[INTRO MUSIC] [INTRO MUSIC] >> HIKI NO, HAWAI'I'S NEW WAVE OF STORYTELLERS.

>> ALOHA AND WELCOME TO THIS EPISODE OF HIKI NO ON PBS HAWAI'I.

I'M ISABELLA SEAMAN, A JUNIOR AT PEARL CITY HIGH SCHOOL ON O'AHU, AND I'M SO EXCITED YOU'RE HERE WITH US.

THANKS FOR TUNING IN TO CELEBRATE HAWAI'I'S NEW WAVE OF STORYTELLERS.

WE'VE GOT AN AWESOME LINEUP OF STUDENT PRODUCED STORIES TO KICK OFF SEASON 17, FULL OF FRIENDSHIP, FAMILY, DETERMINATION AND CULTURE.

THIS EPISODE DIVES INTO THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT SHAPE WHO WE ARE, THE GRIT IT TAKES TO REACH NEW HEIGHTS, AND THE HAWAIIAN TRADITIONS THAT KEEP US ROOTED.

SO, LET'S JUMP RIGHT IN.

WE'LL BEGIN ON MAUI, WHERE KYLIE CARDENAS, A STUDENT AT H.P.

BALDWIN HIGH SCHOOL, REFLECTS ON THE LOVED ONES WHO HAVE SHAPED HER LIFE IN A TOUCHING AND PERSONAL WAY.

>> I AM A MOSAIC OF EVERYONE I HAVE EVER LOVED.

I LOVE MUSIC, BECAUSE WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, MY COUSINS AND I WOULD LISTEN TO THE RADIO ON THE WAY TO SCHOOL.

I LIKE WEARING THE COLOR GREEN BECAUSE IT IS MY CHILDHOOD BEST FRIEND'S FAVORITE COLOR.

I LOVE THE SMELL OF VANILLA BECAUSE IT REMINDS ME OF A GIRL WHO I BARELY SPEAK TO ANYMORE.

I LOVE ICE BREAKERS, BECAUSE MY DAD WOULD ALWAYS OFFER ME ONE BEFORE SCHOOL.

THERE ARE MOVIES I LOVE BECAUSE SOMEONE I LOVED, LOVED THEM FIRST.

I MAKE SURE TO GRAB THE MOST INNER PRODUCTS ON THE SHELVES AT STORES, BECAUSE I GREW UP WATCHING MY OLDER COUSIN DO THAT.

THE DECOR IN MY ROOM DOESN'T JUST REPRESENT ME, BUT ALSO THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE IMPACTED MY LIFE IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.

I TELL JOKES OFTEN AND INCORPORATE HUMOR INTO MY DAILY LIFE BECAUSE MY BROTHER NEVER FAILS TO MAKE ME LAUGH.

I LIKE ADMIRING THE SKY BECAUSE EVERYONE I HAVE EVER CARED FOR IS UNDER THE SAME ONE AS ME.

I FORGIVE PEOPLE EASILY BECAUSE MY MOM TAUGHT ME TO NEVER CARRY HATE IN MY HEART.

I AM A MOSAIC OF EVERYONE I'VE EVER LOVED, EVEN FOR A SECOND, EVEN FOR A HEARTBEAT.

[CHEERS AND LAUGHTER] [PIANO BALLAD PLAYS] [CHEERS AND LAUGHTER] [TWO, THREE!]

[OCEAN WAVE] >> NEXT, WE HEAD TO HAWAI'I ISLAND.

TRUE FRIENDSHIP CAN BE TOUGH TO FIND WHEN YOU MOVE TO A NEW PLACE, BUT WHEN YOU DO, IT'S PRICELESS.

HAWAI'I PREPARATORY ACADEMY STUDENTS SHARE THE PERSPECTIVE OF A BOARDING SCHOOL STUDENT WHO DISCOVERS THAT EVEN WHEN FRIENDS COME AND GO, THOSE CONNECTIONS STILL MATTER.

>> MY NAME IS CAIDEN ANDRIST.

I AM A SENIOR AT HAWAI'I PREPARATORY ACADEMY.

I AM AT HOME RECORDING THIS ON MAY 15, 2022.

I MET MY CHILDHOOD BEST FRIEND IN MIDDLE SCHOOL.

I JUST HAD MOVED AWAY FROM OREGON TO O'AHU, AND I HAD ONE GOOD FRIEND AT THE TIME.

MY BEST FRIEND AND I HAD A MUTUAL FRIEND, AND THAT'S HOW WE FIRST MET AND STARTED TO GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER.

AT FIRST, WE WEREN'T THAT CLOSE, BUT ONCE WE STARTED OUR FRESHMAN YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL, WE BOTH HAD A VIDEO PRODUCTION CLASS.

WE PARTNERED UP FOR MOST OF OUR ASSIGNMENTS AND FOUND OUT THAT WE HAD A LOT IN COMMON, BUT NOTHING WE CONNECTED MORE WITH THAN OUR LOVE FOR CINEMA AND VIDEO MAKING.

