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

Aloha.

Welcome to HIKI NŌ on PBS Hawai‘i.

My name is Tamar Wachi and I'm a senior at Hawai‘i Technology Academy on O‘ahu.

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

In this episode, we're diving headfirst into a whirlwind of adventures.

Strap on your helmets because we're rolling into a biking frenzy from the dirt trails to the city streets to uncover a biking community that's blending generations together.

We'll get into tune with a man who is sharing music with youth affected by the 2023 Lahaina wildfires on Maui, and we’ll receive a soothing serenade of great cultural significance.

Then we'll head into pastures on Maui where hunting deer is a favorite pastime.

And we'll even explore another virtual world that pushes its players out of their comfort zone online and in real life.

Our first piece was produced by students at Moanalua High School on O‘ahu.

They explore a community of biking fans who share their passion for wheels on dirt or pavement.

What's up guys and welcome back to the channel and thanks for stopping by.

Hey, tonight we are in Kapolei for the Bike Factory Ride Out.

I am probably a BMX fanatic.

I started on a BMX bike back when I was, I don't know maybe eight years old, fell in love with it, did it until I was about 16.

Biking and BMX aficionados came together to participate in a group ride organized by Bike Factory Hawai‘i in Kapolei on November 11,   2023.

For some it's a chance to stay connected with their childhood hobbies.

So, BMX stands for bicycle motocross, and it's a sport in which back in the late 70s where kids got their bikes, they tried to kind of beef it up and they would create these tracks of jumps and turns, and that became bicycle motocross.

How did I start?

Probably started maybe when I was about five years old, and that was just something that I loved to do.

Well to be honest with you, I never stopped riding.

I've always had a bike, you know, on me is what I'm saying.

Being back on a bike now, it's like, it brings back a lot of the same types of feelings, where I'm excited, happy, you know, stoked to get on a bike and hang out with different people.

Elton Gemeno-Hing makes part of his living by being a BMX social media influencer online.

Yeah, that's exactly how I met Kevin is through YouTube, actually.

You know, the ideas that I was putting out content that he resonated with, you know, bike riding consistently, and he wanted to be a part of it.

And I was glad to have him a part of it.

And that's how we met.

We outside.

I think the thing that's been the best part about getting back into it is that just the people that you're able to meet.

I can pretty much go to a lot of different states and find somebody to ride with.

And that's probably the best part is that just finding adventure wherever it takes you.

There you go, Elton.

You're gonna see like, younger kids all the way to, you know, adults, but there's guys older than me.

And there's also going to be little kids.

When I'm in class, I’ll be kicking the chair back and it makes me think about doing wheelies on the way home.

It always has me prepared and wanting to do some wheelies or something, you know.

It's just the vibe is just always positive, and everyone's happy to see you.

Everyone's like throwing the shakas and high fiving, and it's a great environment to be around.

BMX fans sometimes practice tricks in parking lots.

They see the community and the adventure of the sport keeps them hooked.

Biking, you know, you bike, you ride, you ride and you adventure, you feel me?

You know, you never know what's out there, and so that's why I keep going out.

It's never the same every time that I pick up the bike.

And that’s the adventurous part of it.

This is Misty Griffith from Moanalua High School reporting for HIKI NŌ on PBS.

[ocean wave] This next piece is a personal narrative from a student at H.P.

Baldwin High School on Maui, who takes us into the wild to go hunting and explain why it is more than just a hobby to him.

I often get asked how can I hunt or why I hunt.

It's something very hard to explain.

It's a very controversial topic to discuss in modern times.

Hunting lives in my soul all year round.

It's not a decision where am I going to go or not going to go.

I have come to the conclusion that it is no longer a hobby for me.

It's something that I absolutely have to do.

When I say hunting is no longer a hobby for me,   it's something that I plan to use in my future.

I am giving myself the life lessons that I'll never forget and experiencing things and not everyone gets to feel.

I plan to use it as an opportunity to travel the world, meet new people, seek different environments, all while doing what I was put on this planet to do.

Many people might not understand.

But I'm out here just doing what I love.

This is why I hunt.

On Maui, people are finding ways to spread joy even after the most terrible of tragedies.

This profile story was produced by my classmates at Hawai‘i Technology Academy on O‘ahu.

They traveled to Maui to share this story about a Lahaina man who is passing on his musical prowess to the next generation, proving that even after the darkest of days, the light of music still shines bright.

Music was always something part of my life ever since I was growing up as a child.

Rueben Pali has been teaching music to the keiki of Maui for years.

