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

Aloha, and welcome to HIKI NŌ on PBS Hawai‘i.

I'm Maddie Wright, a student at Pacific Buddhist Academy on O‘ahu, and I'm so excited you're here with us.

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

In this episode, we're sharing stories in honor of Earth Day, celebrated annually on April 22 to inspire awareness about the importance of environmental protection.

We'll watch stories about saving endangered species like the Hawaiian monk seal and the ‘Alalā bird, stories about working as a community to protect pristine parks and waters, cinematic reflections on nature's elements and how they can heal and soothe us, and respecting the ocean in order to stay safe while swimming.

We'll begin on the Big Island at the Marine Mammal Center's Hawaiian monk seal hospital, Ke Kai Ola.

Students at West Hawai‘i Explorations Academy interview the folks who are working hard to protect this critically endangered species.

of our oldest endemic mammals, and they really need our help.

On the leeward side of the Big Island of Hawai‘i is Ke Kai Ola, an ocean mammal rehabilitation center best known for the work they do for Hawai‘i's most endangered endemic mammal, the Hawaiian monk seal.

So, our process for taking in seals and the length of care, it really varies from patient to patient and where patients are coming from.

So, we rely heavily on the public to be able to call in not only healthy seals that are resting on the beaches, but also if there's a seal that might be in distress, and then we coordinate with other stranding networks throughout the Hawaiian Islands.

And it really is a partnership between NOAA, the Coast Guard, and even private entities.

And once seals get here, you know, they go through an admin exam to determine what is causing them to be sick, or how are they injured, or what can we do to help them.

And we can have patients for as little as two weeks, and we've had patients up to one year in our care.

Of the many native and endemic species in the Hawaiian Islands, Hawaiian monk seals stand out among others as unique.

seals are special, because maybe even those of us who live here do not realize that we have only two native mammals.

We have the hoary bat and the Hawaiian monk seal, one a marine mammal, one a land mammal, and both work in different ways to preserve the ecosystem and when their numbers are improving, they're a sign that our ecosystem is in good shape.

Through the six years that Wendy Marks has been a part of Ke Kai Ola, she has seen many patients come and go with various ailments and injuries.

However, there is one thing in common between almost every issue that the seals face.

is that monk seals are endangered because of the impact that humans have had on them.

We see everything from malnutrition to disease to entanglement in derelict fishing gear.

So, whether it be lines or ghost nets or ingestion of barbed fishhooks, one of the biggest threats, and actually the biggest threat, to monk seals in the main Hawaiian Islands is intentional human killings, believe it or not.

For us here at Ke Kai Ola that is a topic that is really sensitive, especially because we did have a seal in our care a few years ago.

Her name was Mālama.

She was released on the island of O‘ahu, and within about a month of her being released, somebody had beat her with something and killed her.

So that was really, really hard for our staff and for our volunteers, because we had worked so hard and so long to get her to a place where she was healthy and we could release her.

that the seals have to deal with, things are looking up for the species.

Monk seal populations have gone from 1,200 to 1,600 in the time that Wendy has worked with Ke Kai Ola.

Wendy hopes that with further education in the local community, things will only continue to improve for the seals.

and understanding, we are going to be able to mitigate a lot of those human-caused threats that are impacting our monk seal population.

It takes a village to sustain this incredible species, which means more than just Ke Kai Ola, it also.

It takes everyday people like you and me understanding and respecting the seals and our marine environment as a whole.

We can change one mind at a time.

You know, to me, that's a win.

This is Izaya Edmonds from West Hawai‘i Explorations Academy for HIKI NŌ on PBS Hawai‘i.

People in Hawai‘i have always taken a stance to protect our animals and our environment.

Let's take a look back at a story that was produced 14 years ago by students at Kea‘au High about surfers taking care of the land.

On the windward side of the Big Island of Hawai‘i, there's a premier surfing spot called Honoli‘i.

Honoli‘i is known for its consistent year-round surf.

Not so long ago, Honoli‘i was a dramatically different place – overgrown, littered and unwelcoming to the general public.

In 2003 a man named Keith Nehls, known as Bradda Skibs, took it into his own hands to clean up the beach.

He has since formed a nonprofit group called Basic Image.

But we started our first project down in Honoli‘i in 2003 with a bunch of brothers and sisters that believed in cleaning up this place.

And when we did it at the beginning, it was kind of like we had some negative, you know, people were saying that, you know, the county taking advantage of us.

You know, everybody tried, not gon’ get done, but they never see the vision that we seen.