AT THE TIME, WE BOTH LIKED MAKING YOUTUBE VIDEOS AND DECIDED WE'D STARTED MAKING THEM TOGETHER.

AFTER THAT, WE HAD PRETTY MUCH BECOME BEST FRIENDS AND STARTED DOING A LOT OF THINGS TOGETHER.

AND WE MADE A NUMBER OF PRODUCTIONS, INCLUDING A MUSIC VIDEO FOR A SONG HE HAD MADE, AND THAT WAS OUR COOLEST PRODUCTION, AND WE HAD MADE IT TOGETHER, AND IT TOOK US MONTHS TO DO, AND IT FELT LIKE WE WERE ACTUALLY MAKING SOMETHING BIG AND PROFESSIONAL.

AFTER THAT, WE DECIDED TO MAKE A CHANNEL TOGETHER AND WHERE WE WOULD POST IMPROVISED SKIT VIDEOS THAT WERE JUST COMPLETELY WACKY AND HILARIOUS, BUT WE LOVED MAKING THEM.

ONCE THE END OF SOPHOMORE YEAR CAME AROUND, COVID HAD BEEN IN FULL EFFECT, AND I'D HAVE TO END UP MOVING AWAY TO BIG ISLAND.

EVEN THOUGH WE ARE NOW ISLANDS APART, I STILL CONSIDER HIM MY BEST FRIEND, AND EVEN THOUGH WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO RECORD AS MANY VIDEOS ANYMORE, WE STILL SHARE AND TALK ABOUT WHAT KIND OF VIDEO MAKING ADVENTURES WE ARE UP TO.

I'VE LEARNED A LOT FROM HIM AND VICE VERSA, BUT I THINK THE BIGGEST THING I LEARNED FROM OUR FRIENDSHIP IS THAT YOU CAN DO A LOT WITH TWO CREATIVE MINDS.

THERE'S A LOT OF UNLIMITED POTENTIAL WITH SOMEONE WHO ALWAYS HAS YOUR BACK.

[OCEAN WAVE] >> NOW, LET'S REWIND ALL THE WAY BACK TO 2011 WHEN HIKI NO WAS STILL BRAND NEW.

ALIAMANU MIDDLE SCHOOL ON O'AHU PRODUCED THIS CLASSIC PIECE ABOUT DIVERSITY ON THEIR CAMPUS, WHERE MANY STUDENTS COME FROM MILITARY FAMILIES AND ARE ADJUSTING TO A NEW ENVIRONMENT.

>> AT A GLANCE, ALIAMANU MIDDLE SEEMS TO BE LIKE ANY OTHER SCHOOL IN HAWAI'I.

UPON A CLOSER LOOK, YOU'LL FIND OUT THAT THERE IS SOMETHING DIFFERENT ABOUT THE STUDENTS.

YOU SEE, HERE AT AMS, A MAJORITY OF THE STUDENTS ARE MILITARY DEPENDENTS.

>> IT'S DIFFERENT, I GUESS, BECAUSE, LIKE ALL THE, ALL PEOPLE COMING AND LEAVING.

>> ALIAMANU IS PART OF THE RADFORD COMPLEX AREA OF SCHOOLS, WHICH HAS SOME OF THE HIGHEST CONCENTRATIONS OF MILITARY IMPACTED FAMILIES IN HAWAI'I.

THERE ARE JUST OVER 700 STUDENTS AT AMS, OF WHICH 75% ARE MILITARY.

WHEN MRS.

PILI LEELOY STARTED TEACHING AT AMS IN 1971, IT WAS A BIT DIFFERENT.

>> IN THE '70S, I THINK OUR CAMPUS WAS VERY HOMOGENEOUS.

IT COULD, IT LOOKED LIKE ANY MAINLAND SCHOOL, BECAUSE WE DIDN'T REALLY, WITH 90% MILITARY, YOU KNOW, WE DIDN'T HAVE A VERY LARGE LOCAL POPULATION.

BUT NOW, WE DO A LOT OF PROJECTS AND TEAMING, AND THE KIDS HAVE TO WORK IN GROUPS, WHERE BEFORE, WHEN YOU'VE GOT A CLASS OF 48 OR YOU GOT A CLASS OF 35, YOU DON'T HAVE THAT TIME TO BREAK KIDS INTO GROUPS AND HAVE THEM WORK TOGETHER.

BUT I THINK NOW, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE JUST A SMALLER CAMPUS, LESS PEOPLE, THEN YOU GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER AS PEOPLE, NOT JUST WELL, YOU'RE THE MILITARY AND I'M, YOU KNOW, A LOCAL KID.

>> LIFE FOR STUDENTS AT AMS PRESENTS MANY CHALLENGES.

