Broadcasts of HIKI NO on PBS Hawai‘i# are made possible by the support of## viewers like you.

Mahalo.

And# by Bank of Hawai‘i Foundation:## investing in Hawai‘i's future by promoting# collaboration, critical thinking,## and other 21st century skills through HIKI NO.

The# Kosasa Foundation: helping to transform education## and develop Hawai‘i's workforce through# bold learning initiatives like HIKI NO.

When I would do these stories, I would# get to connect with people heart to heart.

There are skills in HIKI NO that I've learned# that I will take with me into my career.

You do things that impact people, and we, we# bond over that, being able to make change.

I feel it's my kuleana to really showcase our# island is just filled with aloha and love.

That's pretty powerful for# a 17, 18, 16, 15-year-old.

[slow orchestral music] Storytelling is an important# thing,.. but for life.

My name is Emi Sado.

I graduated# from Maui High School in the class of 2024.## I was in sixth grade at Maui Waena Intermediate# School, and how I got into media was it was just## the most random thing.

I only had ever done, I# think, morning broadcast for elementary school,## but one day at recess, Ms. Suzuki, the media# teacher said, “You should join our media program.”## And I was, of course, very shy, and I joined.# It was the most chaotic year.

The room had,## I think, over 100 kids that year, but just# joining and meeting her and knowing, like,## she knew who I was, was kind# of what pushed me to continue.

To have a room full of that many kids, you# have to have - the eighth graders and the## experienced seventh graders have to become# mentors.

So, every year we go through like## a training process at the beginning of# the year.

How are you going to teach the## next group?

What do we need to teach them?# And so, they become the leaders in there.

I love Ms. Suzuki.

No, love is an understatement.# She's probably one of my favorite teachers I've## ever had.

She cared for all of us so# much, and having her believe in me,## especially as a seventh grader not knowing what# I was doing.

The reason why I was so successful,## I feel, in that first year, and# then later into the second year,## and then all the way in high school, was# because of the confidence she gave me.

Organic Farmer Michael Marchand of Olinda,## Maui, found his love of farming# after suffering a great loss.

The first challenge I did, it was about a farmer,# Michael Marchand.

That day, I didn't know what## I was getting myself into.

It was still foreign.# This story definitely pushed me to be in the HIKI## NO standards from shooting to editing.

Editing# definitely was difficult.

We had to cut up that## interview and find the sound bites that definitely# made the story what it is and make it compelling.

A little bit of dirt.

That’s the healthy part.

It was very cool to see a story# that we created on TV, at least,## that I was a part of.

I used to tell my# parents, oh, I remember filming that shot,## or I made that cut.

It was just something to be# super proud of.

I learned so much from HIKI NO.

It## really taught me that, like, there's no one# way to do things.

You can do a sequence in a## million different ways.

I think storytelling is# one of the most important skills that I learned.

I grow food because I believe it's the most# important thing we can do on this planet.

In early 2020, I was on a traveling team# to STN, or Student Television Network,## and this was, of course, during, or right before# the pandemic.

And I was about to compete for STN## when we found out that it had been canceled due# to the pandemic beginning.

We prepared so much## for this competition, and I knew instantly# that this was going to be important.

So,## I created the story I worked# the hardest on, and it was on## the cancellation of that competition,# as well as the start of the pandemic.

I feel a little bit robbed, because last# year I didn't win, and I wanted to prove to## myself and others that I could win, but I wasn't# allowed to do that, because this was taken away.

I interviewed every single student on the team# just to get their reactions and hopefully come up## with a story that would be compelling.

I spent,# I think, two months on the story.

I reported,## I filmed, I edited.

It ended up on HIKI NO.

It# was probably the biggest story I've ever done.

This is real, actual journalism.

So, if, in that# case, I guess we're super lucky to have this## experience, because I've never had a journalistic# opportunity like this in my entire life.

Moving into high school from middle school# was very difficult for me.

I never got to## step onto my campus until my sophomore year# because of the pandemic.

Going into media,## I had to reframe my mindset of how a# story is made, because, of course, we## can't physically be there.