And I understood that, yeah, I couldn't blame them for feeling that way, because it's something that nobody has been really doing.

But the main purpose for us, what we're doing here is to educate our community, our kids, most of all, about respect, about taking care of the ‘āina, the ocean water, invasive plants and planting native, but really coexisting and having a place where people can come and learn a lot of things from different uncles and aunties.

has taken place at Honoli‘i.

The ‘āina now glows from the loving touch of its caretakers.

The work of Bradda Skibs and his group has progressed island wide.

Aside from the beautiful face lift Honoli‘i went through, the Hakalau Mill also received the same treatment.

Hakalau is transformed into a pristine and family-oriented Beach Park.

This is what it's all about, and the keikis, we gotta get the keikis involved for the future.

You know, they carry on with the same aloha as we try to push on now, and that's how I feel now.

Now is real pono over here.

Kupuna Andy Kuali‘i sums up his feeling and respect for their mission.

Living with aloha, kōkua, and ha‘aha‘a.

Love, help, and be humble that’s the three things most of us Hawaiians live by, and that is why this park is like this today.

from others, but gives the money right back to the community through his surf events, which are free to all entrants.

The events are truly feel-good and include things like free food, prizes, entertainment and a lot of aloha.

Bradda Skibs held this event for every beach they helped out: Honoli‘i, Hakalau, Wai‘uli in Keaukaha, and Pohiki in the Puna area.

Make sure to teach the keiki, and the only way that you can teach them is by example.

So, we lead by example.

Action speaks as our whole thing about what we do.

But we allow everybody, and we allow everybody to come down to this beach park.

can surf with a smile knowing that his aloha will influence the youth to carry on the tradition he started.

My name is Keenan Sartain, reporting from Kea‘au High School for HIKI NŌ.

Now for some practical advice on how to stay safe at the beach from our young correspondents at Alvah Scott Elementary School on O‘ahu.

Each year, Hawaiian dream vacations turn to misfortune when visitors underestimate the power of the ocean.

Hawai‘i is surrounded by beautiful beaches that attract tourists who live far from the coast.

Trouble can arise when these tourists see the beauty of crystal-clear waters, but not the dangers, such as strong waves and currents.

Some visitors may not be experienced swimmers, especially not ocean swimmers, so they assume it's just a calm Hawaiian beach.

Here are some ways that tourists, as well as locals, can enjoy a safe swim at the beach.

Before going into the ocean, make sure there is a lifeguard on duty.

It's also best to bring a buddy or an adult who knows how to swim.

While in the water, make sure to stay close and keep track of each other.

Read all posted warning signs because they will tell you if it's safe to swim at this beach.

Since conditions are always changing, often, people will ignore these warnings and swim anyway.

This is a mistake you don't want to make while on vacation enjoying time with family.

The bottom line is never swim in the ocean alone and never go in the water if you're not confident that conditions are safe.

If you follow all these precautions and still find yourself in a rip current, stay calm and don't fight against the current.

Instead, swim parallel to the shore.

If you can't swim in, wave your arms and yell for help.

Try not to panic.

Stay as calm as you can.

Please be safe everyone and enjoy the beautiful beaches of Hawai‘i.

This is Adysen Haramura from Alvah Scott Elementary School for HIKI NŌ on PBS Hawai‘i.

This next story is from Island School on Kaua‘i.

It spotlights a canoe paddler and builder who protects the environment with renewed focus after surviving a traumatic accident.

I started paddling when I was 12 and sort of just slipped deeper and deeper into it till about the time I was 18 or 17, I was really putting all of my time into it.

And for about a five-year period, I was training probably, you know, up to 20 hours a week, and that's like, time on the water, not including commute and all of that.

So, my life was really focused on paddling.

On October 10, 2010, Luke Evslin’s life was almost taken from him when the propeller of his escort boat tore through his back during championship race between Moloka‘i and O‘ahu.

You know, after I got onto the boat and I was lying there on my back thinking that I was bleeding to death or paralyzed, or that my stomach had been ripped out my body.

You know, that's when you know, your mind is going through a lot of stuff.

And to me, that was sort of my transformative moment with those 45 minutes, and I would say the most, without a doubt, most transformative 45 minutes of my life.

So, yeah, up until the accident, you know, my life plan was pretty clear.

You know, I was at a business building canoes, and I wanted to be, you know, one of the best paddlers in the world.

And that's the direction I was going in, you know, something that I've sort of learned through this accident, you know, is this desire for more, you know, is that we don't always need more.

on giving back to the environment through his off-the-grid sustainable farm.

