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As soon as my fingertips brushed the surface of the water, a large tiger shark came up from underneath me and grabbed onto my leg.

Meet a shark attack victim who has become one of the world's most avid shark protectors.

Find out how much hard work and dedication it takes to become an accomplished equestrian.

Learn how to draw one of Hawai'i's most iconic flowers.

See what it takes to become a junior lifeguard.

Find out what inspired one of Hawai'i's classical music treasures.

Get to know the grandson of the woman credited with reviving the Hawaiian language.

And meet a competitive swimmer who won't let a chronic breathing disorder get in the way of her goals.

All on this episode of HIKI NŌ, coming to you from the island of Hawai'i and the students at Waiākea High School, home of the Warriors.

That's next, on the nation's first statewide student news network, HIKI NŌ... Can do!

Welcome to historic Hilo.

This small, but charming town is located on the east side of the island of Hawai'i.

With a population of about forty-three thousand, we may not have all the recreational amenities of a large city, but we still manage to find lots of things to do.

We would like to share with you some of our favorite spots to hang out, grab a bite to eat and take in Hilo's beauty.

We're here at Ice Pond, located in Reed's Bay, and just off of Kalaniana'ole Street.

The cold spring-fed waters make it a popular spot to cool off.

The pond offers a great place to swim and enjoy its view.

Our first story takes us to the island of Kaua'i, where students from Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School tell the story of a protector of sharks who brings new meaning to the phrase: Turn the other cheek.

I mean, statistically, you can say that a shark attack is a lot larger than one in a million.

I think there's also every three days, there's a million sharks being killed for their fins, and every day, there's not a shark attack.

I think those numbers just say alone how lopsided the conversation is about shark attacks, and about the health of sharks in our oceans.

Mike Coots is a local surfer, photographer, and a shark ambassador from Kīlauea, Kaua'i.

I became an advocate for sharks basically in one hour.

I was watching a YouTube video called Sharkwater by Rob Stewart, and I was completely blown away by what we're doing to sharks.

There was a number that came on the video that was about halfway through, and it said: Seventy to a hundred million sharks a year are killed for their fins for shark fin soup.

And I saw that figure, and I did like five rewinds.

I was like, This can't be right, this number is absolutely insane.

I'm not a scientist, I haven't studied really science in college, but just that number alone, you know that can't be healthy for our waters.

He has used his passion for sharks to protect them.

I have a pretty active social media platform.

I try to get the word out that sharks aren't these sort of killers that just will attack anything.

I have used the irony of my situation to be able to get into policymakers' doors.

I've spoken to Congress.

I've spoken to the United Nations.

I've helped draft-the legislation here in Hawai'i with our state senators.

The irony Mike is referring to lies beneath an event that happens to one in a million people.

Well, actually, one in eleven million people.

I remember like, as soon as my fingertips brushed the surface of the water, a large tiger shark came up from underneath me and grabbed onto my legs.

I knew I was getting attacked by a shark, because I could see it right on my chest.

And I tried taking my right hand, and out of instinct, I tried getting my legs out of its mouth.

That didn't work, and it started doing this real slow motion swing back and forth, and I remember immense pressure on my legs.

With my left hand, I just started punching it in the head a couple times, and I think it hit a good three times on the snout and it let go and released its grip on my leg.

He hasn't let his disability bring him down, and always looks to the positive side of things.

Losing my leg to a shark has definitely changed my life.

It's changed it for the better.

It's brought me incredible experiences.

I've been able to travel places, meet amazing people, do things I don't think I would have done otherwise.

It's also made life more challenging-that's the honest truth, just day-in and day-out with a prosthetic leg.

It's a little bit more difficult, but you just learn to adapt.

And things that you think you can't do, you can do it with your prosthetic, and you realize you can do.

It's pretty rewarding and fulfilling.

And you sort of build on these little challenges and, after a while, it sort of defines who you are, and you really think there's nothing you can't do.

Mike Coots is truly unique.

Through using his disability, he has helped save the very thing that took his leg.

This is Gabriel Go from Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School, for HIKI NŌ.

HIKI NŌ is now on Instagram.

For show updates and a peek behind the scenes, follow us on Instagram@hikinocando.

Our next story comes from the Salt Lake District of O'ahu, where students from Moanalua High School explore the dedication of a young equestrian.

Hi, Bandit.

I've always been in love with animals.

When I was little, I had so many animals.

Probably could count over a hundred today, a range of fish and birds, and lizards, and ladybugs, and rabbits.

[INDISTINCT] But guinea pigs, dogs.

[CHUCKLE] So, I love animals.

When I did find horseback riding, I fell in love with horses themselves.

Moanalua High School senior Angelina Johnson has always had a passion for horseback riding.

I love being around horses.

Just the energy and the kindness in their eyes.

The way that they look at you, the way that they understand you.