I can't physically# go up to someone and ask them, “Oh, do you,## do you mind if we interview you?” I was lucky# enough to be placed in Mr. Gima’s media class,## and I had always talked about HIKI NO# and STN and all these competitions that## I had participated in in middle school, and# that anchoring was my favorite aspect of it.

Aloha and welcome to this episode# of HIKI NO, Hawai‘i's New Wave of## Storytellers.

My name is Emi Sado, and# I'm a sophomore at Maui High School.

Mr. Gima asked if I wanted to anchor, and I# was, I think I was ecstatic.

I loved anchoring,## and I've never done it for HIKI NO, and it# looks so awesome on HIKI NO, that I was like,## yes, 100% yes, and it was all remote.

So I was in# my library, and I was taking direction from HIKI## NO staff, and then moving into my junior I was# invited to the actual studio to host in person.## It was incredible, the lights and the sound.

I# had never been in an actual TV studio until that,## and I have to thank my media teacher, Mr. Gima,# for that experience, you can find this HIKI## NO episode and more at pbshawaii.org I will be# attending California Polytechnic State University,## San Luis Obispo in the fall, I'm majoring in# construction management and hopefully minoring## in business.

There are skills in HIKI NO that# I've learned throughout, from middle school even,## that I will take with me into my career.

I truly# believe that every career requires some sort of## listening aspect or listening to other people's# stories.

And I've also ultimately learned that## challenges are not a bad thing.

There's# always a way to make something positive,## and I hope that I continue to make positive# impacts, especially with storytelling,## especially with observing and listening,# all skills that I learned through HIKI NO.

My impact that I want to leave on the world, just# being able to give a voice to people that wouldn't## necessarily have the opportunity or even the# chance to get that kind of voice.

My name is Mari## Iwata, and I am a graduate from Waiakea# High School.

So last year, in August,## HIKI NO sponsored the Hawai‘i Creative Media# Workshop, and they came to the Big Island.

During## the two days that we had the workshop, I worked# on my personal reflection called taking a swing,## which was basically about my tennis career# during my sophomore year.

And even though## I had a little bit of a rough patch, you know,# everything turned out okay in the end.

We kind## of started to develop it the storyline thinking of# what kind of B roll should we use over here?

When## should we cut in and cut out?

I was like,# wow, I might have a good story for once.

One day I, along with a few others, were# pulled aside to have a talk with our coach.

It was showing a side of myself that, yeah,# I did lose at one point.

I did take an L,## and I had to admit that publicly,# but I didn't take it too like,## hard on myself.

I was just thinking like,# oh, this might inspire somebody that - who## might be in a similar situation as me, and that# might motivate them to still keep on trying.

He told us we would not play# for the league championships;## we did not have to go to practice, and# we could get a refund on our uniforms.

I don't mind sharing my own stories, even if it# makes myself look a little silly on camera.

It## brings comfort to other people.

I feel like# it's similar to how some people share their## lives on social media, but because it's coming# out on a platform like PBS Hawai‘i HIKI NO,## it feels a lot more personal, and it feels a lot# more realistic and comforting.

My first reaction## that I got was from my mom.

I remember showing the# video to her one day, and then she just started## to cry.

And I looked at her, and I was like,# it's nothing crazy.

But then she was like, “No,## but it's seeing your story and seeing you being# out there and sharing it towards other people in## the community,” that's what really affected her.# And I was like, “Ah, you're just saying that.” I always told her it was a good story.

She didn't# feel it was a good story.

And I told her, “No,## it is a good story because it came from# the heart.

It’s what you experienced.” For the past four years, PBS Hawai‘i# and Mental Health America of Hawai‘i## have awarded and honored young HIKI# NO Storytellers for their courage## and creativity in raising their# voices to share personal stories.

I was a little shocked, because my view of# mental health, I didn't think that I fit into## the category and let alone did I think that I# would be getting an award for mental health.

When I first found out that I got the Student# Voice Award, I found out from my parents.

Why## would anybody want to invest in a high school# kid complaining about their tennis career?

So,## I was a little shocked at first, but then when I# finally went to the award ceremony and I saw the## different types of people there, I realized that# it wasn't just about being diagnosed with a mental## illness.

