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

Hi.

Welcome to HIKI NŌ on PBS Hawai‘i.

I'm Pono Wong, a sophomore at Mid-Pacific   Institute on O‘ahu.

Thanks for joining  us to watch the work of Hawai‘i's New   Wave of Storytellers.

In this episode, we'll  learn about beautiful birds that are unique   to Hawai‘i.

We'll explore Hawaiian legends  that remain significant in the modern world.

And we'll even visit an elementary school  campus with its own student run supply store.

First, let's learn about the Hawaiian ‘alae ‘ula  bird in this upcoming HIKI NŌ Did You Know video   from students at Wai‘alae Elementary  Public Charter School on O‘ahu.

You'll   be charmed by this delightful bird.

Hi, my name's Mari.

I'm a fifth grader   at Wai‘alae Elementary School.

This is our  school mural of the ‘alae ‘ula, or Native   Hawaiian moorhen.

Did you know the ‘alae ‘ula is  a small water bird native to our neighborhood,   and it's endangered?

There are only about a  thousand left.

According to a Hawaiian legend,   fire was brought to the people of Hawai‘i by the  ‘alae ‘ula, which explains their red foreheads,   a symbol of the scorching from the fire.

Despite  their history, during the 20th century, their   population declined dramatically, and the species  became endangered.

Threats to the ‘alae ‘ula have   come from both humans and other animals.

The ‘alae ‘ula historically had a few predators.

They had the Pueo and the Auku‘u, which is the  Night Heron.

Over time, though, as people came,   they brought more predators with them, like the  cats, rats, mongoose.

They also brought turtles,   frogs, and so the list just keeps growing and  growing, in addition to just human activities.

In recent years, the population has  been stable or increasing thanks to   predator control and habitat management efforts.

There's like, a bunch of different things people   are doing.

The main one is that they're caring  for these spaces.

So, they protect it, like James   Campbell National Wildlife Refuge, Hāmākua Marsh,  Kawai Nui, Ka‘elepulu.

All of these wetland spaces   are now being managed and cared for by somebody.

You can see the ‘alae ‘ula in all of those wetland   spaces and even in parking lots in Kailua town.

This is Mari Yamamoto from Wai‘alae Elementary   Public Charter School for HIKI NŌ on PBS Hawai‘i.

[ocean wave]   This next story about the Laysan albatross seemed  timely to share again.

The report comes from   Island School on Kaua‘i.

It turns out the Garden  Isle is one of the best places in the world to   study the behavior patterns of the albatross.

The Laysan albatross, with a population of   nearly 2.5 million birds, was absent from the  main Hawaiian Islands since the arrival of the   first humans.

In the 1970s for reasons not yet  verified, these animals of the air flew back   to their ancient Kaua‘i nesting grounds.

They're extraordinary.

They're beautiful.

They're they nest almost nowhere where people  can watch them.

So here on Kaua‘i, we have the   opportunity to witness their lives in a way  that most other people never get a chance to.

These birds have traits that  human parents strive for.

They have an amazing set of characteristics  that humans respect.

They don't hide from any   weather the world throws at them.

They are loyal  and faithful to their chicks, their families,   their mates.

They are affectionate.

When you see  them together, when you see the mates reunite,   there's no question that they're being  affectionate to each other.

They go off,   in fact, the ones that have chosen to mate but  don't have an egg this year go off and make   out in the woods.

There's no question, that's  what they're doing.

And then both the parents,   both the mom and the dad, share absolutely equally  in the duties.

They both tend the egg.

They both   feed the baby.

They work really hard.

They fly  from here to Alaska and back in order to find   enough food to feed their babies.

So, they're  hard-working parents.

That's why they only always   have one baby, because two is impossible.

The trade winds of Kaua‘i may be one of the   reasons why these birds have  returned to our north shore.

Because they ride the wind for days on  end without ever flapping their wings,   they can go for weeks and even more than a month  without eating because they spend zero calories   flying.

