[intro music] HIKI NŌ, Hawai‘i's   New Wave of Storytellers.

Aloha.

Welcome to HIKI NŌ on PBS Hawai‘i.

I’m  Emma Roy, a senior at H.P.

Baldwin High School   on Maui.

In this episode, I get to share a  special collection of stories from Hawai‘i's   New Wave of Storytellers.

We'll watch stand  out stories from the first round of shows this   season.

There's going to be stories of impressive  musical talents, stories about important changes   happening on Kaua‘i and on Hawai‘i Island,  the joys of inline hockey and snowboarding,   and much more.

So, let's dive in.

Our first  piece comes from my classmate at H.P.

Baldwin   High School on Maui.

Jaden is a master at the  piano, but I'll let him speak for himself.

[Fur Elise plays] The piano is one of my most developed skills,  as I've done it for nearly a third of my life.

I started playing in the sixth grade, and  it stuck with me ever since.

I was inspired   by the internet, by watching people who have  mastered the instrument.

When I saw them,   I thought they were the coolest people in  the world, and I wanted to be just like   them.

This pushed me to go and take lessons  myself, something I had never done before.

[quick piano music] At first, I did it to have fun, to have a hobby,  something to do when I was bored.

But as I played,   I learned that it can be so much more than that.

It can be something I can do when I need to vent,   feeling down, and it can even open up possible  career opportunities in the future.

To me,   it's not just about playing music, it's about  improving myself and learning from my mistakes,   to become the best version of myself  and strive to be a better player.

[piano continues] [ocean wave] The next piece I'd like to share comes from  Honouliuli Intermediate School on Oahu.

Students went to an indoor inline hockey rink  to meet one of its up-and-coming star athletes.

[upbeat music] A young man hopes to lead the next  generation through his example.

My name is Jordan Nahoi-Baricar.

I am a part of,  like, the coaching staff, and then also like,   running most of the practices, basically  like the, probably the higher end group.

Jordan is a hockey player who plays for Team USA.

He got there through the lessons he's learned.

When someone sets a bar, you can always pass  it.

Say, for example, like I had someone that I   aspired to, and he made it to Team USA, and he set  that bar.

Years later, I come up around, and then   I get Team USA as well, kind of passing his bar.

And then I'm still passing it as of right now.

[cheering] When he is not playing, he  helps teach younger people   the game through the hockey courses and practices.

I coach younger players to show them how I  experienced my younger hockey experience,   and then to also help them  be better at hockey as well.

And while all this is happening,   he is still able to show others aloha  in the rink, on and off the rink.

On and off the rink, so I would say, on the rink,  I like to talk to everybody as much as I can,   just make friends.

And on the  rink, I always try to, like,   watch my surroundings and watch their  surroundings.

Like, say, for example,   if someone's like, skating towards  me, but then their back is turned,   then I try to, like, give them a little heads  up.

Just be like, a little helpful out there.

Jordan went to the training camp for the men's  Junior National ATU hockey team for Team USA,   and we found out this week  that Jordan made the team.

[cheering] I think Jordan's a good coach because he  is funny and he makes us work hard.

We also   have hustler awards for the best worker.

He's a good sportsmanship and he's fun.

He's always gone easy on us, and his shots  are super fast, super hard.

I think one   time we recorded how fast the slap shot was.

I  think it got to like 60, 70 miles an hour.

So,   but he's also just super fun to play with.

He  always makes sure that everyone's having fun.

Coach Jordan is a really good coach.

He's a  really good player when he's playing someone   that matches his level.

Oh, and he's a very  good coach at practice, when we do drills,   he knows, yeah, he knows a lot of drills, and  he's very good at a lot of things in hockey.

Jordan continues to inspire the next generation.

Through his teaching, he will ensure that these   kids will grow up with valuable lessons that  will help them for the rest of their lives.

This Jameson Novotny reporting from Honouliuli  Middle School for HIKI NŌ, on PBS Hawai‘i.

[ocean wave] Kaua‘i's landfill is running out of space and  time.

It's a serious issue that was investigated   by students at Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School  on Kaua‘i.

Check out their impressive report.

People should really care about  the life expectancy of our landfill   because if we run out of landfill space, we  literally have no place to put our trash.

In Kaua‘i, the Kekaha Landfill is where  most of the waste on the island goes.

It's highly convenient for the residents  of Kaua‘i because it gives them a place   to put their waste.

But what is the  current situation of the landfill?

The Kekaha Landfill started in 1953 is  when we started putting trash in there.

