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

Hi.

Welcome to HIKI NŌ on PBS Hawai‘i.

I'm Keira  Kondo, a senior at Mid-Pacific Institute on Oʻahu,   and I'm so glad you're joining us today.

We're here to celebrate Hawai‘i's New Wave of   Storytellers, showcasing stories that capture the  beauty, resilience and the spirit of our islands.

In this episode, we'll explore the  wonders of Hawai‘i's volcanic landscape,   discover the importance of preserving  history, and reflect on the bonds we   share with our communities and even our animals.

We'll hear stories of restoration, like bringing   new life to a historic bridge, a cherished  theater, and irreplaceable archive video footage.

And, we'll learn from students who  remind us to live fully in the moment,   and how to navigate the world when you feel  like you have two different identities.

Let's begin on Hawai‘i Island with  students from Hawai‘i Preparatory   Academy.

In their HIKI NŌ Did You  Know, they'll teach us about one of   Hawai‘i's most fascinating geological  formations, the cinder cone volcano.

Did you know that most of the volcanoes in Hawai‘i  Island are classified as cinder cone volcanoes?

One could mistake these dormant  volcanoes for mountains.

However,   cinder cones can be found in Hawai‘i as well as  Australia, Canada, Chile, France, and Turkey.

Cinder cones are made by eruptions and can form  with debris that fall around the volcanic vent.

On the island of Hawai‘i, you can see types of  volcanoes such as cinder cones at Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a,   as well as geo volcanoes at Mauna Loa.

Most  cinder cone volcanoes lay dormant and will lie   dormant for a few decades.

These volcanoes  cause the island to grow bigger by lava,   volcanic bombs and ash spreading across the  island.

There are examples of this on Hawai‘i   Island.

We can find evidence of this step by  the rocks which are formed when lava coast down,   and these rocks are all over Hawai‘i Island.

Next  time you go hiking, you can think about the land   beneath you.

This is Yoosoo Jung from Hawai‘i  Preparatory Academy for HIKI NŌ, on PBS Hawai‘i.

[ocean wave] Next, we'll stay on the Big Island to follow   a student from Volcano School of Arts and Sciences  as he shares his personal journey exploring the   breathtaking Volcanoes National Park.

[Hawaiian chanting]   I've been to Volcano National Park around  20 to 25 times.

The culture was a very   interesting thing to learn about, being  that there were so many different versions   of stories that were never written down.

They were just told verbally and memorized   throughout every generation.

Being able to learn  about all the different gods and goddesses and   their stories was very interesting to me.

There's  still so much that I have to learn, and so much   that I'm looking forward to finding out about how  they worshiped the gods, different like ‘olis they   did, or chants, and all the different mythology  that has been included in Hawaiian culture.

I've gotten to see Halema‘uma‘u during the day  and the night, and I've been able to see the   steam vents multiple times, and I have gone to  the lava tubes quite often.

It was very different   each time.

And each time the volcano seemed a  lot different, whether it was the glow or how   the lava was coming out from the crater.

The last time I visited was in December   with some friends of mine.

We went to  Halema‘uma‘u in both day and night,   and we also went and saw the Thurston lava tubes.

I feel that Volcanoes National Park is a very   important place for students to learn  because there's a lot of history in   there about the Hawaiians, Hawaiian  culture, and how it worked back then.

And there's also a whole bunch of science that  is very, very interesting, and the seismology,   how the volcano would erupt, and just seeing  how the Hawaiians thought of the volcano.

[ocean wave] And speaking of volcanoes,   don't miss this unforgettable reflection by Helly  Hughes, a student from Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy   Middle School.

Helly’s family has experienced  the incredible power of lava firsthand.

This is Helly Hughes from Hawai‘i Preparatory  Academy on the Big Island for HIKI NŌ,   on PBS Hawai‘i.

In 2018 my family heard of a lava  flow that was going to come through the south   side of the island.