Well, first, it was kind of like a vision I had after I had an accident.

I had a vision of kids playing on the stage and with ukulele and singing.

You know, people that live here, they started coming up and say, “You want to teach my kid?” I was like, oh, wow.

And then another one comes up and tells me the same thing.

So, I was like, “Whoa, this is like, confirmation.” So, I kind of got on my knees and I just praised God for that.

You know, and that's how Maui Music Mission became.

However, in August 2023, tragedy struck on Maui.

Maui fire took a lot out of everybody here in Lahaina, especially for businesses as well as families.

A lot of people lost everything.

We had lost, me and my wife, we lost our residence.

And we also lost our business studio where we were, The Outlets of Maui.

Everything that we had was invested into the business.

Without the studio or the instruments, all hope seemed lost, but Rueben Pali continued to push onward.

We lost it everything that, you know, was materialized that we lost, but we survived and, you know, we're grateful for our lives.

The fires destroyed one elementary campus and damaged three other campuses, displacing more than 3,000 students, according to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, Many students at Hawai‘i Technology Academy’s Maui campus were also affected, and they are among the students for healing through music.

Here I am at HTA and I'm loving it because I love to teach.

And no one is happier to have Mr. Rueben than the keiki themselves.

Yeah, one of my best friends, she's always looking forward to music class, and she lost her home too.

And she used to just when she first came here, she was always sad, but she's happier now.

I like that he kind of pushes you to like, your limit so you learn more.

I would just tell him thank you for being in all of these kids’ life and teaching them how to play these instruments.

Music opens up a new door for them.

You know, it gets them away from everything else, where they can just continue to learn, sing the song that they like to sing, and just being in their own kind of, you know, world and it’s giving them hope.

This is Litz Nachname from Hawai‘i Technology Academy for HIKI NŌ on PBS Hawaii.

Music has an incredible power to connect us to our ancestors.

It's time to set sail with Ceceta Carland, a student at Ka‘u High and Pahala Elementary School on Hawai‘i Island as she takes us on a journey to the depths of her Marshallese heritage through the power of a song.

Aloha and iakwe.

My name is Ceceta Carland and I'm a senior here at Ka‘u High and Pahala Elementary School.

One of my favorite Marshallese songs that really captures me and my culture till today is Mr. Captain.

Here I have Kinrose Jello with me who will be singing for you guys.

Oh Mr. Captain [sings in Marshallese].

Music is a big part of me, my family, and my heritage.

My grandmother taught me to sing when I was 10 years old.

She was raised in the Marshall Islands, where the culture is very important.

Mr. Captain was the first song I learned.

It's about how our ancestors had to sail in many others small atolls in the Marshall Islands.

Oh Mr. Captain [sings in Marshallese].

[Translation] This song taught me how my ancestors sailed through stormy nights and sunny days with faith that they’ll reach their destination.

It speaks about life and tells us how to respect and appreciate our culture.

I've never been to the Marshall Islands, but I am fluent in speaking Marshallese.

I hope to go back home and learn more about my culture because Mr. Captain is very inspirational.

[ocean wave] Before we get lost in the rhythm, let's rewind a bit and revisit the origins of the steel guitar, one of the signature sounds of Hawaiian music.

This next archive story was produced by students at Ka Waihona O Ka Na‘auao Public Charter School on O‘ahu.

Its distinctive twang and slides are staples of Hawaiian music today.

The steel guitar has influenced musicians globally, but got its start more than 100 years ago with a native Hawaiian man from the little town of La‘ie on O‘ahu.

His name was Joseph Kekuku.

I've heard several stories of how it got started.

The one I heard was he was walking home on the train track and playing his guitar and his comb or something fell and hit the guitar and he liked the sound that it made.

This twang kind of a sound, whoa.

That gave him an incentive to improve on the sounds.

So, he started practicing with this thing on the   strings to get the sound that he wanted to and eventually ended up with the steel bar.

The bar creates that sliding effect that you hear that is kind of like the signature sound of Hawaii.

The signature sound started to spread.

When he was thirty, Kekuku decided to leave Hawai‘i.

He took his invention and his passion for Hawaiian music with him.

Hawaiians were explorers.

You know, they were great navigators and they love to travel.

And he wanted to travel.

So, he left and went to the mainland.

And started to share their music and share their love of Hawai‘i with basically the haoles.

They loved it.

They loved their music.

They love the romance of the sounds.

It went international around the world and so it became very popular.

They love the steel guitar.