And that was under what we call phase  one, which is the old-style landfills,   where there was just a hole in the ground, and  we would put stuff in it.

And then in 1993,   right around when Hurricane Iniki struck, was  when we started phase two of the landfill, which   has a liner system and other systems  to more properly manage the waste.

As the Kekaha landfill dangerously  nears its capacity limit, which   is predicted to be in three years, what  does this mean for the future of Kaua‘i?

So right now, we are between a rock and a hard  place, because it is monumentally challenging   to be able to site a new landfill.

The previous  administration literally had 10 years, and in   that 10-year period, it was, they were not  able to successfully site a new landfill.

So,   we not only have to get a suitable site,  but we have to go through all the planning,   the designing, and most importantly,  an environmental impact statement,   to make sure that the land that is  designated as a new landfill is suitable.

As we continue to search for and follow through   with alternative solutions,  what can be done to help?

I'm sure you've heard of the three R's, reduce,  reuse, recycle, and they're said in that order,   because that's the best way to do it.

So, source reduction is something where   you try not to use things in the first place.

Reuse is when you use something over and over,   and then there's recycling.

Well, the county  has been engaging the public in those programs   for the last 20 years in order to be able  to get what we call a waste diversion rate,   which is people call it a recycling  rate too, is 43% of everything that   comes onto the island is diverted  before anything goes into the landfill.

People should make sure that they try as best  as possible to stop using single use plastics,   if possible, and especially single  use, you know, water bottles,   I think.

But people should really think  about how we can go about existing and   living and leaving as small a footprint as  possible, especially living on an island.

This is Stella Fornari from Chiefess Kamakahelei  Middle School for HIKI NŌ, on PBS Hawai‘i.

[ocean wave] Now for a charming update from Honowai Elementary  School students on Oahu who take us behind the   scenes of their brand-new recording studio.

They are learning so much from such a young age.

Hi, I'm Lyhanna Corpuz Hi, I'm Jazlyn Saloricman.

I'm Jaylene Tenoso.

And we're sixth graders from  Honowai Elementary School.

Speaking of which, did you know that  our school, Honowai, has a recording   studio?

It's in a new building that was  finished in 2023 after almost six years   of construction.

The building has classrooms  for media, special education, music, and arts.

Now that we've been filming  in the studio for a year,   we’d love to share some facts about this studio.

Fun fact, this studio is used for our  weekly boarding message production.

In our morning message, we share important  announcements, such as the lunch and breakfast   schedule, weekly highlights, seasonal  activities, our core values, and many more.

Before we got this recording studio, we filmed in  the STC.

STC stands for Science Technology Center.

This is where we used to film the  morning message.

As you can see,   we had very little to work with.

Instead of a  green screen, we had a giant sheet of green paper.

We had to work with what we had.

We  built our way up this steep mountain,   and we are very thankful for what we have now.

We believe that this studio has  been the reason for our success.

What success, do you say?

To clarify, we have  won three awards at ‘Ōlelo Youth Exchange 2024.

Furthermore, in this studio, we learn  how to direct, how to record audio,   how to create graphics, and do  many jobs to film our school's   morning message.

We've learned a  lot about filming in the studio.

This is Lyhanna Jazlyn And Jaylene from Honowai Elementary  School from HIKI NŌ, on PBS Hawai‘i.

[ocean wave] This next piece is also from some of  our younger contributors.

It was the   first piece published for HIKI NŌ by  students at Alvah Scott Elementary   School on Oahu.

It's a HIKI NŌ Did You  Know all about honu.

Let's dive in.

Have any of you seen a honu swimming in the  ocean or sleeping on the beach?

Would you   know what to do?

All sea turtles in Hawai‘i  are protected by the Endangered Species Act.

Here are some interesting facts you might not  know.

According to Hawai‘i Marine Animal Response,   green sea turtles get their name due to the color  of their fat, not their shell or their skin.

Also   known as honu, they are the only turtles that bask  on land to rest and regulate their temperature.

Sea turtles have no teeth.

They have a sharp  serrated jaw that lets them tear their food.

If   you see a sea turtle on the sand at the beach,  please stay at least 10 feet away from them to   protect them.

This is Leo Hu from Alvah Scott  Elementary School for HIKI NŌ, on PBS Hawai‘i.

[ocean wave] Rafael Stark, a home schooled  senior and star HIKI NŌ contributor,   produced this impressive story about a  family man who also has a serious job   as a K9 handler at the Honolulu  Police Department.

Check it out.

Most people, when they first meet Pete,  find him to be kind of standoffish,   a little intimidating, but once you  get to know him, he is super warm,   super friendly, quite funny.