As opposed to a hummingbird, for example,  that could die of starvation in a day because it   flaps constantly, albatross can go days and days  without flapping.

So, they need the wind.

The   wind carries them places, and gravity carries  them places, so they fly low over the ocean,   sort of tacking like this over the ocean till  they get to places where the wind hits Kaua‘i.

These birds brought their own style back  to Kaua‘i, a style that never flies south   for the winter.

This is Jacob Dysinger  of Island School on Kauai for HIKI NŌ.

[ocean wave] Now I'd like to share a special feature story   from Wai‘anae High School on O‘ahu.

They explore  the Hawaiian legend behind their school mascot   using beautiful cinematography.

Enjoy.

[ocean wave]   For decades, locals on O‘ahu have told their  children varying stories of a mysterious figure   lurking in the oceans off the coast of Wai‘anae.

I've learned this story from my kupuna,   my teachers, my friends, my family, you  know, anyone who just happens to mention it.

Everyone knows this and that about it,  but very few people know the whole story.

Mo‘olelos, or stories, are essential  in Hawaiian culture, as they are   often passed down by word of mouth, without  documentation.

The story of this mysterious   figure is the closest to Hawaiian tradition,  as there's no physical trace of it anywhere.

This is a story that you can't  find by just Googling it.

It's   one that is special to the west side and its  people.

The way the mo‘olelo goes is that-   There was an unnamed valley with a young and  handsome chief, and his name was Makaha.

He is riding on the back of the tiger shark,  spear in hand, protecting the ahupua‘a and the   people on the West Coast.

[conch shell blows]   And it's said that he's the first Sea Rider.

The Sea Rider is said to be an Ikaika warrior,   riding on the back of a tiger shark, donning  a helmet, and grasping his wooden spear as   he protects the coast of Wai‘anae.

Although the  origins of this mo‘olelo remains unclear, he has   become an important figure in our community.

It's not just an urban legend for many of us,   it's a representation of how resilient we can  be, especially coming from Wai‘anae and all   the hardships we face as a community.

He became such a predominant figure in   the community that in 1957 when Wai‘anae High  School was first established, a committee decided   upon the Sea Rider as the school's mascot,  hoping to share his values with the school.

We are the only school, the only place, really,  that has that mascot.

It's made for our community,   and it also represents our inner strength,  represents our resiliency as a community.

And I think the Sea Rider is a good  embodiment of what we are as a people.

To outsiders, the Sea Rider may seem  scary, but to Wai‘anae community members-   Being a Sea Rider means you are strong,  resilient, just proud to be from Wai‘anae;   just being able to show up and ride  every single wave that comes your way.

This urban legend is more than just  a story, but a reminder to young   Hawaiians like Kukalia to stay true to the  cultural values that the Sea Rider upholds.

So, I think if we can reflect more on  these urban legends and these mo‘olelos   that is part of our culture, then it would help  the people in general go back to our roots and   start to demonstrate these Hawaiian values, such  as aloha, kuleana, mālama.

We don't have the best   circumstances all the time.

We're not as well off  as other communities, and so we've learned to be   very resilient and to just find happiness  and peace and make do with what we have.

This is Natasha Maafala from Wai‘anae  High School for HIKI NŌ on PBS Hawai‘i.

[ocean wave] There are so many Hawaiian legends to   learn.

This next piece from students at Hilo High  School on Hawai‘i Island, received second place   in the 2022 HIKI NŌ Spring Challenge.

Students  tell the story, or mo‘olelo, of Boiling Pots,   which is located along the Wailuku River.

Hidden in Hilo’s back yard is the Wailuku   River.

This river holds many stories and  tales that become part of Hawaiian culture,   one of which is the mo‘olelo of Boiling Pots.

Here we are at Boiling Pots, where the Battle of   the Wailuku River took place.

This story contains  Hina, Maui, Pele and the giant mo‘o, or lizard,   Kuna.

So basically, Hina was living in the cave  behind Rainbow Falls.