It can just be a form of motivation.# And so, that really changed my perspective on## mental health.

Letting students have a voice# and being able for them to have an outlet.## I feel like that's really important, especially# in this day and age where a lot of people just## mask up their own personal problems or just act# like they're fine.

But having something that,## even though you have to let yourself# be out there, you have the power to## influence others.

That's pretty powerful for# a 17, 18, 16, 15, year old, or even younger.

For my final year in high school, I will be# the one to serve the winning shot.

Hopefully.

When HIKI NO first reached out for me being# a host, I was kind of, again, doubtful,## because I was like, I did one video.

I was like,# “I don't think I'm that interesting.” And then## it was even more pressure when I found out, oh, I# wouldn't be hosting just one, I'd be hosting two.

We hope you’ve enjoyed the# work of Hawai‘i's new wave## of storytellers.

And don't forget to# subscribe to PBS Hawai‘i on YouTube.

HIKI NO has definitely pushed me to be able# to actually have conversations with people,## which is definitely important knowing that I'm# going off to college in a state that I do not## live in and I am not familiar with.

So, it's# definitely a life lesson, and also a key aspect## to life.

In the fall semester, I will be attending# Loyola Marymount University.

It is located in Los## Angeles, California, and I will be majoring in# Screenwriting.

One of the videos that came in## handy for my college applications was my Taking# a Swing video.

I really want to be able to tell## the stories of my own community, and whether it's# through a retelling, or just being able to share,## like, oh, you know this one time through# at like, the grocery store at the market,## you know, kind of stories.

Being able to share# stories through digital media and just HIKI NO,## I found that I really enjoyed that aspect of it,# of being able to give a voice to people who may## not have had the chance to talk about these things# to a wider audience.

I think if I were to do a## documentary, I would do it on the community and# specifically the local stores in downtown Hilo.## I'm really appreciative of the place that I grew# up in, and the kind of people I grew up with,## and so just being able to give back and just be# able to show it to them would mean a lot to me.

[chime] a vet, because I'm all into, you know, animals.

My# name is Tristyn, and I just graduated from Kapa‘a## High School.

It all started my sophomore year# of high school.

When we're giving the student## reflection, at first, I was a little confused# on exactly what I wanted to do.

It took a## couple minutes, then I was like, “Oh, I think this# would be interesting as a story.” Hunting is very## important to me and my family.

Since I was a baby,# I've been going hunting with a family.

That's the## way we get our food.

So, like, we don't have to# pay expensive meat in the stores.

It's just fresh## from the land.

My whole family does it.

We go# about like, every weekend.

My video showcased the## whole process of hunting, what my family does to# keep that invasive species from damaging our land.

In Hawai‘i, pigs have no natural predators.# This is the role I play with my family.

It all started with my script.# I had to run it by my teacher,## making sure the whole script I was gonna say# was good and flowed easily, and then editing,## it was really just forming all the shots and# B rolls that I had into the perfect story and## make it flow nicely.

I did my own camera by# myself, so I would put the camera bar there,## and then I would have the screen facing me so# I knew I was in frame.

And I took about, like,## a lot of shots, maybe like 10, just re-saying it,# and if I mumble, I would have to do it again.

It## was a little hard finding all the footage I was# gonna use and exactly what I was gonna say to## make my point across to my audience, and it took# a while, but in the end, it was all worth it.

Hunting gives me the opportunity to help out## my community with controlling# the population of wild pigs.

The student reflection allowed me# to reflect on exactly what my life,## the type of lifestyle I have, and I'm kind# of just proud to live this way and provide## for myself.

And I really got to show that in my# video.

My classmates’ reaction to my video was,## was pretty memorable, because they're not# used to this, to this type of lifestyle.

So,## they're really interested, and they kept# wanting to see more, which made me feel good.

The bond I had with my animals is unique,## because to me, they're not just pets,# they're partners, almost like coworkers.

Hopefully, my video showed people# exactly who I am and what I do.

The next Student Voice Awardee recipient# is Tristyn Rivera from Kapa‘a High School.