DEPENDING ON THEIR PARENTS' ORDERS, MILITARY STUDENTS COULD BE LIVING IN HAWAI'I FOR YEARS OR JUST WEEKS.

FOR THE LOCAL STUDENTS, THAT MEANS THEY'RE OFTEN FACED WITH FRIENDSHIPS WITH UNCERTAIN FUTURES.

>> IN THIRD GRADE, I HAD A MILITARY FRIEND, AND WE BECAME REALLY CLOSE, AND THEN IN FOURTH GRADE, SHE HAD TO MOVE AND LIKE, IT WAS REALLY HARD FOR ME.

>> I KNOW THERE'S ONE GUY, JOE PIGEON, HE NEVER LEFT YET, BUT HOPEFULLY HE DOESN'T.

>> MY FRIEND'S NAME IS VAI AND WE MET BECAUSE, LIKE, WE SIGNED UP ON THE SAME FOOTBALL TEAM.

BEING FRIENDS WITH SOMEONE THAT'S LOCAL, I MEAN, LIKE THEY TALK DIFFERENT AND LIKE THEY LOOK DIFFERENT, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IT'S THE SAME FOR THEM TOWARDS US.

I MEAN, WE LOOK DIFFERENT, AND WE SPEAK DIFFERENT THAN THEM.

BUT IN ALL, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE PEOPLE.

IT'S NO BIG DIFFERENCE.

NO BIG DEAL.

>> EXTRACURRICULAR AND RECREATION ACTIVITIES ARE SOME WAYS IN WHICH STUDENTS CAN GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER.

EVEN TECHNOLOGY, LIKE TEXTING AND FACEBOOK, PLAYS A PART IN BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN LOCAL AND MILITARY STUDENTS.

IT ALLOWS STUDENTS WHO LIVE ON SECURE MILITARY BASES TO KEEP IN TOUCH WITH THEIR FRIENDS WHO DON'T HAVE BASE ACCESS.

>> I'VE SEEN LOTS OF KIDS, LOCAL AND MILITARY, HANGING OUT TOGETHER, SO I THINK IT IS WHAT YOU MAKE OF IT.

>> SOME OF THE PEOPLE DON'T LIKE, LIKE, LIKE PEOPLE COMING OVER HERE.

I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHY.

IT'S JUST, JUST PEOPLE, MAN, COME ON.

>> DESPITE WHAT MOST PEOPLE MAY THINK, HERE AT AMS, IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER WHETHER YOU'RE MILITARY OR LOCAL.

THIS IS JADE DOUGLAS FROM ALIAMANU MIDDLE SCHOOL FOR HIKI NO.

[OCEAN WAVE] >> MAKING A NEW FRIEND CAN FEEL INTIMIDATING, BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE.

STUDENTS AT KAPA'A MIDDLE SCHOOL ON KAUA'I PUT TOGETHER A FUN TUTORIAL ON HOW TO MAKE A GOOD FRIEND.

>> HERE ARE FIVE TIPS ALL ABOUT HOW TO MAKE GREAT FRIENDS.

FIRST, ALWAYS BE YOURSELF.

NEVER TRY TO BE SOMEONE YOU'RE NOT; THAT COULD END BADLY.

SECOND, YOU SHOULDN'T BE SHY WHEN MEETING NEW PEOPLE.

IF YOU ASK TO SIT DOWN NEXT TO SOMEONE NEW, THE WORST THING THEY CAN SAY IS NO, BUT DON'T WORRY, BECAUSE THEY WILL USUALLY SAY YES.

THIRD, DON'T SHOW OFF TOO MUCH, BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO MAKE PEOPLE FEEL BAD AT DOING SOMETHING.

FOURTH, REMEMBER TO ALWAYS TREAT PEOPLE HOW YOU WANT TO BE TREATED.

FINALLY, YOU SHOULD BE ORGANIZED.

IF PEOPLE SEE HOW NEAT AND CLEAN YOU ARE, THEY WILL KNOW YOU AS AN ORGANIZED PERSON.

[OCEAN WAVE] >> OF COURSE, THROUGH LIFE'S UPS AND DOWNS, FAMILY IS ALWAYS THERE TO LIFT US UP.

IN THIS NEXT STORY, BASKETBALL BECOMES MORE THAN JUST A FAMILY FAVORITE GAME, IT'S ALSO A SOURCE OF STRENGTH AFTER A FAMILY TRAGEDY.

THIS REFLECTION COMES FROM HAWAI'I PREPARATORY ACADEMY STUDENT, KYRAN WALKER.

>> THIS IS KYRAN-SKYE WALKER, AN 8TH GRADER AT HAWAI'I PREPARATORY ACADEMY ON THE BIG ISLAND.

I GREW UP PLAYING BASKETBALL ALL THE TIME, AND I CONSIDER BASKETBALL AS ONE OF MY GREATEST PASSIONS.