They are very kind souls, and I just want to work with them for the rest of my life.

I think horseback riding means so much to me now at this point because I've put so much into it.

I've put hours and hours, and a lot of sweat and tears into horseback riding.

Angelina's love for horses, however, comes with a hefty price.

Being an equestrian can cost over eight thousand dollars a year for lessons, horse essentials, equipment and clothing.

In order to do what Angelina loves, she needed to find a way to support herself.

In the beginning, I had to finance everything.

Well, I don't actually pay anything now.

At the moment I'm not paying anything for riding, whereas I used to pay three hundred to four hundred dollars a month and, before that, I used to pay five hundred to seven hundred dollars a month.

The owner was kind enough to allow us to create a new lease agreement saying that in return for taking care of Star on the days where I ride, I wouldn't have to pay a lease every month.

I just sift out the clean shavings, and throw away the dirty stuff.

So, not too hard.

And then, Sundays are my barn workdays, where I clean a lot of stalls, as many as I can, to make up for the lessons that I've been taking.

Not bad, actually, not too dirty.

You want to get the best equipment out there, and good quality doesn't come with a low price tag.

There are sacrifices for that, but I could never see pulling the financing, 'cause it's my child's absolute passion.

And she's actually not a very nice person to hang around when she doesn't get to ride much.

So, it's her thing, and it's important to her, and it's important to me.

No matter the sacrifices, Angelina plans to do whatever it takes to continue riding.

I have a plan in place, and I will take on a full load at Windward Community College, where I would do a veterinary technology program.

Come on.

Working as an equine vet would allow me to never work a day in my life, and to just be happy with what I'm doing.

Horseback riding is beyond who she is.

It's literally beyond being a part of her.

It is her.

It is my sport.

It is my passion.

It is my hobby.

It is my life and will always be my life.

And every step I've taken, every day I've lived, I want to work hard and overcome any challenge.

Because horses have given so much to me, I always want to be there for them, too.

This is Erin Nomura from Moanalua High School, for HIKI NŌ.

We're back in Hilo, here at Banyan Drive located in Lili'uokalani Gardens.

Also known as the Hilo Walk of Fame, Banyan Drive is home to several magnificent trees planted by the famous, such as Babe Ruth, Amelia Earhart and Franklin D. Roosevelt during his trip to Hilo in 1934.

The area is often lively, where our community comes to view the nature, to get some exercise, or simply to take a walk and talk story.

We take you now to the Friendly Isle, where students at Moloka'i High School show us how to draw one of Hawai'i's natural treasures in just a few easy steps.

Aloha mai.

Living here in Hawai'i, we're surrounded by natural beauty-beaches, mountains, waterfalls and flowers, to name a few.

Here is a beautiful plumeria flower.

Today, we're going to show you how to draw a plumeria in a few easy-to-follow steps.

First, you want to start by drawing a dot at the center of your paper.

Then, like so, draw five curved lines from that dot.

You want to make sure that they are curved this way, and that they are the same length.

Now, you want to start the ribs.

Simply just draw another curved line from that dot, aligning with your first curved line.

Remember that this does not have to be perfect.

To complete the petals, draw a line curving the opposite way from the ribs.

A little tip: Don't make your lines too straight, you want to try and give it that natural look.

Now, at this point, you can add a little shading of your choice, and you're done.

Continue to shade and add to your drawing.

It might look hard, but just keep practicing.

That's it.

Enjoy your beautiful plumeria flower.

Out next story comes from the island of Kaua'i, where students at Kapa'a Middle School show us the discipline and drive it takes to become a junior lifeguard.

Asha McGinnis is one of the top junior lifeguards in the state.

The thirteen-year-old from Kapa'a took first place in the state junior lifeguard competition's most grueling Ironguard category.

That's a two-hundred-meter swim, two-hundred-meter run, and four-hundred-meter paddle.

Kaua'i's junior lifeguard program taught her how to be strong, both physically and mentally.

Learning how to save someone's life builds self-confidence.

You know what to do in certain situations, and you know that you can help people, and you're not afraid to put yourself at risk, 'cause you know that everything is gonna be okay.

During the program, the competitors spend their summer days working hard in the heat, and training with intensity in the sand.

For these teens, discipline is key.

I'm mainly a swimmer, but I always know that if I'm gonna do well in junior lifeguard, I have to practice, and I have to practice hard.

So, that really motivates me to get to the beach and do a beach run, and paddle also.

It's just a good activity during the summertime, too, you know, when kids would just ordinarily be hanging out or on their phones, or watching TV.

The junior lifeguard program has been teaching Kaua'i's teenagers important lifesaving skills since it was founded in 1997.

Guidance and leadership from seasoned county lifeguards help make the program a success.

I love working with the kids, and educating the public.

Every single year, it's choosing the team to represent us at states as well as nationals.

