HIKI NŌ 409 Next on HIKI NŌ, stories from across the island chain.

On Maui, students from Maui Waena Intermediate introduce us to a poet who uses the written word to heal, while students from Maui Preparatory Academy show us how to pump iron.

On Hawaii Island, Konawaena High School students tell us about the joys of teaching dance.

And on Kauai, students from Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School show us how aquaponics could help Hawaii become self sustaining.

On Oahu, meet the man behind Moanalua High School's legendary marching band.

Find out from students at Kainalu Elementary how to prevent senior citizens from being the victims of scams.

And from Waianae High School, a story about the challenges their high school athletes face getting into college.

Also from Oahu, this episode of HIKI NŌ comes to you from Ka Waihona o ka Naauao Public Charter School on the Leeward Coast.

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

Can do!

Komo mai and aloha from Ka Waihona o ka Naauao Public Charter School.

My name is Pumehana, and I'm in eighth grade.

I've been a student here since kindergarten.

Our school is one of thirty-two charter schools in the State of Hawaii.

Charter schools are just like regular schools, except we have our own governing boards.

The name of our school means repository of learning.

Our school has very humble beginnings, starting with just thirty-six students and seven teachers in a refurbished chicken coop in Waianae Valley.

We currently have six hundred and two students with over thirty teachers, from kindergarten to eighth grade.

We are now located in a beautiful ahupuaa, Nanakuli.

Our first story takes us to the Salt Lake district of Oahu, where students from Moanalua High School introduce us to the man behind their legendary marching band.

[CHEERS/DRUMMING] Students at Moanalua High School are greatly known for their hard work and dedication to the marching band program.

And there's one man in front of the music that makes it all possible, Mr. Elden Seta.

[CHEERS APPLAUSE] What started it all was his love and passion for music.

After high school, I had to ask myself, What do you want to do to give back to the world?

And then, I decided that, you know, music gave so much to me, and so I want to make it as my career so that I can not just give back, but to give more.

For twenty-five years with many awards, Seta has taught his students more than just reading notes and marching lines.

Mr. Seta always says you shouldn't be the best person in the world ...

But be the best person for the world.

Right; because I really believe that's what Moanalua is all about.

It's about the best people.

We may not be smarter, we may not be more talented ... but you come and graduate from Moanalua High School, you'll be a great person for the world.

Not just as the music department head, but as an influential person, Mr. Seta inspires his students to be not only great musicians, but great people.

He's kind of like a father, like a father figure of the whole entire music department.

And he treats us, you know, with care and love, and yeah, he's just a second dad or whatever.

He's taught me more than how to play a single note.

He taught me how to be a better person.

For many years, Mr. Seta has led the marching band to their great success.

But it's come time for him to step down.

It's because I can't continue only to do all of this because I love it; I have to do what's always best for the students.

We teach the students here that when you make an important decision, it has to be ninety-nine-point-nine percent logical, and that ...tiny percentage of emotional.

Even though Mr. Seta will be stepping back from what has created magic all these years, he still believes in the band and their march for success.

Oh, the future?

Oh, they're gonna be awesome.

I don't have to hope anything.

They're gonna be awesome, they're gonna be better than ever.

I'm very confident of that.

I'm still going to be involved.

So, I told the students, Don't throw your confetti too early.

[CHUCKLE] You know, I hope you're not throwing your parties, you know.

I'm still gonna be with them every day.

I just will not be involved in the same way.

No matter how Mr. Seta is a part of the marching band, he continues to give back with his love for music.

For HIKI NŌ, from Moanalua High School, I'm Raevyn Debina-Timbal.

[SHOUTING] Welcome back to Ka Waihona o ka Naauao Public Charter School on the Waianae Coast of Oahu.

I am standing next to a very special place on our campus built by the ninth grade boys of Nanaikapono Elementary School, Class of 1958.

This hula mound is where our school holds our annual hoike, graduation ceremonies, as well as other special events.

After our school moved to this location in 2004, our principal, Mr. Alvin Parker, discovered this lost treasure.