I ALWAYS HAD THE DREAM OF MAKING IT FAR IN BASKETBALL, BECAUSE I ALWAYS WANT TO BE THE BEST I POSSIBLY CAN IN WHAT I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT.

BUT FROM A YOUNG AGE, I FELT ANXIETY AND ASTHMA WERE HOLDING ME BACK.

I WOULD WORRY ALL THE TIME ABOUT MANY THINGS, AND ALTHOUGH MANY OF MY THOUGHTS WERE OUT OF MY CONTROL, MY ANXIETY WOULD GET REALLY BAD, AND IT WOULD TRIGGER MY ASTHMA.

>> IT HAPPENED PRETTY OFTEN.

BEFORE EVERY GAME, I WORRIED ABOUT UNDERPERFORMING AND NOT BEING ABLE TO MEET MY OR MY COACHES' AND TEAMMATES' EXPECTATIONS.

NOT MEETING MY EXPECTATIONS MADE ME LOSE MY CONFIDENCE AND MADE ME DOUBT MYSELF THAT I WOULD NEVER BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE MY DREAM.

I KEPT TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO COPE WITH MY ANXIETY, AND THAT'S WHEN I THOUGHT OF MY OLDER SISTER AND HOW I BELIEVE THAT SHE IS ALWAYS LOOKING OVER ME.

MY SISTER PASSED AWAY WHEN SHE WAS A BABY.

WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, MY PARENTS WOULD ALWAYS TELL ME STORIES ABOUT HOW SPECIAL HER SHORT-LIVED JOURNEY WAS.

I NEVER REALLY UNDERSTOOD WHAT THEY WERE TRYING TO TELL ME, BUT AS I GOT OLDER, I STARTED TO UNDERSTAND MORE ABOUT HER STILL BEING A PART OF OUR FAMILY IN A SPIRITUAL SENSE.

THE MORE THEY TOLD ME ABOUT HER, THE MORE IT MADE ME BELIEVE THAT EVEN THOUGH I NEVER GOT TO MEET HER, I FEEL THAT I STILL HAVE A STRONG AND CLOSE CONNECTION WITH HER AND WILL CONTINUE TO.

MY MOM TELLS ME THAT WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, I WOULD DRAW OUR FAMILY PORTRAITS, INCLUDING HER.

>> I STARTED TO USE MY SISTER AS MY MOTIVATION.

THE SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE OF MY SISTER LED ME TO GAINING MY CONFIDENCE BACK, SO I KEPT WORKING HARD.

I HAVE THREE OLDER BROTHERS, AND TWO OF THEM ARE OLDER THAN MY SISTER, SO THEY HAVE MET HER PERSONALLY AND HAVE BEEN THROUGH THE JOURNEY WITH HER.

HOWEVER, NO MATTER WHAT, I BELIEVE THAT ALL FOUR OF US STILL HAVE A STRONG AND CLOSE CONNECTION WITH HER AND USE HER AS OUR MOTIVATION IN OUR OWN WAYS.

IN FACT, WE EACH DECIDED THAT WE WANTED OUR SISTER'S NAME, KIYA, TATTOOED ON US, AND WITH APPROVAL FROM OUR PARENTS, WE ARE ABLE TO TATTOO HER NAME ON OUR LEFT WRISTS.

THIS MAKES OUR BOND EVEN MORE SPECIAL.

THIS HELPS ME KNOW THAT SHE WILL BE WITH ME FOREVER.

I STILL EXPERIENCE ANXIETY TILL THIS DAY, BUT IT HAS GOTTEN A LOT BETTER THAN BEFORE, BECAUSE OF MY CONNECTION WITH MY SISTER.

I HOPE THAT IN THE FUTURE, I WILL BE ABLE TO PLAY BASKETBALL AT A HIGHER LEVEL.

I ALSO HOPE THAT I WILL SOMEDAY BE ABLE TO OVERCOME ANXIETY.

I REALLY BELIEVE THAT IN LIFE, ANYONE CAN OVERCOME CHALLENGES, IF THEY LIKE ME, JUST BELIEVE.

[OCEAN WAVE] >> SPEAKING OF STRENGTH, BELIEF IN YOURSELF MIGHT JUST BE THE ULTIMATE SUPERPOWER.

UP NEXT, WHEELER MIDDLE SCHOOL ON O'AHU TAKES US ALONG ON THEIR CLASSMATE'S INCREDIBLE JOURNEY TO CLIMB MOUNT KILIMANJARO.

TRUST ME, YOU'LL WALK AWAY FEELING INSPIRED.

[CHANTING AND SINGING] >> CLIMBING MOUNT KILIMANJARO WAS AMAZING.

I REALLY LIKE, BONDED WITH THE PEOPLE WHO I CLIMBED WITH.

REACHING THE SUMMIT, THAT WAS THE MOMENT WHEN I KNEW I HAD LITERALLY JUST DONE WHAT MOST PEOPLE DON'T DO IN THEIR LIFE.

