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

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

I'm Kiara Hamora.

And I'm Alohilani Riklon, and we're junior at Kealakehe High School on Hawai‘i Island We have an inspiring show for you tonight.

We get to reveal the winning entries of HIKI NŌ's 2026 Spring Challenge Competition.

Each season during the school year, HIKI N student reporters to produce stories in the span of a few days.

These contests are called Challenges.

For this year's Challenge, the call was for videos based on the prompt, 'Where We Meet The Water.'

In these competitions, the judges look for stories produced with technical skill and storytelling finesse.

They also have to meet the prompt.

Usually, students have several weeks to several months to work on projects.

This time, they only had one week, and they had to weather a storm.

All right, let's see what they produced.

Let's start with an honorable mention in our middle school division.

In the middle school division of the 2026 HIKI NŌ on PBS Hawai‘i Spring Challenge, receiving honorable mention is Waipahu Intermediate School on O‘ahu.

Congratulations!

In this lovely collection of voices, the students of Waipahu Intermediate School beautifully captured what the ocean means to all of us.

Here in Hawai‘i, water is everywhere.

But what does it mean to us?

Where do you meet the water?

I meet the water by spending time with family and friends.

I meet the water with my faith and also with my family.

I meet the water when I reflect on my current actions or current events.

I meet the water at the Kahakai.

In my bubble wrap of tranquility.

I meet the water at the moana, which means the ocean.

I think where I meet the water is when I do sports.

I meet the water when my soul meets God.

Oh, water means to me life.

You know, it makes me free, takes me away from all the worries I gotta worry about.

There's a mele or a song, um, entitled He Mele No Kāne.

Kane, so, there were four gods, four main gods.

There are many, but there are four main gods, and one was Kāne.

Kāne was kind of viewed as life.

And so, in this mele, it's saying “He Mele No Kāne,” yeah, a song dedicated to our Kāne.

It talks about water.

And it says, “He ui, he nīnau,” asking, like, “Aia I hea ka wai a Kāne?” Where are the waters of Kāne?

And in this mele, it says, it's above, it's below; it's in the ocean, it's in the depths.

And so, with that, again, Hawaiians knew that you could find water everywhere.

Water comes from the stream, water comes from the waterfall, from the ocean, from the depths of the ocean, yeah.

And I think that that's something that's really interesting.

In mele, Hawaiians would kind of teach each other where they could find water.

Water means something completely different to everyone.

Serenity.

Hope.

It's where it's peaceful.

But it connects us all.

Ola i ka wai, there is life in water.

This is John Armas from Waipahu Intermediate for HIKI NŌ on PBS Hawai‘i.

In the middle school division of the 2026 HIKI NŌ on PBS Hawai‘i Spring Challenge, receiving honorable mention is Āliamanu Middle School on O‘ahu.

Congratulations.

Students at Āliamanu Middle School on O‘ahu interviewed their father about his job as a longshoreman in Honolulu, providing some insight into a job sometimes unseen.

Where the salt air meets heavy steel, Faifaiese Emosi Jr.

works the fluid edge of the Pacific.

He stands at the gateway of the islands, bridging the gap between the deep blue and the land we call home.

A lot of what we do goes unnoticed and unrecognized, being that a lot of the cargo that we do bring in, people actually sometimes take for granted.

They don't realize the sacrifices and the hard work that we put in to keep those goods on the shelves.

Out where steel meets salt air, he lines up each move, the quiet focus, guiding massive containers into place so everything fits just right before the ship slips back into the open water.

We receive and we ship out cargo for the state on cargo ships, containers, automobiles, goods, roll on/roll offs, heavy equipment, everything that comes on a boat in our harbor.

That's basically what we do.

We take, we receive, and we ship out.

When the heavy steel starts moving, the salt air is the only easy part.

It's a constant grind that tests your body against the weight of the islands.

So, the physical part of work is actually very demanding and taxing on the body, not just because of the physical work.

It's because of the hours that we put in.

But, I mean, it's a sacrifice that we actually are proud to do, because it helps keep the lifeline of Hawai‘i on.

In the middle of it all, there's a quiet pride in what he does, knowing every move he makes helps keep things moving far beyond the harbor.

I feel very proud to be a part of this because of its history, being proud and knowing how deep the roots go in, into this place, into our union, into our job.

For him, the water isn't just a backdrop.

It's a presence that defines the work and keeps him grounded at the edge of the world.