With the help of teachers, community members, and very generous local organizations, we were able to restore it to its original beauty with lush green grass bordered with lawae and pohinahina.

Today, this hula mound is named Ilikuokalani, in honor of Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole.

Our next story takes us to Kauai, where students from Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School show us how aquaponics could have a major impact on life in Hawaii.

On Kauai, it's not a rare occurrence to see one or twenty of these large containers near a harbor.

Large shipment containers bring most of our food from the mainland, from produce to poultry, and everything in between.

A 2008 study by the Hawaii Department of Agriculture stated that eighty-five to ninety percent of Hawaii's food is imported from the continental U.S.

If anything were to happen affecting this food supply, we wouldn't be able to get anything to eat.

However, if that ever did occur, there is one man on Kauai named Mr. Georgio DePaz, who has a backup plan.

First, I look into aquaculture, yeah, to grow fish.

But, it's too complicated.

Then, I came across aquaponics.

I said, Well, that's what I want to do, you know, 'cause you can grow plants and fish at the same time.

Everything that we grow in the aquaponic system is edible.

About ninety- nine percent of the stuff that we grow is edible by humans.

We also grow our own fish foods, and also for the chickens.

So, we're trying to be more self sustainable.

Mr. DePaz is in the minority of people who would be able to live off what they grow in their back yard.

However, this isn't just for emergencies.

It provides everyday nutrition right outside your back door.

You can grow just about anything in aquaponics.

We're still experimenting with things that we grow for our climate here in Kauai.

We grow taro.

The taro grow like crazy, up to twelve feet.

We grow watercress, and we grow food for the fish.

We grow azola, and we grow duckweed.

Even though it almost seems like the aquaponics system is magic, there is actually a science behind it.

Our aquaponics system is gravity-fed.

It has fish tanks; the fish waste goes into these containers, it goes around.

It's called a recirculating system.

The plants absorb the nutrients from the water, it goes into a filtration system which, you know, I also grow plants in there.

And it goes into another filtration system that uses cinder, which is a locally available material.

And then, it goes back into the fish tank.

Having an aquaponics system means you can grow anything you want, and it's readily available.

You can grow herbs, you can grow anything you want, you know, like greens.

And it's right there, so it's readily available, twenty-four/seven.

Mr. DePaz doesn't only keep this knowledge for himself.

He wants other people to be able to grow their knowledge as much as the twelve-foot taro does.

I teach a class at my house, in my backyard.

I call it backyard aquaponics.

You know, it's a small area, and we are growing so much in a very small area that aquaponics will be the way to grow food in the future for humanity.

Aquaponics is a very simple way to grow a lot of food using very little resources.

So, I encourage people to really look into how they can, you know, benefit from doing aquaponics.

If anything were to happen to these large shipping containers that we rely so much on, Mr. DePaz would have a backup plan.

For HIKI NŌ, this has been Brandon Marcos from Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School.

If you'd like to comment on this show, or anything you see on HIKI NŌ, join the discussion at facebook.com/hikinocando, or send us a Tweet at twitter.com/hikinocando.

We're back on the Leeward Coast of Oahu.

Behind me, right next to our school Ka Waihona o ka Naauao is the breathtaking Nanakuli Beach Park.

Used extensively by our community for both land and water recreation, it is at this beach in 2009 that our entire student body welcomed the voyaging canoe, the Hokulea, to Nanakuli.

We take you now to the Valley Isle, where students from Maui Waena Intermediate introduce us to a poet who discovers herself in the expressive power of words.

Imagine the night without stars or the mystique of the Moon, a symphony page without notes or the radio without a tune.

I am the leaf without the root of a tree, or a heart without a beat.

I, without words to speak ... am simply nothing.

And for most of her childhood, that is exactly what Shawna felt like ... nothing.

People just kind of shunned me, they labeled me, they categorized me, they put me on medications, and ultimately, they silenced me.

And I was quiet for two years; I didn't speak a word.

And in the process of that, they mandated that I go to counseling.

And one day, you know, the counselor just asked me, you know, Why?

You know, why aren't you talking?