When I got an email saying I got an# award, I ran to my mom telling her,## and that's when I flew out to O‘ahu, got the# award, did a speech.

I was nervous that day.

I want to thank my family who supported# me through the making of my video and my## digital media teacher, Mr. Sanderl,# who has taught me all the necessary## skills that are needed to know.

Lastly,# I want to thank PBS Hawai‘i and Mental## Health America of Hawai‘i for giving me this# opportunity to share my story.

Thank you.

After that, I got hooked into filming, and# that's when I decided I was gonna make this## a career for myself.

So, for Fall Challenge,# we did Waipa, which is in Hanalei on Kaua‘i.

We## really got into work, into the taro patches,# and they really gave us very informational## feedback about the type of you know, taro,# the connection to our Hawaiian culture.

The keiki have to learn from the kupuna# because the kupuna have the knowledge## and the mana‘o and everything from# them are passed down.

So, generation,## generations in the future, it's not going# to be about me, it's going to be about them.

What's really special about Kaua‘i is the# community.

Everybody knows each other.## We're always providing for one another, and# I'm just very proud of living on Kaua‘i.

I## feel it's my kuleana to really showcase Kaua‘i# island and their aloha they share with people,## and to just really show my audience that# our island is just filled with aloha and## love.

It really made me feel good to produce# that type of video to show other people.

For## the 2024 Spring Challenge we did, Malama# Kaua‘i.

They are really into sustainable## planting and giving out to the community fresh# fruits that they've grown in a sustainable way.

Our impact in our community is# in our weekly delivery services.## Our drivers are helping to feed over 100# families on island from Kekaha to Ha‘ena.

We give Malama Kaua‘i eggs.

So, I had a connection# with them, and I really wanted to make a video## for them, because they're really into the# community and just providing for everyone.## Doing HIKI NO challenges really helped me to gain# more experience.

It's very challenging.

You only## have four days to produce a video, and the whole# weekend, we were just editing.

And Monday came.## We stayed after school editing it, and in the end,# we got first place.

Receiving the news that we got## first place really excited us.

Our teacher# was screaming, and everybody was screaming.

I really want to be a camera operator, the# one behind the screens, because I really enjoy## filming the action that's happening in front of# me and just making the story that somebody made## come alive.

I will be attending Grand Canyon# University where I'll be majoring in Filming.## The school has a really great filming facility,# and they, you can rent cameras from them,## and everything.

All the stories I've done# in my high school career has been about the## Hawaiian culture, and I just really# want to share the Hawaiian culture,## their practices, and how we really# kept our culture alive for many years.

[upbeat piano music] Can do.

Oh, my gosh.

I would have never imagined and thought I would# be creating stories with all my closest friends,## and it would go and be shown like statewide,# and then all of a sudden go out and be like## nationally presented.

And I think those# opportunities are just insane to me.

My name is Misty Griffith from# Moanalua High School class of 2024.

And I'm Ashlyn Tamura from Moanalua# High School, also the class of 2024.

So, I first heard about HIKI NO when my# teacher, he brought up, he was like, “Oh,## do you want to do a HIKI NO challenge?” And I was# like, “Duh, I want to do a HIKI NO Challenge.” So,## we ended up competing in the Winter Challenge and# the Spring Challenge.

The Winter Challenge was we## had a prompt, Disruption Sparks Change.

When# we were interviewing one of our math teachers,## Keith Kitamura, we found out that back when he# was younger, he got into this driving accident.

In 1997, Keith was in a car accident# that forever changed his life.

That happened to him when he was# a high schooler.

He's paralyzed,## and things that we don't think about# every day, like driving even, like,## that's a challenge that we don't really think# about.

I just felt really impacted by his story,## because that's like, stories that we don't really# hear about day to day, challenges that we don't## think about.

Like, it's definitely very eye# opening and something that we can learn from.

Well, anybody can teach math, you# know, but I want to do more than that,## and inspire or help them in some way# beyond math.

We found the classroom.

So, we got first place.

Yay.

First, first ever# HIKI NO Challenge, and we got first place.