This included where I lived,  Kapoho.

We thought if the lava did come near us,   it would only block the road to our house and  wouldn't affect the whole neighborhood.

But   we were wrong.

The Civil Defense siren started  blaring at 3 a.m., and they told us we had to   evacuate.

They gave us three days to leave.

We  collected everything we could fit in our car,   and I stayed at a friend's house while the lava  approached Kapoho.

After three days, we heard   that our house was burned down by the lava.

I was having a hard time finding a new school   because public schools wanted to put me in a lower  grade.

However, eventually, I was able to find a   new school to go to, and I was able to make new  friends.

We would have liked to go back to Kapoho,   but there was not enough electricity,  water or resources for us to live there.

Two years later, my family started a new  beginning.

They began constructing a new   house.

We even went over to Kona every weekend to  work on it.

It took a while to move our things in,   but now we're living in Kona full time.

I'm able  to go to school at HPA in Waimea, and I appreciate   being able to have a very nice home.

Throughout  the chaos of the lava flow, panic, and everything   else, I realized that you shouldn't take anything  for granted and that you should always be humble.

I am so grateful for this experience.

The situation wasn't ideal, but it did   teach me a lot.

[ocean wave]   Now let's head to Kaua‘i, where students at  Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School investigate   the rich history of a beloved bridge that was  nearly lost to neglect and harsh weather.

Through a long process of community work, the  Kapaia Swinging Bridge in the gorgeous Kapaia   Valley on Kaua‘i went from this… to this.

The bridge was built in 1948.

There were many   bridges built before this, maybe starting from  maybe the 1850s when the plantation immigrants   came to Hawai‘i.

People walked over the bridge  every day.

In the 1930s, there were 600 people   living in Kapaia, this community of Kapaia.

So, it has a lot of historical significance,   and that's the most important reason  why we wanted to repair the bridge.

Kimo St. John, an important member of  the Kapaia Foundation, says neglect and   severe rains and flooding rendered the bridge  no longer safe.

It was closed in 2006.

Well, it started out with the county  neglecting the repairs on the bridge,   and it kept getting worse and worse, and  then they finally blocked it off because   it became dangerous for people to walk on.

It was during the big storms, when Hanalei   and every place flooded and the roads washed  out, we had a big flash flood.

And when the   water built up, when the thing broke, all those  bushes and trees came rushing down the river,   and they're, you know, they're some big trees,  and they hit what was left of the bridge and   just took it out.

It's part of old Kaua‘i, you  know, and I didn't want to see it disappear.

So,   I went to the county and just said, “Hey, can  you have someone come and repair the bridge?” We   requested that the county put the bridge on the  agenda to get it repaired.

And then the county   just decided they didn't want the bridge, and they  said, “If you guys want it, we'll give it to you,   but then you're responsible for repairing it.” Kaua‘i county representatives were not available   to comment, but the Historic Hawai‘i Foundation  says that the county did contribute $231,000   to repair the bridge after ownership  was transferred to the new nonprofit.

We were able to put it on the  Hawai‘i Register of Historic Places,   and we formed a 501c3 nonprofit association.

And then we were able to do a lot of projects,   you know, to bring awareness to the bridge.

Thirteen years for all that to happen.

It was   a very slow process, and at some points it  was very frustrating, because we, you know,   after three or four years of nothing  happening, you're just ready to give up.

I got a lot of satisfaction out of doing  it, and I love the bridge being there,   but I think it's more important that what  we've done will be passed on to your generation   and your kids’ generation.

And part of Kauai  that should have been kept, has been saved.

In 2017, the bridge was fully repaired and  reopened to the public, a part of Kapaia’s   history and beauty is restored, and it remains  on the Hawai‘i State Register of Historic Places,   according to the Historic Hawai‘i Foundation.

This is Ethan Lagundino reporting for HIKI NŌ on   PBS Hawai‘i.