You know, he  is definitely the fun parent in our home.

Meet Pete Jones, a husband, father of two, a  Honolulu police officer for 27 years, and a K9   handler for the specialized services division  within the department.

He's also a person.

Police officers are truly people.

We're no  better or no different.

We have the same bills.

We have the same ups and downs.

We  have issues like a normal person.

I   always want to be an answer to someone's problem.

[dog barks] And that I can use the skills and knowledge that I   have.

That's probably the most happiest I  am, and I feel like I've fulfilled my job.

But this job comes with risks.

The dangerous part about my dad's  job is that he can be called out   at any moment.

I always make sure  to say I love you before he leaves,   because there is a chance that my dad  could like, potentially not come back.

There was a time when I actually got seriously  hurt.

I got seriously injured at an incident   where someone was refusing to comply, and it  ended up with a shootout.

I was hit and as   well as my dog.

When I was in the hospital and  I was recovering after a few days after surgery,   my partners brought my dog into the hospital  after he had surgery, and I think that was   the first time that he and I got together  after about a week or so after our shooting.

Despite surgery and a long recovery  in 2018, quitting was never an option.

No, no.

Once I made the decision that I needed  to provide for my family, that was the goal.

So,   everything else that that I have to  deal with on a daily basis at work   has to be understood by me that  it's just a requirement in order   for me to attain a bigger goal,  which is to provide for my family.

Well, for one I would like to address, I do have a   cool dad.

I think he's awesome.

I think what he does is awesome.

Certain jobs come with unique challenges, but – If you do your job well   and you respect the responsibility that you have,  you can truly feel that you've made a difference.

This is Rafael Stark, a homeschooled  senior for HIKI NŌ, on PBS Hawai‘i.

[ocean wave] Students at Kua o Ka Lā Public Charter  School on Hawai‘i Island really impressed   us with this special commentary  piece.

You'll take away a deeper   understanding of what's at stake  for their community in Milolii.

Aloha.

My name is Leah Labo.

I’m a  seventh grader at Kua o Ka Lā Public   Charter School on Hawai‘i Island.

A major  change is planned for our beloved building   in Miloli‘i, and not everybody in  our community is happy about it.

[Hawaiian chanting] This hālau, or meeting house, is the heart of our  village.

It is where we come together for school,   where we celebrate birthdays, and  where we have community gatherings.

[Hawaiian singing] This community has been its  caretaker for generations.

Any time that the hālau would burn down, the  family would get together to rebuild it.

Yeah,   whether it was going harvesting for the  pili grass, or harvesting for the ‘ōhi‘a.

The hālau is in Miloli‘i beach park where the  county is planning a $1.75 million renovation.

Some of the changes include building a new halau,   restrooms, upgrading the parking  lot as well as adding paths.

The biggest reason for this project is called  accessibility.

It’s for people with disabilities,   right?

So that’s the reason for the project.

So  then there’s going to be walkways all throughout   the park, and then there’s going to  be a boat turnaround area as well.

While these changes are meant to improve the park,   some worry they’ll do more harm than good,  like increasing traffic, trash, and pollution.

One of the things that we heard from the  local community is during our community   meetings is that we try not to advertise  all the upgrades that are happening to   the park.

It’s up to us to have it  remain the same as much as we can.

Many residents say upgrades will  attract more tourists through the area,   which could disrupt our local  gatherings, and even our school.

I’m kind of hoping that the community  comes together and comes up with some   kind of tourism management strategy of  their own design.

It’s a long process,   I think, to come up with something that limits  tourism in a way that works for everyone.

This is an incredibly important project,  especially for the people who live here,   work here.

They mālama the land when the  county’s not here.

Their input is the   most important piece to this whole thing and  designing everything in the way that is pono.

It’s a community beach park.

It’s a community  park, even though the county maintains it.

This is a community haven, and that’s our  job is to make sure it remains the same.

After speaking with county officials, our family,   and people in our community, we are still  concerned about these changes in Miloli‘i.

[Hawaiian singing] But because this place is special to us, it is our  kuleana to keep learning to protect our community.

This is Leah Labo from Kua o Ka Lā Public Charter  School in Miloli‘i for HIKI NŌ, on PBS Hawai‘i.

[ocean wave] Sometimes our teachers surprise us with  their talents.

That was the case for this   next profile piece from students at  Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy's Middle   School on Hawai‘i Island.

They profiled their  teacher, who was also a talented musician.

My name is Dagan Bernstein.

I’m an educator  and a musician.