It's so hard, 'cause everyone's so good.

If I had my way, would take them all.

Their dedication and hard work pay off.

Kaua'i's junior lifeguards are twelve-time returning state champions.

Confidence on the competition floor looks like you're not afraid to place bad.

You don't psych yourself out when you look at the other kids that you're competing against, and you just know what to do.

But it's not all about the accolades.

Both lifeguards and coaches say the lessons learned and experiences shared are most valuable.

They give the participants the confidence and drive to always do their best.

Everybody is there to help you, and nobody's gonna laugh at you.

Everybody's gonna help try to encourage you, and you can do it.

Building physical fitness, a competitive spirit, and strong support system, Kaua'i's junior lifeguard program teaches our youth how to dive head-first into any challenge that lies ahead.

This is Talia Washington from Kapa'a Middle School, for HIKI NŌ.

We're back at Suisan Fish Market, located in Hilo Bay.

This is a favorite spot to grab a delicious poke bowl after a long day at the beach.

What was once a popular fish auction site now provides customers with one of the largest varieties of fresh fish on the island.

Suisan is a third-generation, family-owned business, and plays a large role in preserving the Hawaiian fishing tradition, while serving the community with aloha.

We take you now to the Mānoa District of Oah'u, where students at Punahou School profile one of the pillars of Hawai'i's classical music community.

[ORGAN] Pianist and organist Beebe Freitas is a musical icon here in Hawai'i.

She has taught both accompaniment and piano classes at the University of Hawai i, and is a much-desired accompanist for singers.

Beebe is currently the head of music at the Hawai'i Opera Theater.

In addition, she often plays at First Presbyterian Church and is very well-known at Punahou School for playing music for chapel gatherings.

Before college, I would practice maybe twenty minutes, half hour a day.

I just felt it was something on the side.

And when I got to college, I was planning to go into medicine, or math, or English.

I was going to be a scholar.

I thought, Well, I'll just keep on taking piano lessons.

I'll just take 'em because I've always played piano.

And I was fortunate enough to be assigned to a teacher who, I describe it as, he turned the black and white keys and the black and white notes on the page into Technicolor.

And the world of music came to life for me.

Mrs. Freitas was first asked to audition for the position of organist at Punahou a little over thirty years ago.

She passed the audition, and has been with Punahou ever since then, playing for students from kindergarten all the way to 12th grade.

I think music is an expression of the inside feelings that we have, without having to use words all the time.

I think it sets a tone for the mood of that particular chapel.

Sometimes it's playful, sometimes there are dramas that are presented.

Sometimes I'm asked to provide things to accompany their ideas.

Like if they climb up a hill, I can play music that takes them up a hill.

If they're beside a riverbank, I can do that.

I can try to make something that will lead your imagination and enhance the words that are being spoken.

Then, there are songs that lead us into worshipful or reflective ideas in the hymns, in the songs that we sing.

Mostly, what I'm trying to do is have them enjoy themselves, have them experience something that gets into their heart, that gets into their imagination.

They may not realize it, or they may say, Hmm, that was wonderful.

I don't want it to draw attention, that's the way I'd like to have people think about what I'm doing with my music.

It's my life.

Why not invest the time, why not invest the effort.

If I'm gonna be there, I certainly ought to enjoy myself.

I certainly ought to make it a good experience.

I've known people, they work, they work and they work hard.

But they don't have a lot of fun.

I'm sure you know some people who are like that.

I'm sure we all do.

But I'm lucky enough to play.

I work at something that's called playing the organ, playing the piano, playing music.

So, I play while I'm working.

I love it.

Mrs. Freitas clearly enjoys sharing her gift with others, and will continue to touch countless lives through her music.

I'm Troy Enoka reporting from Punahou School, for HIKI NŌ.

[PIANO] We're back, here at Rainbow Falls located off of Waiānuenue Avenue.

This is one of the many beautiful attractions in Hilo.

Rainbow Falls, on a sunny day, produced vibrant rainbows near the top of the waterfall.

This place is not just a stop-and-go, it is the perfect place to bring lunch and have a picnic.

Rainbow Falls can also serve as an outdoor gym with an amazing view.

Our next story comes from the Makiki District of Oah'u, where students at Hawaiian Mission Academy introduce us to the grandson of one of the most influential pioneers of the Hawaiian renaissance.

My grandmother was the kindest person I ever knew.

She was willing to share with anybody, and she would never say anything derogatory about anybody.

She wrote some songs that she'd sing every morning as I got up, and open the doors and windows, and she'd just sing songs.

But she wasn't one to be in the spotlight, which is very Hawaiian.

She would like to stay in the background.

She got a lot of awards and accolades, but I think she just wanted to do her work.

La'akea Suganuma was given to his grandmother, Mary Kawena Pukui, who was named a living treasure of Hawai'i.