[chickens cluck]   And the goal is basically to reduce inputs, or eliminate inputs is the ultimate goal, and also outputs, you know.

So, we have a river that we have to cross to get to our property.

So, for me, that's like the barrier line.

It's pretty obvious when I'm carrying something into that or carrying it out of that, you know.

So normally, in a property, you know, you're taking food in and taking trash out.

So, I'm trying to minimize that, you know.

So, we produce our own electricity with photovoltaic panels.

We catch our own water, so there's no pipes or anything connecting us to the outside world.

We have a really good existence right now where we're living.

You know, we have six solar panels, which produces very little electricity, you know.

And it means we can't, you know, turn our TV on at night if it hasn't been sunny, or we can't wash our clothes, you know, unless it's beaming hot out.

But that's fine with us, you know, and it makes us live with what we have.

And that sort of concept I've really applied to the rest of my life and especially our business, you know, and this idea of it's good, where it's at.

You know, and let's perfect this.

Although still very involved in his business, Kamanu Composites, Luke Evslin has been able to find a balance between his career driven lifestyle and his desire to reduce his impact on the planet.

This is Gabriel Figueroa from Island School on Kaua‘i, reporting for HIKI NŌ.

[ocean wave] This next HIKI NŌ personal narrative will make you stop and pause to appreciate nature.

It was produced by a student at Kapa‘a High School on Kaua‘i.

wet, stormy days on Kaua‘i, the comfort it brings and the sun fades, and clouds roll in.

The world grows hushed and hollow.

Everything becomes still, bringing coolness and calm.

A day with nothing in mind, to just relax and rewind.

I remain warm inside, a stowaway from the freezing cold rain.

It starts as a scattered tapping, a tentative light hum to a rhythmic thrum, nature's soothing song.

patters] Now for a tutorial on how to clean and gut Moi fish, the fish that was once reserved only for Hawaiian royalty to eat.

The video was produced by students from ‘O Hina i ka Malama, the Hawaiian language immersion program at Moloka‘i High School.

Just a quick warning.

The next segment shows in detail the fish's innards.

It's a technical demonstration intended for educational purposes.

[Ocean wave] Let's visit our archives for this memorable 2012 profile produced by Kealakehe High School students on Hawai‘i Island.

They interview a clean energy advocate who spreads her message to kids with a superhero alter ego.

I got mixed up in a storm one day and became elected by the elements, sun, water and wind and Mother Nature to become Green Power Girl.

Hello, everyone.

Green Power Girl, here, sent from Mother Nature, energy from the sun and the wind and the water.

And I'm all about energy of the future and about getting off of our nasty fossil fuel habit.

Green Power Girl has appeared in over 1,500 presentations and environmental events since her creation in 2000.

But how did this environmental superhero come to be?

Let's talk to the woman beneath the renewable energy cape, Susan Cox.

So, the superhero concept came about because I was doing these assemblies teaching kids about energy conservation, and it was so boring.

And I thought, I really need some help.

And besides, I'm talking about energy, and we're talking about fossil fuels, and we're talking about changing the status quo.

I mean, what can I do?

I'm just a girl, at least when I started.

Now, some of you don't know this, but I am a recycling specialist.

I'm not doing this because I like dressing up.

I'm doing this because I want to engage people in a different way.

I'm doing this because I really do care about children of all creatures.

I really do care about kids, and I really do care about the future of our planet.

I’m Green Power Girl.

Very nice to meet you.

Have a good day.

You guys don’t know Smokey?

Turn it on.

Go ahead.

You did it!

Give him a hand.

Yeah, I think our biggest challenge in Hawai‘i is, how do we stop relying so much on imports and really have a new mindset, like, how do we look at systems in a different way, and how do we start to support our local our local infrastructure, and really look at the way that the ancient Hawaiians, I mean, they were brilliant at sustainability.

The ahupua‘a system, and how they grew their food and how they traded the things that they needed, was a really good example of sustainability, and it wasn't that long ago.

So, we can really rely on ancient wisdom with new technologies to really lead the way and lead the world.

When I came to Hawai‘i, I came here because I knew that if we could do it here on our island, we could be an example for the whole world.

And I still believe that.

This is Brittany Denzer from Kealakehe High for HIKI NŌ.

[ocean wave] This next video delves into the origins of plastic pollution in the ocean.

It was produced by students at Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy Middle School on Hawai‘i Island.

Did you know that plastic is everywhere?

In your house, at your school, in most stores, and in the ocean.