>> PLANNING TO CLIMB MOUNT KILIMANJARO IN TANZANIA, AFRICA, TOOK TIME AND EFFORT.

>> I TRAINED IN NORTH CAROLINA.

WE DID A FOUR-MILE HIKE PRETTY MUCH EVERY WEEKEND, BECAUSE THE FIRST TIME, I WAS BARELY MAKING IT, BUT AT THE END I WAS, IT WAS LIKE I COULD RUN THE TRAIL.

BEING A MILITARY DEPENDENT ALSO MEANT MOVING DURING TRAINING.

WHEN WE MOVED HERE, WE'RE DOING KEALIA TRAIL AND, LIKE, DIAMOND HEAD, BECAUSE IT'S LIKE, ALL STAIRS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, JUST TO, LIKE, BUILD MY MUSCLES IN MY LEGS.

>> IN ADDITION TO STRENGTHENING HER MUSCLES, SHE HAD TO BECOME MENTALLY PREPARED.

>> 16 MORE LAPS TO GO.

IT'S JUST A MATTER IF YOU THINK YOU CAN DO IT, BECAUSE AFTER THE FIRST TWO DAYS, IT'S MORE MENTAL THAN PHYSICAL.

LIKE, I JUST DON'T WANT TO DO THIS ANYMORE.

I HAVEN'T HAD A SHOWER IN DAYS, I JUST WANT TO GET OFF THIS MOUNTAIN.

>> THIS FEAT IS EVEN MORE IMPRESSIVE CONSIDERING MACY WAS DIAGNOSED THREE YEARS AGO WITH A SERIOUS MEDICAL CONDITION.

>> EE IS AN AUTOIMMUNE DISORDER, WHICH IS WHEN YOU EAT CERTAIN FOODS, YOUR BODY SEES THEM, SEES THEM AS, LIKE, TOXINS.

THAT'S WHERE THIS TROUBLE BEGINS, AND IT CAN CAUSE YOUR THROAT TO SWELL SO THAT YOU CAN'T BREATHE, OR ACID REFLUX, OR ANYTHING JUST AS SIMPLE AS BEING REALLY SICK FOR A FEW DAYS OR OUT OF IT.

[PACKAGE CRINKLES] >> I CAN'T HAVE THIS.

IT HAS VEGETABLE OIL.

AND MY MOM WAS LOOKING TO SEE IF THERE WERE PEOPLE WHO HAD EE IN THE AREA, OR WHO HAD SOMETHING LIKE IT, SO THAT I COULD, LIKE, MEET SOMEBODY WHO WAS GOING THROUGH THE SAME THING, AND SHE JUST CAME ACROSS THE CLIMB KILIMANJARO FOR EE WEBSITE.

AND SHE WAS LIKE, "HEY, MACY, DO YOU WANT TO DO THIS?"

AND I WAS LIKE, "YEAH, SURE."

>> CLIMBING WAS A WAY TO MEET NEW PEOPLE, AND ALSO FOR THE GROUP OF CLIMBERS TO RAISE AWARENESS AND MONEY TO SUPPORT RESEARCH FOR EE.

>> WE ALL RAISED $98,000 FOR THIS DISEASE, AND THAT'S MORE THAN I EVER COULD HAVE HOPED FOR, AND PLUS, I SUMMITED, SO THAT'S PRETTY COOL.

>> MACY DEFINITELY CAUGHT THE CLIMBING BUG.

>> YOU CAN DO ANYTHING, MAYBE NOT EAT ALL THE FOODS, BUT YOU CAN DO ANYTHING YOU WANT TO IN LIFE, REGARDLESS OF THIS DISEASE.

JUST ONE MORE LAP.

I GOT THIS.

I GOT THIS DOWN.

>> THIS IS MATHEW STOCK FROM WHEELER MIDDLE SCHOOL FOR HIKI NO.

[OCEAN WAVE] >> NOW LET'S SWAY IN A NEW DIRECTION WITH THIS STORY FROM WAIAKEA HIGH SCHOOL.

LET'S HEAD BACK TO HAWAI'I ISLAND, WHERE STUDENTS INTRODUCE US TO THEIR HAWAIIAN CULTURAL CLUB BASED IN HILO, A GROUP THAT CELEBRATES CULTURE BOTH ON CAMPUS AND BEYOND THE ISLANDS.

>> HERE IN HAWAI'I, HULA, MELE, AND 'OHANA ARE THE CORNERSTONES OF OUR CULTURE.

AT WAIAKEA HIGH SCHOOL, THERE IS A CLUB WITH A PURPOSE TO PROMOTE ALL THREE.

>> KA LEO WAI HAS STARTED SINCE THE YEAR, ABOUT, LIKE, 2010.

IT STARTED WITH THE PURPOSE OF HAVING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR KEIKI TO PLAY HAWAIIAN MUSIC.