[ocean wave]   Preserving the past isn't just about structures,  it's about memories too.

In this next story from   our archives, students at Kamehameha Schools  Kapālama on O‘ahu explore the ambitious effort   to digitize Hawai‘i's history on film.

[slow piano music]   Our mission is to preserve and make  accessible as much of Hawai‘i's   moving image history as possible.

They say a picture is worth 1,000 words,   and if every second of a video  holds about 30 individual frames,   the stories preserved at The Henry Ku‘ualoha  Giugni Moving Film Archive are immeasurable.

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you  tonight at DaVinci’s: the Makaha Sons   of Ni‘ihau!

[cheering]   When I was a young filmmaker and I used to go  out there and collect amazing footage, at the   time I didn't know it was an amazing footage.

I  just wanted to be near my Hawaiian community.

I   wanted to be able to document them.

Aloha.

I'm Genoa Keawe.

I've   been singing for over 40 years.

Well, I'm actually very humbled to be, you know,   the first elected Hawaiian governor, and it's  especially humbling in the Year of the Hawaiian.

What we have here in all these little pictures  here are voices of people that help build Hawai‘i.

This was a dream, not just my dream, but the  dreams of many people that came together.

One influential man in particular  made this dream a reality.

My father dedicated his entire life to Senator  Inouye.

They met each other in the 50s, and they   became best friends.

At my father's death, the  Senator and his staff came to me and wanted to do   something, and so this is what they chose to do.

Librarians have long been archiving history,   but this temperature and climate-controlled  facility, which recently moved to its new   home at the UH West Oahu campus, is  the first of its kind in the Pacific.

Now, as people are learning about the archives,  you know, all of this great footage that people   haven't seen in years and years, coming to us and  just, my excitement of being able to make that,   being able to share it and make it accessible  through our work at ‘Ulu‘ulu is really,   really exciting to me.

With over 20,000 precious   video tapes and film reels, the archives face  the challenge of not just preserving it, but   also making it available to the greater public.

So, our website is open, not just for UH students,   not just for people in Hawai‘i, but it's a public  resource.

So, anybody can go online and see,   you know, what Hawai‘i looked like in the  1940s, not just people who remember it,   you know, firsthand, but people who  never, you know, had that experience.

What we have here is a primary educational  resource.

I see it as the voices of our   ancestors that are sitting on those shelves,  that have voices that we can continually learn   about into the future.

[Hawaiian singing]   As the voices of the past inspire  our own dreams for the future,   we can be grateful for the visionaries  behind this amazing resource.

Reporting   from UH West Oahu for Kamehameha Schools  Kapālama, I'm Shisa Kahaunaele for HIKI NŌ.

[ocean wave] Back on Kaua‘i in Waimea,   we'll visit a historic theater that has been  revitalized into a vibrant community hub.

This   story comes from students at Waimea High School.

From date nights to evenings spent with friends   and family, the historic Waimea Theater has  been entertaining Kaua‘i residents for decades.

In 1938 the theater was built.

It was running  until about the 70s when it closed down,   and then it turned into a warehouse.

Different  businesses used it, and then when the hurricane   hit, that's when it kind of shut down, and  the County of Kaua‘i and West Kauai Business   Professional Association wanted to reopen it,  restore it, and bring it back to its old charm.

Hurricane Iniki may have damaged the theater's  exterior, but officials were determined to keep   its heart and history.

That meant bringing back  the rattan chairs the theater had when it first   opened.

To this day, Waimea Theater is the  only theater in Hawai‘i with these chairs.

They also serve as an important fundraiser.

You could buy the seat, and then we would put   your name on a plaque and put it on the seat that  you chose.

And we still have more available.

The 260-seat capacity city theater reopened in  1999 with an expanded lobby that leads straight   to a customer favorite, the concession stand.

We take our customer service very seriously.

When you come in, if you're a frequent visitor,  we know what you like, we know your size of soda,   we know the kind of popcorn you like, you know,  we know the candies you like.