What these HIKI NO challenges taught# me is a lot about being independent,## because things aren't going# to go your way all the time.

Andre Pulido, father of four, does# what he can to help out the community.

One of my most memorable projects was# working on the HIKI NO challenge story,## Faith Moving Forward.

It features# Andre Pulido.

His story is unreal.

A huge explosion at the old Hard# Rock Café after police say a man## tries to steal copper.

33-year-old man is in# critical condition with severe burns tonight,## after police say he tried to steal# copper wire from a transformer vault.

Well, it started 12 years ago, I was on drugs# and trying to get money for my meth habit.

So,## I got electrocuted when I was cutting the copper# wire.

I didn't think I was going to make it,## so I just cried out to God asking God to# save my life.

And as soon as I cried out,## the transformer machine I was in, it exploded.

He told us that his skin was literally# just melting.

He had to get his skin## grafted.

While he was on fire, he cried out,# and he was like, I'm gonna change.

I'm gonna## do better.

I'm gonna be sober so I can raise my# daughter and my family.

I can be a good husband,## and that is exactly what he did.# Now he has like, four daughters,## and, yeah, him and his wife are doing# great, and just to see him be such an## amazing father and a husband is so rewarding.# To see where he was and then where he is now,## it's just like, it changes something inside of# you.

It's so inspiring and it's so heartfelt.

If I was still on drugs right now, I can# guarantee me and my wife would have been## divorced, my kids would have been# without a father, and my you know,## I wouldn't have my family.

So, I'm so# thankful for that day because it helped## me to break that drug habit.

It was,# it was keeping me asleep for so long.

I remember when we won, I ran to his house, I# knocked and I was like, “Uncle Andre, we won!”## Because we got to feature him and# his amazing testimony and story,## it got to be heard by so many people# and change their hearts as well.

A lot of people might be going through the# same things, the same battles.

And you know,## seeing someone whose story, like, turned their# life around, that's going to inspire people,## that's going to motivate people, and we# want to see good things.

And HIKI NO,## being like, a platform is such a great# tool for people to learn about others,## and then want to do things# in their own lives as well.

I guess people look at Gen Z and they're# like, “Oh, they're lazy.

You know, all they## do is just sit on their phones” and all these# things.

But I think doing things like HIKI NO,## their Challenges, and actually using that as# a stepping stone to build stories, it really## gives the Gen Z and the newer generations# such an amazing voice to see like, look,## our generation can do something good.

I will be# attending University of Portland for nursing,## and I want to specialize in either oncology or# being a NICU nurse.

Through high school and being## in the media classes, it has really helped# me, because when I would do these stories,## I would get to connect with people# heart to heart.

When I go into nursing,## I'm not only taking care of them, but I want to# build that heart-to-heart connection with them.

So, I'm going to UCLA, and I'm going to# be majoring in biology in hopes to become## a doctor.

Similar to Ashlyn, I've always# cared for people, and again, through media,## that's kind of my way of giving back and showing# people that I care.

I feel like with media,## there's so many different things that you learn# and so many different ways that you can apply## that to any job, really.

Even without# the cameras, even without filming like,## you still need that communication skills.# With HIKI NO and those Challenges like that,## that's really going to set me up for success# when I do want to pursue my career as a doctor.

I don't think I would have wanted to do my high# school career any other way.

Not only did I get## to learn about storytelling and really getting# to connect with people, getting better socially,## but I also got to build amazing friendships and# bonds with people that I never thought I would.

Yes, I would agree, like we have# so many fun memories.

I feel like## it's a different type of friendship# between like a sports friend versus,## like, a media friend.

You're definitely# way more connected in a way.

You do things## that impact people.

And I feel like, we, we# bond over that, being able to make change.

[slow orchestral music] Broadcasts of HIKI NO on PBS Hawai‘i# are made possible by the support of## viewers like you.

Mahalo.

And# by Bank of Hawai‘i Foundation:## investing in Hawai‘i's future by promoting# collaboration, critical thinking,## and other 21st century skills through HIKI NO.

The# Kosasa Foundation: helping to transform education## and develop Hawai‘i's workforce through# bold learning initiatives like HIKI NO.