And I'm like, I've been talking, was talking, and nobody, no one was listening.

And so, she encouraged me to begin writing, and to begin writing not for the opinion of anyone else, but just simply for myself, for the love of me.

Coming from something so deranged.

Seeing living water in me where there once was flames.

Miraculously, my mind has been changed.

Yes, once before I walked on wicked ways, eyes wide shut and my heart was encased with lustful desires, riches and rages.

I was a beast going wild, refusing to be tamed.

Shawna found her voice through writing.

That was my way to not only, like I said, be able to connect with myself and understand what I truly was feeling, what I was going through, and be okay with feeling angry that no one was listening.

Be okay with, okay, you're a little sad.

Writing was the only thing that accepted me.

Writing didn't judge me, writing didn't tell me no, writing didn't turn me away.

I started writing on walls, I started writing on napkins, I started writing wherever it could be seen, and wherever I had the greatest impact.

Because, well, no one was hearing my tiny little voice.

Shawna's voice will reach a greater audience, because her autobiography, Silhouette In the System, is being self-published through Xulon Press.

Writing has been ... writing has been the only thing to get me through some of the hardest times in my life.

And ...

I recognize the value that it has to me, and I recognize the gift that's been given to me.

And I've gone through so, so much in terms of ... trying to finally get to this point of having everything together and being able to go out as a finished product.

And I have literally one hope; and that's that people read it and listen.

You know, because we're all everyday people, we've all felt like the silhouette in the system that nobody sees.

Anyone who reads this book, hopefully it will inspire them to never stop, to never give up, to look adversity in the face, smile, and keep on writing.

'Cause that's what I did.

Hopefully, this book will just enlighten you, educate you, and encourage you to just keep on doing it.

That's it.

[CHUCKLE] [SINGING] Was blind, but now glad I can see, that indeed, I am an amazing being with words full of worth and magnificent meaning.

Words once still, they now come forth beaming.

It's so real, I'm no longer dreaming.

This is the meaning of my ... [SINGS] amazing grace.

Here we are again at Ka Waihona o ka Naauao, home of Na Elele, which means The Messengers.

Did you know that having a rail system on the Island of Oahu isn't a new idea?

Believe it or not, our beautiful island home had over one hundred and seventy-five miles of train track passing through here, stretching from Downtown Honolulu, all the way to picturesque North Shore, and to Kahuku.

These tracks, now a part of the National Register of Historic Places, were built by Benjamin Franklin Dillingham in 1889 for his Oahu Railway and Land Company, which transported locally grown sugarcane to Honolulu Harbor to be shipped around the world.

Our next story takes us to Oahu, where students at Kainalu Elementary show us how the elderly can avoid being scammed.

The elderly are being scammed out of $2.6 billion per year due to financial fraud and abuse.

Here's a story of what happened to a Kainalu student's great-grandmother.

My great-grandmother got a call from someone, and she said, Hello, is this Chris?

Because I think she was expecting a call from Chris.

And the person on the other side of the phone said, Yes, this is Chris ...

I'm in Mexico, and I need some money, as I'm in trouble, and he needed two thousand dollars.

And so, she gave him two thousand dollars.

And then, next time the person called again, and he needed three thousand dollars this time.

And so, she wired him three thousand dollars.

She answered the phone, and just said, Hello.

And the caller said, Hello, Grandmother.

And she said, You mean, Granny?

So, she gave her name away.

Granny is her affectionate name for all of us that call her Granny.

And then, she said, Is this my grandson?

And the caller said, Yes.

And she said, Is this Christopher?

And the caller said, Yes, this is Christopher.

So, in a few minutes, she gave away her personal name, and also, she gave the caller understanding of who his name was.

Unfortunately, I hear that story all the time.

That's one of the things we're talking about, how many scam artists there are.

They do it over, and over, and over again.

That's actually a very popular scam.

It's not that your great-grandmother was stupid or dumb, or anything like that.

It's just that she loves her family very much, and she doesn't want to see any harm come to any family member.

That's why she was so willing to give the money.

We did a PSA about how my great-grandmother got scammed.