Not only did the steel guitar have a unique and likable sound, it had a very adaptable sound.

One that soon showed up in other genres.

All music, I mean, yeah, blues, rock and roll, country western.

Country western has big times to guitar.

Hawaiian of course still.

Yeah, it's it's all over the world now.

[Steel guitar Hawaiian music plays] And Joseph Kekuku’s invention, the steel guitar,   lives on.

The unique sound that he developed lives on, and thus the legacy lives on.

So, steel guitar has influenced the world just by that one man, Uncle Joseph Kekuku.

This is Sarah Peterson from Ka Waihona O Ka Na‘auao Public Charter School, for HIKI NŌ.

[ocean wave] Let's switch gears and explore the digital realm with a tale of friendship and bravery in the world of video games.

This student reflection was produced by Lily Lawrence, a student at Waikīkī Elementary School on O‘ahu, who has sage advice for someone her age.

Sometimes the greatest adventures happen when you take that leap of faith, both online and off.

It sure is difficult when you work so hard to create something special and it all gets taken from you in the blink of an eye.

My name is Lily Lawrence, and I'm a fourth grader at Waikīkī Elementary School.

This is a story about me learning to take risks.

I really like a game called Gods of Gravity.

It's a virtual reality game where you try to build your own civilization and protect it from the enemy.

At the same time, you need to send your ships out to destroy the enemy planets.

The catch is those same ships also served as your planet's protection.

So, you have to take a risk.

Putting your ships out there leaves you vulnerable.

In some ways, it's like the risk you take when you make friends.

You have to put yourself out there.

That can make you feel anxious and vulnerable.

And you know what?

Sometimes it doesn't work out.

In second grade, I had a friend.

We were super close.

But at the start of third grade, she started to ignore me.

The problem was, I still really wanted to be her friend.

I did not understand what had changed.

This left me feeling confused and alone.

I felt like our time together and memories with her had become meaningless.

It actually took the entire school year to recover.

And when I think about it, one thing that helped me start making new friends was playing Gods of Gravity.

Gods of Gravity allows you to connect with other people who are playing online at the same time.

I decided to put myself out there and make new friends virtually, just by being a good sport and having a fun time.

It was my first time making friends from all over the world.

Now I have made new lasting friends from New Zealand to Australia and Canada.

Playing online has also made me more open to reaching out to make new friends at school.

If you take a big risk, it can be a big change, but it does not have to be a big loss.

I've learned that even if you lose the game or a friend or if things change, that doesn't have to make the experience less valuable.

As a matter of fact, it makes it more valuable.

I now believe that taking a risk is always worth it.

All experiences, both good and bad, help us see who we really are.

[ocean wave] All right, it's time to unplug and unwind.

Here are some tips about how to break free from the grips of your phone and embrace the world around you.

This next How-To video was produced by students at Kapa‘a Middle School on Kaua‘i.

Staying on phones and other technology too long has become a problem for many people.

The average person checks their phone over 46 times a day.

That's according to Deloitte Global.

I know, I know, keeping streaks for your friend and sending pics with dog ears are fun.

But when you're doing that, you're missing out on many things, like nature, fun experiences, and activities.

This is a problem that needs to change.

So here are ten fun and even useful things to do without your phone.

One, interact with someone.

How about that kid in your class you've never talked to before?

Strike up a conversation.

How's your day?

How are you doing?

Two, help your community, whether it's picking up trash or collecting clothes for your local shelter, every little bit counts.

Three, try out a new hobby.

[camera shutter clicks] If it's joining a sport, learning an instrument,   or stamp collecting make it happen.

Four, volunteer at a nearby animal shelter like the Humane Society.

You can spend time with the animals.

Learn how to take care of them and they'll become accustomed to people.

Number five, attend a local group activity.

Maybe your neighborhood hosts get together every week.

You can make new friends and have a really great time.

Six, explore the world around you.

Check out that hike you've heard of.

If you're stumped, look at Google Maps for a place to discover first.

Then put away your phone and go on the adventure.

Seven, write a short story.

Is there anything on your mind?

Maybe you can turn it into a mini novel?

Let your imagination run free.

Eight, take something old and upcycle it.

Have some old jeans?

You can turn them into shorts, a purse, or add patches to it.

Get creative.

Number nine, go to the library.

Check out that book you've been wanting to read.

Ask a friend or a family member for a suggestion before you visit.

Number 10, sing a song in the mirror.

Say hello to the newest star.

Get off your phone and try out these ideas, and you'll definitely feel like you’ve lived a little more.