I've been living in Waimea   for over 30 years now, and on Hawai‘i  Island for about 40 years altogether.

Singer-songwriter Dagan Bernstein, who  lives on the Big Island of Hawai‘i,   performs at multiple venues several  times a month for various audiences.

Finding his passion for Hawaiian  music was an interesting journey.

We didn't have TV growing up.

I grew up in  this coffee shack.

We had a record player in   the living room, and my dad had his Beatles  records and jazz records.

When I was 18,   I had spent my whole life here on this  island, and so I was very eager to leave.

In Waimea, Bernstein told his  story to a live audience at a   Civil Beat storyteller’s event in March 2024.

I was getting ready to leave for college in  Oregon, and so I decided to stop by Birdʻs Audio,   our beloved former local record shop  to pick up some CDs to bring with me   for this new adventure.

And like I usually  did, I started talking story with the owner,   Bruce Bird.

He checked out what I was buying,  and he asked, aren't you going to bring some   Hawaiian music with you?

So, he flipped  through the Hawaiian music rack and said,   "Okay, you got to take this one."

And that was this CD right here,   the Waimea Music Festival live album.

Little did  I know how impactful this album would be for me.

When Bernstein left home, he found he added  love for Hawaiian poetry, history and music.

Through the mana of Hawaiian music,  Bernstein found a connection.

Over the next five years, I would spend hundreds   and hundreds of hours playing along with a  full assortment of Hawaiian music albums.

When he returned home to Hawai‘i,  his life started a new course.

After I was done with college and had my degree  and was kind of just living and working in Oregon,   of like, okay, I really want to go  home.

Like, I really miss being home.

A legend in Hawai‘i for slack key guitar,  Braddah Smitty, a member of the famous Hawaiian   music family, the Pahinui’s, and a  musician with the Sons of Hawai‘i Band,   was a lucky person for Bernstein to meet.

He really schooled me on everything,  like the songs to play, how to play them,   how to sing harmonies, how to play my ukulele.

He encouraged me to tell my story and to tell   the stories of this place.

He never created  distinctions between me and him because of my   white skin or haole background.

He understood  that I love for Hawaiian music deep within me,   and that I was dedicated  to perpetuating this music.

Bernstein now wishes to put positive  energy into his music in hopes that a   deeper connection will be felt for his listeners.

Music was how I connected with people in  this place.

So, when I'm playing music,   I want to just feel like I'm a part of my  community, and I want to continue being inspired   and to write songs about this place that I love  and about people and the experiences I have as,   you know, someone living here in Hawai‘i.

I recall the days far away from my island  home.

Playing Hiʻilawe on my radio.

This is Finnegan LeDuc from Hawai‘i Preparatory  Academy for HIKI NŌ, on PBS Hawai‘i.

[ocean wave] The final piece I'd like to leave  with you is one of my own creation.

I've been lucky enough to hit the snowy  slopes almost once a year.

I hope this   sweeps you away to my happy place,  the slopes of big white in Canada.

Paradise.

This is probably what you think of,   right?

It is pretty nice.

I'm actually  lucky enough to live here in this paradise.

But I don't consider where I live my paradise.

My paradise doesn't have palm trees or beaches   or constant sunlight.

My paradise is somewhere  entirely different, specifically two whole plane   rides and an hour bus ride northeast.

Yeah, this place.

This is my paradise.

[upbeat music] So, what is paradise?

In literate words, it is  an ideal or idyllic place or state.

So yeah,   I guess my ideal place is here in the snow, not  the sun.

And sure, there are countless other   things I can do here, all of which I enjoy, but  the real reason I love it so much is because of,   well, this.

I would sort of consider it  my secret passion, considering the fact   I come from a place where skateboarding is  the closest thing to boarding down a hill.

Here, I truly am able to clear my mind from the  worries of life.

I forget about my anxieties.

I   forget about my problems, and the only worry I  have is about injuring myself.

It's my type of   adrenaline.

I can be myself on the mountain.

And  sadly, when the time's up and I have to return   back home, I remind myself that even though  I'm going home to someone else's paradise,   my paradise will always be waiting  for me in the mountains and the snow.

[ocean wave] That concludes our show.

What an amazing array  of stories we've seen this first round.

I can't   wait to see what our students produce the rest  of the school year and season.

Thank you for   watching the work of Hawai‘i's New Wave of  Storytellers.

Don't forget to subscribe to   PBS Hawai‘i on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok.

You can find this HIKI NŌ episode and more at   pbsHawai‘i.org.

Tune in next week for more  proof that Hawai‘i students HIKI NŌ, can do.

[outro music]