We hope that our PSA will help people so they are more cautious about giving out personal information.

A lot of people that are being scammed do not realize they are being scammed.

Because a lot of these conmen, they're very good with their words, they're very good with a story, they're very good with manipulating people.

And so, that's one reason why they're able to get away with it.

My advice to other seniors is to ... ask who it is first, before saying who it is.

And don't give out your bank account number or any personal information, or else the scammers might try to take the money.

If you feel you've been a victim of a scam, you should report it to the police or the City Prosecutor's Office for Elder Abuse Justice Unit.

I'm Colton... And I'm Connor, reporting for HIKI NŌ ... From Kainalu Elementary School.

Welcome again to Nanakuli, home of Ka Waihona o ka Naauao Public Charter School.

Overlooking our campus from a height of over a thousand nine hundred feet is Puu Heleakala.

This majestic mountain holds a special place in Hawaiian folklore.

It is from this very spot that the demigod Maui captured the Sun.

According to Hawaiian legend, Hina, Maui's mother, was upset that her kapa didn't have enough sunlight to dry properly.

Maui was able to hook the Sun and anchor it into a hole near the peak of this mountain.

Maui would only release the Sun if it agreed to move slower across the summer sky.

This magnificent landmark reminds us why it's so hot in Nanakuli.

We travel now to Hawaii Island, where students from Konawaena High School feature a dancer who finds inspiration in teaching others how to move to music.

[BEATING] I have never met anybody that could not learn to dance.

If you can walk, you can dance.

Right?

We are born rhythmic beings.

We start dancing from the moment that we can stand up on our two feet, we move to music.

From the youngest age, turn on some music, and you will see a baby wiggle in their chair.

Right?

[BEATING] I grew up here on the Big Island.

I actually went to Honaunau Elementary and Konawaena High School.

I had always kinda dreamed of just teaching dance, and I thought about coming back when I was living on the mainland.

There are so many things and so many benefits that dance has, besides those obvious benefits.

One, and this is especially true getting younger children, boys and girls into the classes early, is that it helps you to kind of ... see how you can set a goal or see something that seems unattainable, and then strive to achieve it, and achieve it and feel that confidence and Wow, I was able to do it.

[MUSIC] They're really good thinkers, right?

They do really well in school, they are really good at being able to set goals and achieve them.

[MUSIC/CLAPPING] Dancing and teaching, it's not just when I'm dancing for myself.

I almost enjoy teaching more than I enjoy dancing now.

[STOMPING] And when the class is done, whether it's my class that I'm a student in, or whether it's my class that I'm teaching, or whether it's just practice time, when I'm done, I'm lighter, I'm happier, I feel more connected to myself, and things just don't seem as big and important as they did when I walked in.

No matter where I'm at in my life, no matter what kind of day I'm having, or no matter how I'm feeling physically, when I walk into the studio, it all disappears.

Kaboom!

That's right, Kaboom!

Here we are at Ka Waihona o ka Naauao's newest play area.

With the help of Kaboom, a nonprofit organization who envisioned a playground in every neighborhood, this amazing structure was built in one day.

Partnered with Disney, students, teachers, parents, community members, and many others all came together to create this wonderful playground.

Past, present, and future haumana will always be grateful to those that volunteered that day.

We also built a dozen planters that we now grow kalo, kou, uala, even ohia in.

Our students care for these plants that have so much significance to our cultural history.

We take you now to the Island of Maui, where students at Maui Preparatory Academy show us how to get in shape with free weights the safe way.

Hello; my name is Corey McMurray here from Maui Prep, and today, we are gonna be talking about getting healthy.

Weightlifting has always been around, and it's been an important part in the lives of many individuals.

Many students are also using weightlifting as a way to stay in shape and get fit.

Here's one of our own Maui Prep students who does just this.

I started weightlifting to get in shape for cross country and track.

I've been weightlifting for about five months now.

Parker has been lifting with the help of his instructor, Anthony Bianucci.

And adjust the barbell bar.

...and up.

Good.

The pros of using free weights are, you use more of the single stabilizer muscles.