I don't think I realized the extent of what she did until I was an adult.

She raised him from the time he was two months old, giving La'akea a deep respect for the Hawaiian culture she dedicated her life to preserving.

Through his grandmother's influence, La'akea showed an interest in his heritage, which led him to seek out the Hawaiian cultural practices that interested him as a young boy: weapons and the pursuit of an ancient fighting art called lua.

Lua is a fighting art.

It's actually a bone-breaking art.

It's not a tournament sport, but it's an ancient art.

You know, warfare was a favorite pastime of the ali'i, believe it or not.

They loved fighting.

And so, all of the chiefs were trained, and a lot of the leaders and special people were trained in this art.

It was handed down in families, and kept quiet.

But it's just part of the culture.

His grandmother left some of her original written works with La'akea, who has now founded the Mary Kawena Pukui Cultural Preservation Society.

And again, our purpose is to be a unique educational resource.

We want to address different aspects of the culture.

Number one, I see a real lack of cultural understanding, and I know she dedicated her life to preservation of the culture.

So, there are a lot of people nowadays who don't really know the culture, and there's a lot of people making up things.

And so, that kind of prompted me to say, You know, we ought to do something about this.

His drive to educate and preserve his grandmother's legacy has cast him in her footsteps as a true living Hawaiian treasure.

[INDISTINCT] This is Melanie Diaz from Hawaiian Mission Academy, for HIKI NŌ.

We're back in historic Downtown Hilo, at Hilo Farmers Market on the corner of Mamo Street and Kamehameha Avenue.

Hilo Farmers Market is an open market showcasing the Big Island of Hawai'i's locally grown food, tropical flowers, and fine jewelry and crafts.

Residents and tourists alike enjoy browsing the wide variety of native products.

Our final story takes us to the island of Maui, where students at H.P.

Baldwin High School introduce us to an aquatic athlete who won't let a breathing disorder disrupt the pursuit of her dreams.

Coming from an athletic family, Kaimilani Matsumoto, a student at Baldwin High School, faces challenges which give a different perspective on what she does.

When was around ten, I was running around the house, and then I would always have these breathing issues, so to speak, and my face would get really red.

I'd just have a really hard time breathing.

And one time, I got really, really sick, and I had a full-on asthma attack.

And so, my parents took me to the hospital, and that's when the doctor told them, Oh, your child has asthma.

Despite the obstacles of asthma, Kaimi remains positive and always looks on the bright side.

Swimming is the best sport for asthma, because the air is very moist and it has higher levels of oxygen.

And it is a non-impact sport, so it's a lot easier on my joints than something like running, or even football, or things like that.

As a child, Kaimi's role models overcame obstacles and inspired her to be like them.

One person that I really look up to was my former coach.

His name is Coach Spencer Shiraishi.

I really look up to him because he was a very fast and very strong swimmer, and he came from a kinda humble background, so to speak.

And even though, again, he had all these issues, he was still able to accomplish so much, and even start up a swim team.

Normally, when I need a little bit more motivation while I'm swimming, I tend to think of my dad a lot.

He was a very hard worker, and he grew up in a really poor family.

But even though he had all these issues with his childhood, he always pushed really hard in whatever he's doing.

So, I always think of him to help me better myself.

The way I see it is, everyone has their own issues.

I'm not the only person with issues, so I don't believe I have to train any harder just because I have asthma.

But during the competitions, I do really enjoy the rush of the competition, so to speak.

I am a very competitive person, so swimming in competitions kinda fuels that.

Recently, Kaimi achieved a swimming time that has her aiming for a potential shot at the Olympic Trials.

This is Emi Sakumoto from H.P.

Baldwin High School, for HIKI NŌ.

Well, we've reached the end of this week's episode of HIKI NŌ.

Don't forget, all these stories were recorded, shot and produced by students like us.

We hope you enjoyed watching them, as much as we enjoyed sharing them with you.

Tune in next week for more proof that Hawai'i's youth HIKI NŌ... Can do!

[AFTER CREDITS, THE CAPTIONING CONTINUES FOR AN ADDITIONAL SEGMENT WITH STUDENTS AND TEACHERS SHARING "WHAT I LEARNED."]

I was the reporter and editor for "A Home for Larenzo."

He struggled with being homeless for a while, but he seemed like just a normal kid that ... you would never think had actually gone through that.

Once you get your draft done and then you get feedback it's kinda like, "Aw I really thought I had it this time."

And especially when you have to do multiple times of the story.

But in the end you know it's going to make the story ten times better than what you had.

The students eventually start to see that, you know, that whole revision process, in the end it's all worth it.

I learned to be more open to people and that it takes a lot of work to revise everything, a lot of teamwork.

And, like, you should never just settle on one thing that's not good.

You need to keep going to make it better.

Because when they finish they have a final product that they're very proud of.

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