This is Kaile McKeown from Kapa‘a Middle School for HIKI NŌ.

[ocean wave] Let's wrap things up with a profile story produced by students at Konawaena High School on Hawai‘i Island, who shine the spotlight on a young man who's flipping stereotypes on their heads, one cheer at a time.

There's a really big stigma around being a cheerleader and many people think of as, oh, it's like a girly sport or that boys shouldn't be in cheerleading.

It's not really meant for them.

Jacob Shwartz is a senior at Konawaena High School in Kealakekua on the Big Island of Hawai‘i.

While he's not the first male cheerleader at the high school, Jacob is currently the only male on the team.

Boys don't want to join cheerleading for the same reason it's viewed as a feminine sport.

You don't see the athletic side of cheerleading; it's all about the performance and making things look easy.

They don't see the dedication and the hard work that goes into being able to do the flips, being able to do the stunts.

Jacob got into cheerleading because one of his best friends wanted him to join cheer with her.

Though he's aware of the biases male cheerleaders can face, he has a lot of support and encouragement from the Konawaena Wildcat community and his mother.

My biggest fan will probably have to be my mother.

She's very supportive of my cheerleading, and she always goes above and beyond to make sure that I have what I need.

Jacob’s background in gymnastics made him a valuable addition to the team.

I did gymnastics from about first grade to fourth grade.

I would train at least four times a week, and it took a lot of like, discipline, and strength in gymnastics.

And I feel like that experience has really prepared me for doing cheerleading.

And it's really given me like almost a one up against a lot of the girls because I know kind of what I'm getting myself into.

Cheerleading isn't just about looking cute in your outfit and yelling out chants.

It's about conditioning, working out, and trust.

Cheerleading really is more of a sport than people may think.

During practices, we work out for multiple hours.

The girls and of course I need to be strong to be able to lift people in the air, or like, the relationship that you have between the flyer and the base is really important.

And knowing that we have that level of trust, it makes me confident.

Coach Wakefield believes that media is partially   to blame for the negative portrayal of males and females in cheerleading.

Cheerleading is oftentimes demonized in media.

You know videos we see on TikTok and different TV shows and movies, they tend to show the cheerleaders as catty with the snotty attitudes, I'm better than you, look at me, look how great I am.

I think the way to make cheerleading more appealing to men and boys is to make it more appealing to everybody by showcasing the athletic side of it.

Jacob’s dedication to sport after winning both as a cheerleader and team captain has made a positive impact by installing Wildcat pride to the Konawaena community.

The biggest advice that I would give to any boy interested in cheerleading is that you should do it for you and don't let the stigma around cheerleading or your friends influence what you truly want to do.

I really hope Jacob can have a lasting impression on our cheer program at Konawaena.

I hope the legacy doesn't end with him, and I hope he can inspire other boys to try out for cheerleading, even if they thought maybe I wouldn't try it out.

Jacob is such a wonderful person and student and athlete, and the world would be a better place if we were all just a little bit more like him.

This is Tad Matsumura from Konawaena High School for HIKI NŌ on PBS Hawai‘i.

Well, that's a wrap for today.

But fear not the adventure doesn't end here.

Don't forget to follow Hawai‘i’s New Wave of Storytellers and PBS Hawai‘i on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok.

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

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

[HIKI NŌ on PBS   Hawai‘i theme song plays] Let's take a look back at some profiles produced by HIKI NŌ students about their teachers.

And guess what?

These educators are still going strong, as evidenced by the stories in the episode you just watched.

Their dedication continues to inspire, shaping Hawaii's New Wave of Storytellers.

Our media production teacher and HIKI NŌ advisor is Mr. Chris Sanderl.

This is his third year teaching at Kapa‘a High School, and before that he was the HIKI NŌ advisor at Kapa‘a Middle school.

He always ensures our projects have the highest possible production value to keep our audience engaged.

This keeps us pushing toward perfection.

Mr. Sanderl and his wife just welcomed their first child into the world only a few weeks ago.

They're enjoying this time together as a family   and look forward to their first trip to the beach with their new little girl.

Our media teacher and HIKI NŌ advisor is Mrs. Trisha Roy.

Mrs. Roy first started teaching elementary and middle school in Japan for four years as a part of the JET program.

Later, Mrs. Roy became an English teacher at Baldwin when she returned to Maui.

With her wide and diverse background, Mrs. Roy continues to go above and beyond to not only educate but to inspire her students on a daily basis.

[outro music]