And the mo‘o Kuna came in   and tried to take her over.

So, Hina asked her  son, Maui, to ask, or to get rid of the mo‘o.

So,   one way that Maui got rid of him was to ask  Pele.

“Pele, let's throw some lava in the   water and let's get him out.” So, that's kind of  how the story of the Boiling Pots took place.

The story of Boiling Pots carries a special  meaning for our community and to Hilo High School.

Ms. Kristin Iona, a Hilo High School teacher,  tells us the significance and the lesson that   we can learn from the mo‘olelo of Boiling Pots.

Boiling Pots and Wailuku River and mo‘o Kuna is   just one of the stories that's represented on our  mural.

We weave together lots of different peoples   and characters and lessons.

It just  happened to be one of the lessons,   or one of the mo‘olelo that we used in  our mural.

If you see the lizard eye,   to me it's a reflection of how we can learn  from it, from the ideas of forgiveness, loyalty,   so much more, friendship, but also communication.

Looking at it by not seeing who's the bad person,   is there a bad person.

If we could see it from  all sides of the story, we can learn from it,   and I think that's a very important lesson for all  of us.

We are always learning from the lesson of,   uh, Wailuku River and Boiling Pots and mo‘o Kuna  and Hina and Maui.

They are all teaching us,   all the time.

We have to just connect back  to it and realize the story is there for us.

Boiling Pots basically starts a very big hidden  gem because the water provides so much life, so   much culture and stories that it starts, and the  Boiling Pots Battle of Wailuku River, it started   so many legends, mo‘olelos, of the Hawaiian  culture, and it kind of just went all through   Hilo.

So, that's a big hidden gem of this part.

Boiling Pots may be known as a tourist spot to   many, but its cultural significance  will remain an important part of our   identity for years to come.

This is Nathan  Ragasa from Hilo High School for HIKI NŌ.

[ocean wave] There's another special story   in Hawaiian culture about a rock named Manaʻua  in Waimea on Hawai‘i Island.

It is said to have   saved Waimea from a devastating drought.

Let's  learn more in this piece from Hawai‘i Preparatory   Academy on the Big Island.

[Hawaiian chanting]   You know, you have to believe.

You have to  believe, and you have to trust that the ways   of an ancient people that were here before you  and were passed down to you are upright and true.

While in a hidden place in the small town of  Waimea on the Big Island, a legendary pohaku, or   rock, by the name of Manaua was a savior for many  people in their times of need and despair.

Many   Hawaiian people believe that Manaua can provide  a safe haven for them to practice their culture   and to perpetuate what they believe in.

[speaks Hawaiian] My name is Pua Case.

I   am born and raised here in this community of  Waimea.

This is my onehanau, my birthplace.

Mauna Kea is my mountain, and I am standing  in front of Manaʻua, the rain rock of Waimea.

Manaʻua got its name from the mo‘o, or  lizard, that lives in Kohakohau stream   that sunbathes on this pohaku with her family.

There are those who still can see them, and so,   when we come here, those who can see  them will say, “Oh, Manaʻua is here.”   It is said that Manaʻua has the gift to  bring water to Waimea in times of need.

When my father was in charge of water for the  entire ranch, you know, we went through a really,   really severe drought in 1978 and 1979,  where we didn't have any more water.

If   you can even believe that, in a community  here in Hawai‘i, where the only water you   have is coming out of one spigot at church row.

Many people, like Pua Case, believe that Manaʻua   is the one responsible for  bringing Waimea out of the   drought and turning it into what you see today.

It is a place that we treasure, that is alive with   the prayer and the offerings, and it is something  that we can teach our children.

So, we made a   promise in this community that we hope to keep,  and we've been doing it for years, where every   student in every school learns about Manaʻua.

By learning the story of Manaʻua,   the community and students are  helping preserve the story of Waimea.

Wherever I am, I am at the sacred places  between Manaʻua and Mauna Kea, lies Waimea.