KA LEO, WHICH IS THE VOICE, AND WAI, WATER IN HAWAIIAN CULTURE, WATER IS SO VERY IMPORTANT, AND YOU NEED IT TO SUSTAIN EVERYTHING.

SO IT'S LIKE THE POWERFUL VOICES.

>> WE HAVE TO ORGANIZE EVENTS.

WE HAVE TO RUN PRACTICES WITH THE GIRLS, MAKE SURE THAT THEY LOOK GOOD BEFORE PERFORMANCES.

>> JUST COMMUNICATE WITH ALL OF OUR HULA DANCERS AND OTHER OFFICERS.

[SINGS HAWAIIAN] >> BUT I THINK WHAT MAKES KA LEO WAI SPECIAL IS THE ACTIVITIES THAT WE DO, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE IT INVOLVES OUR HAWAIIAN CULTURE.

THINGS THAT WE DO IS LIKE LUCKY WE LIVE IN HAWAI'I DAY OR EVEN MAY DAY, WHICH IS A VERY BIG EVENT IN OUR SCHOOL.

>> I JOINED KA LEO WAI HONESTLY, BECAUSE I NEVER REALLY GREW UP IN LIKE A HAWAIIAN HOUSEHOLD, I WOULD SAY.

SO I DIDN'T REALLY KNOW MUCH ABOUT THE CULTURE.

SO, WHEN I SEEN KA LEO WAI, I JUST WANTED TO DANCE HULA AND LEARN MORE ABOUT IT.

>> HONESTLY, IT'S THE PEOPLE THAT DREW ME IN ACTUALLY, LIKE AT FIRST, BUT LIKE, AFTER BONDING WITH ALL OF THEM AND THEN GETTING TO PERFORM WITH THEM.

I LIKE PERFORMING WITH THE GIRLS.

>> I JOINED KA LEO WAI BECAUSE I LOVE HULA.

I HAVE A VERY BIG PASSION FOR HULA.

SO, HEARING THAT KA LEO WAI HAD HULA AND MELE, I WANTED TO PURSUE AND JUST GROW IN THAT SUBJECT.

THE AMOUNT OF ACTIVITIES THAT WE DID REALLY EXPANDED.

WE REALLY GREW CONFIDENTLY INTO EXPRESSING OURSELVES AND DOING MANY DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES AROUND SCHOOL.

>> KA LEO WAI HAS EVEN TRAVELED OUTSIDE OF HAWAI'I, TO SHARE THE HAWAIIAN CULTURE WITH THE WORLD.

>> AND THEN THIS YEAR WE'RE GOING TO IAPANA, OR JAPAN.

SO, IN THE PAST, KA LEO WAI HAS KIND OF COLLABORATED WITH OTHER GROUPS, AND WE HAVE GONE TO TAHITI.

WE'VE ALSO HAVE DONE OTHER EXCURSIONS AROUND THE ISLAND TOO, WHICH IS SUPER COOL.

IT'S REALLY JUST A HOME FOR STUDENTS TO FEEL COMFORTABLE LEARNING MORE ABOUT OUR CULTURE, KEEPING IT ALIVE, PRACTICING AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

>> THIS IS KAMA PAULO-GALSOTE FROM WAIAKEA HIGH SCHOOL FOR HIKI NO, ON PBS HAWAI'I.

>> LET'S HEAR FROM KAMA PAULO-GALSOTE, WHO WAS IN THE GRADUATING CLASS OF 2025 ABOUT WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO PRODUCE THE STORY ABOUT KA LEO WAI.

[OCEAN WAVE] >> I THINK IT WAS REALLY COOL BEING ABLE TO SHARE THIS STORY, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT THE ONLY CLUB, HAWAIIAN CLUB, IN A HIGH SCHOOL, RIGHT?

IT'S LIKE, YOU SEE HILO HIGH SCHOOL, FOR EXAMPLE, THEY HAVE A HALAU IN THE SCHOOL.

THAT'S AMAZING, YOU KNOW?

AND I GUARANTEE THERE'S MORE SCHOOLS ACROSS HAWAI'I THAT HAVE CLUBS FOR, LIKE, HAWAIIAN CULTURE, HAWAIIAN CULTURE CLUB, HAWAIIAN HULA CLUB, UKULELE CLUB, YOU KNOW.

THEY HAVE ALL THESE DIFFERENT THINGS, BUT BEING ABLE TO SEE, BEING ABLE TO SHARE THIS STORY OF OUR CLUB AND HOW WE DO THINGS, HOPEFULLY, THAT'S KIND OF LIKE INSPIRING TO OTHERS, AND LIKE SEEING THAT, WOW, WHAT WE DO MATTERS.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE PERPETUATING THE HAWAIIAN CULTURE.

WE'RE SHARING THIS STORY TO THE STATE, AND YOU KNOW, IT'S ON HIKI NO'S WEBSITE, SO POTENTIALLY THE WORLD.