So, it's very   personable, and I think people all really like  that, instead of having the 16-plex where you're   just somebody coming in to watch the movie.

Since then, the theater has continued to evolve.

More than two years ago, the theater switched over  to digital files, instead of 35-millimeter film.

All the movies are now shown in high definition  and even 3D.

But the theater doesn't just show   movies.

It's become a popular entertainment venue.

Its calendar is packed with a variety of events.

This theater is the main host for the HIFF, the  Hawai‘i International Film Festival.

At the HIFF,   of course, we have a whole bunch of different  films, sometimes some local films.

Just recently,   HIKI NŌ had their nomination ceremony.

So, all  the local schools from Kaua‘i came down, and PBS   came down to show the best-of on the screen.

The theater hosts up to 58 events each year,   from school performances and celebrity  concerts to plays and even a wedding.

There was about 30 people in the wedding party  alone.

They used the theater before in the past,   and everybody has a connection  to this theater, so they wanted   to rent it and have their wedding here.

The theater's unique blend of old and new attracts   visitors from all over the island and the world.

Just the other day, there's someone that came in.

They said, "Oh my God, never been to this  theater before, and how great it is and how   beautiful".

And we have tourists that, you know,  we're not open during the day, but if we're in   here, they will walk in, and they just want  to see the place.

You know, lot of tourists   love visitors, they love old historical buildings,  and Waimea Theater is one of the few on Kaua‘i.

The historic Waimea Theater has been an icon  in this town for nearly 80 years, and employees   hope it will continue to be a gathering place,  welcoming the community for decades to come.

This has been Janica Marie Pascua  from Waimea High School for HIKI NŌ.

[ocean wave] In this new HIKI NŌ reflection,   Kapa‘a High School student Tristyn Rivera opens  up about the bittersweet emotions preparing to   leave her Kaua‘i home for college and  to say goodbye to her beloved dogs.

I'm more than just a dog owner.

Some people have pets, but for me,   I have partners who risk their lives doing a job  they love: hunting.

Growing up, I've always been   surrounded by dogs.

I was taught how to provide  for them so that they can provide for us.

The term ‘a man's best friend’ is like no other.

My dogs are very loyal and can sense my emotions,   which can be reflected in their  attitude.

They make a great companion,   which contributes to my sense of self.

As their owner, I've learned how to take on   the responsibility of nurturing and training them  for the rest of their lives.

As the months count   down until I'm leaving for college, I'm becoming  overwhelmed with how I will feel after having to   leave my animals behind.

Even though I know that  my dogs are in good hands, I still feel the burden   of bearing the responsibility of caring for them.

They gave me their trust while I gave them my   heart.

The bond I have with my animals is unique,  because to me, there are not just pets.

They are   partners, almost like coworkers, where we  both benefit from the task that we provide   for one another.

My dogs supply our family  with food, and in return, we provide them   with protection, care, and a place to feel loved.

I'm glad to have grown up in an environment which   allowed me to learn how to become the independent  person I am today.

Through providing for my   animals, it has taught me to become responsible  and to manage my time wisely, especially since   feed time must always be on schedule.

Eighteen years of my life have been   dedicated to the same afternoon routine of  feeding and providing for them.

However,   that will all be put on pause as I strive for my  future goals in field production away from home.

No matter how far I go or how many challenges I  will face, my animals and what I've learned from   them will always be a part of me.

[ocean wave]   Let's revisit this piece by Eli Yasuda, a student  at Waikiki Elementary School on Oʻahu.

Eli shares   his heartwarming experience bonding with  animals at the Hawaiian Humane Society.

He offers some advice to aspiring  volunteers in this HIKI NŌ how-to video.

Do you know what it takes to be a volunteer at  the Hawaiian Humane Society?

According to their   website, the Hawaiian Humane Society started  in 1883.