[Hawaiian chanting] This is Jane-Grace Cootey from Hawai‘i   Preparatory Academy for HIKI NŌ.

[ocean wave]   This upcoming video from ʻIlima Intermediate  School on O‘ahu is about preserving a Māori   cultural dance.

Let's find out  how to make poi balls at home.

Originating in New Zealand, poi has  been part of the Māori culture for   hundreds of years.

Poi in Māori is also known  as taro root.

Poi balls have two major parts,   the ball and the string.

To make your own  poi balls, begin by taking three sheets of   newspaper and crumple them into a tight ball.

Then measure a piece of yarn 35 inches long.

Use   this piece to measure and cut 15 more sections,  35 inches long.

You can use the same color of   yarn or choose three different colors for your  braid.

Tie all 15 pieces together into a knot at   one end and divide the yarn into three sections  of five pieces each.

Braid the entire length of   yarn and tie a knot when you get to the end.

Take one end of the braid and gently push it   into the center of the paper ball.

Then, place a  plastic bag over the newspaper ball and secure it   tightly around the braid with a rubber band.

Cut  off the excess plastic bag from the ball.

Repeat   this process to make a second poi ball.

It takes  a lot of practice to improve your coordination,   but eventually you may be able to dance  a traditional Māori poi ball dance.

[ocean wave] This is the first   year we – our school is participating with HIKI  NŌ.

We all kind of started from scratch.

It's   my first year as a media teacher, and their  first year in this type of media classroom.

But we nicknamed them the dream team.

On the ʻIlima Intermediate story   about poi balls.

I was the cameraman.

I was the actor and part of the script making The director was Shancidy  and she was also the editor.

I said, Okay, you know, we're all gonna learn  how to work together and get to know each other.

You aren't necessarily friends on campus, but  that's how teams kind of come together in the   professional world, everyone has their talent that  they're bringing to the to the group project.

The benefits of working with someone else is you  get to like, meet them as the person that they   are.

Because before I started working on this  video, I didn't really know who Tobias was.

Like, I know he was in my class,  but I didn't really know, like,   got to know him.

So it was cool getting to meet  new people, and you get to see how they think   about camera shooting and editing and voiceovers  and all the things that come with making a video.

We each had to rely on each other, because each  of us gave each other something to build on.

So   for example, the director, when I made a shot,  she would give me tips on how to make it better,   and I would use that.

I would tell the actress  how to stand to make a shot even more better.

Shancidy did pretty good, because  the video turned out great.

When we heard that the story was going to be  aired, we were all excited.

I was especially   excited because I never ever done anything  that was gonna go on live TV.

Our dream team,   we were, like, very shocked and happy.

Then,  like, we kind of started dancing and stuff,   because it's the first time, like, one of  our videos from ʻIlima got aired on TV.

I told my parents and my family, and they're all  excited, and wanted to know when the air date   was so that they could watch it themselves.

Working on HIKI NŌ projects as a teacher so   new in the game has really kind of boosted  my confidence, to show me that, you know,   I can embrace this new program, but it kind of  helps keep me anchored, because just like with   the students, I like having something that I'm  working for that's bigger than just my classroom.

[ocean wave] Punahou School on   O‘ahu also keeps certain Hawaiian traditions alive  with its Holokū performance each spring season.

Let's learn more about the family who helps run  the program in this episode from our archives.

The Eldredge Family has been running Punahou’s May  Day Program and Holokū pageant for over 47 years.

My mother contributed so much to the  Holokū Pageant.

Her passion was so great,   and she really created a program  that was very special to her heart.

When Hattie became the director of the Holokū  Pageant at Punahou, she honored the traditions   and the culture of Holokū and all the May Days at  Punahou that had come before.

But being Hattie,   she put her own creative stamp upon it.

Each  one of the girls, instead of representing an   island and being in a satin holuku, was dressed  to represent one of the women ali‘i of the past.

And so, she began to teach also as well  as entertain with the Holokū pageants.