[OCEAN WAVE] >> THIS NEXT STORY FOCUSES ON THE INTRICATE HAWAIIAN ART FORM OF FEATHER LEI MAKING, AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE COMMUNITY.

THE PIECE IS FROM STUDENTS AT KAPA'A HIGH SCHOOL ON KAUA'I.

[OCEAN WAVE] [E HO MAI KAHIKI MAI E] >> WHEN YOU MAKE ANY KIND OF LEI, YOU REALLY NEED TO BE DOING IT WITH A GOOD HEART.

YOU SHOULD HAVE GOOD MANA THAT YOU'RE PUTTING INTO THAT LEI BECAUSE YOU'RE PASSING THAT MANA ON TO WHOEVER YOU'RE GIFTING THAT LEI TO, OR WHOEVER'S GETTING THAT LEI.

>> CREATING FEATHER LEI TAKES TIME, PATIENCE, AND TREMENDOUS SKILL, ALL OF WHICH LAURA KAWAILEHUA WOLFGANG DOES TO PROMOTE HAWAIIAN CULTURE AND SHARE THIS TRADITIONAL CRAFT WITH OTHERS.

>> IN THE RECENT YEARS, CULTURAL ARTS ARE COMING BACK VERY STRONG, AND LEI HULU, FEATHER MAKING, IS ONE OF THOSE.

IN THE OLD DAYS, IT WAS ONLY FOR THE ROYALTY.

THE ROYALTY WOULD GIVE IT AS PRIZED GIFTS TO PEOPLE WHO WOULD COME FROM OTHER COUNTRIES.

SO, WHEN YOU BUY A FEATHER LEI, YOU'RE NOT JUST BUYING A LEI THAT'S GOING TO LAST FOR A FEW DAYS.

THEY LAST GENERATIONS.

IT'S AN HEIRLOOM.

>> DEEPLY ROOTED IN THE TRADITIONAL ATTIRE OF HAWAI'I'S ALII, THESE INTRICATE PIECES HAVE BECOME MORE THAN JUST A GIFT.

>> I STARTED MAKING LEI AS A LITTLE GIRL WITH FLOWERS, LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.

AND I STARTED SEEING HALAUS WEARING THE FEATHER LEI.

AND OF COURSE, IF YOU WATCH ANYTHING OF HAWAIIAN CULTURE, THE SOCIETIES, YOU SEE THE PA'U COURT, YOU KNOW THE QUEENS AND PRINCESSES OF THE ISLANDS DURING LIKE, KAMEHAMEHA DAY AND STUFF.

YOU'LL ALWAYS SEE THEM WITH SOME TYPE OF FEATHER LEI.

USUALLY IT'S YELLOW, BECAUSE THAT WAS THE FIRST COLOR OF FEATHER LEI.

>> IN ORDER TO PRESERVE HAWAIIAN CULTURE, SOME OF KAUA'I'S RESIDENTS HAVE TAKEN AN INTEREST IN SUPPORTING TRADITIONAL CRAFT MAKERS, EVEN LEARNING HOW TO CREATE UNIQUE LEI THEMSELVES.

>> WE FEEL LIKE BY RE-INSTILLING OUR CHILDREN WITH A DEEP SENSE OF CULTURE AND VALUE THAT WE CAN HELP THEM FIND THEIR WAY.

IF I CAN PASS ON A DESIRE TO WANT TO LEARN THIS CRAFT, THEN I FEEL LIKE I'M DOING LAURA'S KUMU, A JUSTICE.

>> THOSE HOPING TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THESE HISTORICAL TRADITIONS ARE DEPENDENT ON HIGHLY QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ONLY ALLOWED TO TEACH BY THEIR KUMU.

>> THE GRATITUDE THAT COMES TO US AS WE THINK ABOUT WHAT LAURA HAS PASSED ON TO US IS SOMETHING THAT I KNOW I WILL TREASURE FOR A LIFETIME.

>> IT'S KIND OF LIKE, YOU KNOW, FASHIONS COME AROUND.

'80S FASHIONS ARE BACK AGAIN, RIGHT?

LEI HULU IS COMING AROUND, BUT THERE'S MORE MODERN VERSIONS OF IT.

THERE'S NO BORDERS, THERE'S NO LIMITS TO WHAT YOU CAN DO AND HOW YOU CAN MODERNIZE IT TO BE APPEALING FOR YOU.

IF YOU WANT TO HELP PERPETUATE THE CULTURE, IF YOU WANT A NICE HEIRLOOM TO PASS DOWN IN THE FAMILY, THAT WOULD BE A GOOD REASON TO BUY A FEATHER LEI OR TO MAKE ONE.

>> THIS IS CADE WOODWARD FROM KAPA'A HIGH SCHOOL FOR HIKI NO, ON PBS HAWAI'I.

[OCEAN WAVE] >> LET'S LOOK BACK TO MORE THAN A DECADE AGO WHEN KAMEHAMEHA SCHOOLS KAPALAMA ON O'AHU OPENED A BRAND NEW HAWAIIAN CULTURAL CENTER.