And the cons are, it's a little bit harder to learn how to use free weights.

The machines are a little bit safer when you're getting into weightlifting or in a gym environment.

Free weights definitely outweigh the cons, once you start using them and you're educated on how to use free weights.

When you're starting out weightlifting, definitely get an experienced coach or trainer to help teach you the proper technique and forms so you're safe.

And go slow and not load up way too heavy too quickly, and take your time in the lifts.

Learn them correctly before you go too heavy.

With a little hard work and the proper coaching anything is possible.

It is now easier than ever to stay in shape and look healthy.

So, why not have fun and stay active today.

For HIKI NŌ and Maui Prep, I'm Corey McMurray.

If you'd like to comment on this show, or anything you see on HIKI NŌ, join the discussion at facebook.com/hikinocando, or send us a Tweet at twitter.com/hikinocando.

Howzit.

Here we are again from the west side of Oahu.

This is where I spend most of my time when I'm not in class at Ka Waihona o ka Naauao Public Charter School.

I've got my toes in the sand or on my board in that surf.

Although, to be honest, oftentimes as I sit on my desk, I'm dreaming of this awesome surf break.

Just a few miles down the road from our campus is Makaha Beach, or famously known as Makaha Surfing Beach.

Known for immense waves and legendary surfers, this beach, like most in Hawaii, can be just as dangerous as it is beautiful.

For our final story, we stay on the Leeward Coast of Oahu, where students from Waianae High School take us on the rough road from high school sports stardom to college.

[MUSIC] Their instincts, the power, the ability; I mean, like shots out of a cannon.

Six-foot-two, three hundred pounds of cannonball, or ... One of the best that has ever played that position in the State of Hawaii.

Kennedy Tulimasealii is on the fast track to college, a top-five prospect in the State of Hawaii.

It's just amazing.

UNLV, Cal, USC, Washington State, Alabama, Georgia.

Oh, Georgia.

He's so good, recruiters have run him over with letters of intent, enough to fill three size fourteen shoeboxes.

The one from Stanford is awesome.

In these boxes lay his future.

But now it's his turn to call the plays.

I want to be a professional NFL player.

If not, I want to pursue in criminal justice.

Kennedy kept his head in the books to make sure becoming a lawyer was always an option, although playing in the NFL is his dream.

However, after the final whistle is blown, a strong dose of reality hits.

Only one percent of high school seniors nationwide are drafted onto an NFL team, a number most seniors here at Waianae High fail to understand.

Hey, Mister, we gotta write down the example?

You should, actually.

Most of our student athletes are not scholars, and we don't prepare them to go on to ... we don't have that culture.

Wow; it looks more complicated when you look at the definition.

It's not just the football team.

Across the board, athletes at Waianae High School are not going on to college.

Leaving the question: Where is the student in student athletes?

So, again, we have superscript, which is the numbers written above the symbol.

So, this going be two, this going be one.

Very good.

The school's only initiative to make sure athletes maintain their grades are through biweekly grade checks.

My grades are always up there during football season, or whenever any sports I play, my grades is kinda high.

In other words, academics is not part of their goal.

At home, biweekly isn't enough.

Gotta up the grades.

Better.

Better ... A, B ... A, B, C. Mom, dad, sister; everybody gets into the act of making sure Kennedy is supported.

Lucky; lucky they're here.

They're the main reason why I go to football.

The struggles I see them go through in life ...

I promised my dad I would help them and treat them if I make it.

Yeah.

Miss, what is there after football?

Your career goal.

Is there life after football?

Yes.

That's the answer that many athletes in Waianae need to hear.

I can make it.

For now, Kennedy will continue working on maintaining his standing in the class.

If he can hit the books as hard as he hits the quarterbacks How about that?

He'll have a strong grip on his future.

This is Dezzalyn Teill reporting from Waianae High School, for HIKI NŌ.

Well, we've come to the end of this episode of HIKI NŌ.

Remember, all of these stories were written, shot, and edited by students like us.

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

Make sure you tune in to next week's episode for more proof that Hawaii students HIKI NŌ Can do!