But after their mother's unexpected  passing, sisters Leilehua and Lauli‘a   decided to carry on the family tradition  of creating these grand productions.

We knew that was always a desire of my  mother’s for hopefully us to continue   the program.

It's been our family for  many years.

Lauli‘a has always been a   part of the Holokū Pageant.

She's been  a part of the kahiko portion for many,   many years.

I've been a part here and  there, directing certain numbers.

It was really a natural progression.

So, my  nieces Leilehua and Lauli‘a, Hattie’s daughters,   took over, and they're the directors now,  and this is their second year.

And, you know,   they're really the only people who knew more  than anyone else how the pageant was run.

My relationship with my sister has enhanced  tremendously since, you know, we've become the   co-directors of the program.

My sister and I are  very different people.

You know, we both have our   strengths and our weaknesses.

My sister is very  much, you know, an organizational type.

For me, my   strength is more of the creativity component, you  know, bringing the theme, the storyline together.

So together, we complement each other quite well.

Through many months of hard work and dedication,   the two sisters organized and directed the  2011 Holokū pageant, which took place only   nine months after their mother's passing.

Since, you know, our mom's passing,   and having to work together and live together,  it just has made us grown so much, and you know,   we love each other even more than we ever  have before, and I think that's something   that's so special and so, so great about it.

As preparations for the 2012 Holokū Pageant are   underway, Leilehua and Lauli‘a are looking forward  to sharing their passion for the Hawaiian culture   with the Punahou and local community.

This  is Alayna Kobayashi reporting for HIKI NŌ, on   PBS Hawai‘i.

[ocean wave]   Students at Honowai Elementary School on O‘ahu  have worked together to build a school supply   and merchandise store on campus.

They tell us  the story of how the Honozon store on campus   began in this next HIKI NŌ Did You Know.

Hello there.

Did you know our school,   Honowai Elementary, has its own school  store?

The school store is called Honozon.

It's called Honozon because it sounds like a mix  of Honozon and Amazon.

We sell school supplies,   tie dye T-shirts and more.

The idea all began in  the summer of 2023 when a student thought that   making school supply bundles was like working  at Amazon.

Our reason for making Honozon was to   make it easier for students to shop for school  supplies and whatever they need for school,   or to just have fun stuff like bracelets and  phone cases.

At Honozon, we teach students   how to learn how it is to be an entrepreneur.

We  get recommendations from teachers and students to   sell products like socks or tie dye T-shirts.

We use the funds we make from Honozon one to   help out our school with fun activities, for  example, field trips and learning trips.

Two   of our school’s teachers are the store advisors.

Their names are Miss Andres and Miss Tolentino.

If you ever visit Honowai, or if you know anybody  who goes to Honowai Elementary School, make sure   to visit Honozon, our school store.

My name is Robindhel Fines,   I’m Jhervin Dulay And I'm Angelo Asperin from Honowai Elementary.

For- HIKI NŌ on PBS Hawai‘i.

[ocean wave] That's it for our show.

Thanks for joining   us to watch the impressive work of Hawai‘i’s  New Wave of 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 pbshawaiii.org.

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

[outro music]   I love the idea of HIKI NŌ, the way that students  are able to produce professional work and learn   things in the trade, especially in journalism.

Being given this chance on HIKI NŌ to come   and share our stories.

It's  just such a dream come true.

Media has taught me a lot of life skills.

It  also taught me how much workload that I can   take on.

It was an amazing experience.

I think, definitely in today's society,   people want to hear from the youth, like,  it's so important, especially getting youth   more involved in, like, what's happening in  today's world, personally, and having them have,   like, a creative outlet for that.

I think it's it's amazing to have that,   especially as a student like with  a dream, making work for the state,   to making work for the nation, is crazy, and  I think that the skills that we've learned   in HIKI NŌ totally helped us achieve that.

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

And I  think that is a big thing that I want to take.

There are skills in HIKI NŌ 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.