IT WAS, AND STILL IS, A PLACE FOR STUDENTS TO RECONNECT WITH HAWAIIAN TRADITIONS AND IDENTITY.

>> STUDENTS AT KAMEHAMEHA'S KAPALAMA CAMPUS HAVE BEEN DIGGING INTO THEIR NATIVE CULTURE BY WAY OF A NEW FACILITY DEDICATED TO ALL THINGS HAWAIIAN.

THE KA'IWAKILOUMOKU CULTURAL CENTER HELPS GUIDE STUDENTS BACK TO THEIR ROOTS.

>> THIS BUILDING IN ITSELF, IT CARRIES THIS, THIS AURA, AND THIS, THIS FEELING WHEN YOU COME IN, THAT YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE AND YOU FEEL WELCOMED, AND THAT'S WHAT BEING HAWAIIAN IS ABOUT, THESE VALUES THAT WE LEARNED IN CLASS, LIKE HO'OKIPA.

IT'S, IT'S JUST A BEING AND A WAY OF LIFE, I THINK.

>> THE CENTER IS INTENDED TO BE A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN GATHER, PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, WHERE WE CAN LEARN FROM ONE ANOTHER.

WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT OUR CLASSES.

WE WANT OUR STUDENTS TO NOT ONLY LEARN FROM THE KUMU, BUT ALSO FROM OUR MAKUA AND KUPUNA.

>> FROM WHIPPING UP CULINARY CREATIONS• TO LEARNING TRADITIONAL ARTISAN TECHNIQUES• THE CENTER OPENS A NEW CHAPTER TO STUDENTS NOT FOUND IN TEXTBOOKS.

[THAT IS FREE CHOICE.

YOU CAN DO THAT ON YOUR OWN.]

>> THIS CLASS IS ABOUT GETTING BACK TO OUR ROOTS.

IT'S MORE OF LEARNING ABOUT WHAT OUR KUPUNA DID IN THEIR DAILY LIVES, AND IT'S A CLASS THAT IS TRYING TO TEACH US HOW WE CAN APPLY THOSE SKILLS AND THOSE THINGS THAT OUR ANCESTORS USED IN THE 21ST CENTURY TODAY.

>> BUT CREATING THE CENTER WAS NO EASY TASK.

AFTER 20 YEARS OF NEGOTIATING DIFFERENT PHILOSOPHIES, PERSONALITIES AND APPROACHES TO FULFILL THE VISION OF OUR SCHOOL'S FOUNDER, BERNICE PAUAHI BISHOP, THE CENTER FINALLY CAME TO FRUITION THIS PAST SEPTEMBER AND EARNED A SPOT ON HONOLULU'S HILLSIDE CAMPUS.

>> SO YES, IT DID COME WITH A LOT OF CHALLENGES.

AS MUCH AS PEOPLE PERCEIVE US TO BE A HAWAIIAN SCHOOL, BACK THEN, THE FOCUS REALLY WASN'T ON HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE OR CULTURAL STUDIES.

PRETTY MUCH, IT WAS INGRAINED IN OUR MINDS THAT WE PREPARE FOR COLLEGE AND THAT WE PREPARE IN A CERTAIN WAY.

>> WHY IS THIS YOUR KULEANA?

>> THE CULTURAL CENTER HOPES TO EXTEND ITS REACH BEYOND THE CAMPUS TO THOSE SEEKING TO PERPETUATE NOHONA HAWAI'I, THE HAWAIIAN WAY OF LIVING AND LEARNING.

>> BUT I THINK THAT WE'RE DEFINITELY MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, ESPECIALLY WITH THIS NEW CULTURE CENTER AND OFFERING COURSES LIKE THIS.

AND I THINK IT'S REALLY UP TO HOW EACH STUDENT INTERPRETS THEIR EXPERIENCES HERE, LIKE SOME GET MORE OF A HAWAIIAN EXPERIENCE, WHILE OTHERS DON'T.

>> AND IT'S THROUGH THESE KINDS OF HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES THAT THE HAWAIIAN CULTURE CAN THRIVE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS TO COME.

REPORTING FROM KAMEHAMEHA SCHOOLS - KAPALAMA CAMPUS, I'M TIANA HALBUNA FOR HIKI NO.

[OCEAN WAVE] >> THAT'S A WRAP FOR TODAY.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING THE WORK OF HAWAI'I'S NEW WAVE OF STORYTELLERS.

DON'T FORGET TO FOLLOW HIKI NO ON PBS HAWAI'I ON YOUTUBE, INSTAGRAM AND TIKTOK.

YOU CAN FIND THIS HIKI NO EPISODE AND MORE AT PBSHAWAII.ORG.

TUNE IN NEXT WEEK FOR MORE PROOF THAT HAWAI'I STUDENTS HIKI NO, CAN DO.

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