But how did plastic get in the ocean?

Trash travels far and wide, so no matter where you dispose of your trash, there's a good chance it’ll end up in the ocean and harm an animal or contribute to a garbage patch.

In an interview with Ryan Potter from Kure Atoll, he lets us know that plastics and microplastics can affect the whole ecosystem.

Even birds are affected.

I pulled this from a stomach of a dead albatross.

So, this whole bag was taken from one albatross chick.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, billions of pounds of trash end up in the ocean each year.

Some of the debris ends up in the water or on the sand at the beaches, while other plastic pollution ends up sinking or is tragically eaten by animals.

Did you know that plastics that end up near bodies of water are at risk of ending up in the ocean?

Sometimes it's even purposely left there.

That's what usually happens with fishing nets.

Because they're left in or near the ocean, they can entangle lots of sea animals and cause them to drown.

Not all plastics’ effects are visible to us.

Plastics don't decompose, so they just sit there, slowly getting broken down into microplastics.

NOAA describes microplastics as small bits of fiber and plastic that are generally less than five millimeters long.

Because they're so tiny, they are very harmful to aquatic wildlife.

These little bits of plastics have been found in all corners of Earth, even mostly untouched places like Antarctica.

This may sound terrible and unstoppable, but there's some small things that you can do to help.

The next time you're at the pool, at a beach or playing at a playground, pay attention to the plastic wrappers or the grocery bags.

Plastics’ effects are bigger than you think, so take the effort to put them in a bin to keep something from eating them or carrying them off.

Now you know different types of plastic pollution and their effects, so you can better understand how to help the ocean.

This is Michella Monello from Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy for HIKI NŌ on PBS Hawai‘i.

Students at Kua O Ka Lā Miloli‘i Hīpu‘u Virtual Academy produce this next story about the native Hawaiian ‘Alalā birds.

The cry of the ‘Alalā, or the Hawaiian crow, is a distinctive sound you only hear in the forest of the Big Island.

But the sound of the endemic bird almost fell silent forever.

Due to loss of habitat, disease and predators, by 2002 there were no longer any ‘Alalā left in the wild.

But thanks to a dedicated team, the ‘Alalā is now showing signs of a comeback.

at the Keauhou Bird Conservation center in Volcano on Hawai‘i Island, and what we do here is we breed critically endangered Hawaiian birds, and we release them back out into the wild.

The work began in the 1970s when workers captured ‘Alalā and began to breed the birds at the center.

So, the ‘Alalā, like many other plants and animals and insects and fish that are found only here in Hawai‘i, are really a part of this place.

So, I think that it's important for us to preserve, protect and restore all of these different species that are found only here in the islands.

The first release in 2016 was unsuccessful, and three of the five birds died.

One starved and two were killed by the ‘io, the Hawaiian hawk.

The remaining birds were captured and brought back to the center.

With the 2017 release, there are signs that the birds are learning to survive in the wild.

one day monitoring some of the birds, and we were just walking away from this area that the birds were hanging out in, and we hear this eruption of alarm calls from the ‘Alalā.

And then we turn and we end up seeing four ‘Alalā chasing two ‘io, and that's the kind of behavior that we'd hope to see to keep them surviving.

The latest released in 2018 brought some very exciting news.

They're starting to do more of their natural behaviors, which is really exciting to see, including the possible formation of breeding pairs.

So, we have a couple of pairs that we believe are starting to form out in the wild, which is really exciting.

The formation of breeding pairs is a really interesting and exciting step.

The end goal for the ‘Alalā project is to produce a self-sustaining population of ‘Alalā in the wild.

The formation of the pairs, that's their first breeding step.

They will form lifelong bonds with each other.

So, that they mate for life, as much as we know, and with that mating for life, they'll kind of break off from the rest of the group.

They'll form their territory, they'll start defending that territory, and then possibly start building nests, and then hopefully mating and producing eggs.

the crowd the ‘Alalā, will be common throughout the forest of the Big Island.

This is Akeakamai Cho Kua O Ka Lā Miloli‘i Hīpu‘u Virtual Academy for HIKI NŌ.

[ocean wave] An update since that story was produced.

The state conservation breeding program now cares for more than 100 ‘Alalā in captivity and is continuing efforts to reintroduce them to the wild on Maui and Hawai‘i Island.

How lucky we all are to call Hawai‘i home.

Thank you for celebrating Earth Day with the Next Generation of Hawai‘i's Storytellers.

Don't forget to follow HIKI NŌ on 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's students HIKI NŌ, can do.

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