King Kalākaua and a group of citizens   organized the group to protect animals.

The first  office was actually located in ‘Iolani Palace.

Recently, I volunteered at the Mo‘ili‘ili Humane  Society for the first time.

Going to the Humane   Society is a great way to help the animals.

I went to the Humane Society on O‘ahu three   times for this project.

So, I can tell you  all about what it takes to be a volunteer.

First, I went to read stories with the animals.

Reading with the animals is good for them,   and it also helps us practice our reading  too.

Then I went to visit and play with   them.

When I went to the Humane Society  for the third time, we went to see cats.

When we went inside, there were two rooms.

There  could only be one cat out at a time.

A volunteer   told me that when people come to play with the  animals, they get more socialized so when they   get taken home, it's easier for them to adjust.

There were playful ones, friendly ones,   and there was a new one that was shy.

It only wanted to stay in its box.

Playing with it made it more comfortable.

I had a  lot of fun volunteering and playing with the cats.

When I gave them love and spread kindness, the  cats felt more comfortable in their search for a   new home.

Even though I am only 8, I want to  go back to the Humane Society and help cats   find their forever homes.

This is Eli Yasuda  from Waikiki Elementary School for HIKI NŌ, on   PBS Hawai‘i.

[ocean wave]   This next HIKI NŌ personal narrative  comes from my classmate, Marley Davidson,   at Mid-Pacific Institute on Oahu.

It's  a cinematic portrayal of Marley's two   different worlds on one island.

Let's watch.

Many don't know that I live in two different   worlds.

The first world is what  most know and see.

In this world,   I tend to blend in.

I am unnoticeable in  a crowd, while also having a free spirit.

The city is where I'd rather be.

I'd rather gaze up at the tall   buildings or drive through a tunnel of city  lights.

All my friends are here, my school,   the mall.

Everything I could need lies here.

Now, the second world.

The second world is   what many don't know and see.

In this  world, I tend to stand out.

Although   I was born here, I am not like everyone else.

It is also common to hear about the hate against   the industrialist place the island has become.

Something that I love, I am forced to hide.

I still enjoy the sunsets, the beach, the shave  ice shop, but knowing that I have more than most   here, along with the fact that I don't look like  everyone else, I question if it makes me less of   a Hawaiian.

But no matter how much I am pulled  back between worlds, and two worlds apart from   my true self, I am trying to find a balance,  a balance of who I am and who I want to be.

[ocean wave] Let's wrap up our show with a   visually creative personal narrative from Penelope  Dolin at H.P.

Baldwin High School on Maui.

Penelope’s story is a powerful reminder to savor  life's moments and make the most of every day.

[birds chirping] The sound of birds chirping,   the morning breeze rushing through my window;  it reminds me of a time when we dreamed like   nothing could stop us.

We'd sit outside on the hot  cement by the bushes alongside the road until late   evenings.

We'd ride our bikes down steep hills and  end up sitting in a tall grassy field.

We'd climb   that one tree at the park and do nothing for hours  every day, and somehow you never felt somber.

Now I sit staring at a screen, trying  to keep myself occupied every moment,   hoping something will keep me entertained.

What  happened to enjoying nothing?

What happened to   the serene feeling from just sitting?

As time  has gone on, our attention span decreased,   and boredom is no longer perceived as peace,  but rather an empty void pining to be filled.

Is it too late to find comfort in  nothing?

We really only have a small,   limited time on Earth.

We only live once.

Why not experience life for what it is,   and not through screen for someone else's  experiences?

Stop dwelling on the past,   stop worrying about the future.

Just enjoy  the little things.

Find peace in boredom,   in nothing.

And don't rush through life, because  what is life if we aren't gonna enjoy it?

That's it for our show.

Thanks for joining us  on this journey through the voices and visions   of Hawai‘i's young storytellers.

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

You can find the HIKI  NŌ episode and more at pbshawaii.org.

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

[outro music]