modern East Asian Studies, Global Issues, History of Hawaii, Russian History, Voices of the Medieval World, Advanced Placement United States History, Advanced Placement Modern European History, Advanced Placement Economics, Advanced Placement Government, and Micro- and Macroeconomics. All of these courses provide depth and breadth to the History Department's program.

Guest speakers are invited to campus on a regular basis. During the past couple of years, speakers have included: Russell Means on "The American Indian Movement"; Pat Masters on "Remembering Pearl Harbor"; Tom Mountain on "Black Music and Culture"; and Brenda Foster, Director of PAAC, on "Vietnam Today," which was based on her trip there in the fall of 1991. Other community speakers have visited individual classes, for example, Mollie Hustaceh from the Honolulu Academy of the Arts, who presented a series on American Art History.

Students participate in the Model UN, International Relations Club, PAAC, Citizen Bee, Geography Bee, the Close-Up program in Washington, D.C., as legislative interns during the legislative session, and the Rotary weekend for economics students. The junior class takes a field trip to Pearl Harbor and the Bowfin Submarine museum annually. Field trips are taken by History of Hawaii, Asian American Experience and Asian Studies courses. Other field trips are taken by other courses as are appropriate and as can be arranged. Teachers in the Department occasionally will take a field trip to investigate new resources, as in the trip to Kapiolani Community College to view a presentation on multimedia.

Ongoing cooperation between the English and History Departments exists in order to teach and reinforce thinking and writing skills. Connections include coordination between the seventh grade Geography and English courses, and coordination between Computer 9 and Modern European History for quarterly papers. Interdisciplinary courses that have been developed include American History Studies (team taught) and Voices of the Medieval World (taken for either History or English credit). The English and History Departments have occasional joint meetings to discuss matters of mutual interest, such as grading standards and new interactive multimedia software.

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