The water means a lot to me, knowing that, without it, we wouldn't have a way to be able to connect outside, as far as goods, like heavy stuff.

You can't have heavy stuff on the airline, so only way to bring in stuff is on a ship, which is why it's basically the lifeline for us throughout the rest of the world.

Where the islands connect to the world, the water remains the constant.

It's the lifeblood of the docks and the heart of the story.

This is Malosi Salanoa from Āliamanu Middle School for HIKI NŌ on PBS Hawai‘i.

In the middle school division of the 2026 HIKI NŌ on PBS Hawai‘i Spring Challenge, receiving third place from the island of O‘ahu is Moanalua Middle School.

Congratulations.

Moanalua Middle School students impressed the judges with the spotlight on a Honolulu paddling club and its dedicated members.

The Healani Canoe Club has been meeting on the water for over a century, hosting generations of paddlers and water enthusiasts.

Current head coach Kapuni Patcho oversees paddling teams of all ages.

The official Hawaiian sport and the state sport of Hawai‘i.

So, I just wanted to make sure that I perpetuate Hawaiian culture.

But for these athletes, paddling is more than just a sport.

The ocean can be your school, knowing when to go out, when to stay in.

The conditions can be different at every time.

Once you leave land, the only way to get back in is to paddle.

So, perseverance, knowing that there's struggles, but there's always a gratification when you're out there.

I really do love being on the water.

It's nice when it's calm, but it's also a lot of fun when the water is crazy.

The community is great, and it's a great way to calm yourself.

It's a great way to clear your mind, and the friends and the non-blood family that you'll make along the way will be with you for life.

I think what led me to keep coming back to paddling was the people, because everybody is more like family, and it means a lot seeing how happy kids are and how much they improve.

You get to make new friendships, and it's like a family, like becoming one whole group together and working together.

For some, the greatest gift is the chance to paddle alongside their own blood.

My daughter, Kylie, got to jump in our boat, and she got to fill a seat when other women weren't there.

So, it was really nice to see her and how well she has gotten with paddling.

It has definitely brought me, my siblings, and my mom closer together, especially like, being with each other.

While the bonds created in the va‘a are strong, it doesn't compare to the connection they feel with the water.

When I feel stressed out and go into the water, it just feels like it's washing everything away.

It's a place that I can go, and I can disconnect or reconnect with myself, with the ocean.

But on the water, I feel in total control.

I understand the water.

So, I mean, if you look behind me, this place of Mauli Ola, it's what we call life, right?

And thinking we just see what surrounds us over here.

It's the reason why I get to come down here.

And here is where the Healani Canoe family will continue to meet the water for the next 100 years.

This is Taylor Takimoto from Moanalua Middle for HIKI NŌ on PBS Hawai‘i.

In the high school division of the 2026 HIKI NŌ on PBS Hawai‘i Spring Challenge, receiving third place from the island of Kaua‘i is Kaua‘i High School.

Congratulations.

Surfing became an official interscholastic state championship sport this month, and Kaua‘i High School students documented history in action.

If you're having problems, the answer is, go surf.

This year, surfing was added to the list of sports for high school participation on Kaua‘i.

This gives many surfers the chance to represent their schools and have fun where they meet the water.

Kaua‘i High School's Red Raider Surf Team is led by head coach Jonathon Medeiros, who has been a surfer for 37 years.

I'm Mr.

Medeiros.

You can call me Coach Medeiros this year.

I've been teaching in Kaua‘i High School for 20 years and graduated from Kaua‘i High School and just started as the head coach for the surf team.

It's about time we have the surf team.

It's silly that it took so long.

I've been surfing my whole life, and I've been advocating for having surf as a high school sport here.

So, when it finally happened, it seemed natural to kind of take that role.

It's great.

It's been fun.

I'm really proud of the team, how far they've come.

The girls’ team is currently tied for first place in KIF, which is awesome.

Couple of our boys are second or third ranked on the island in their disciplines.

So, it feels good.

My name is Scisily Stein.

I've been surfing my entire life.

I thought it'd be really cool to do something I love on a sport and play for a team and be able to represent my school.

And it's pretty special to have the first ever surf competition.

I love being out in the water and being able to catch waves with my friends.

It's my favorite hobby ever.

Experience or history with surfing it's basically my it's been an important part of my life for almost my whole life.

It's a place where I can go and, like, kind of get away from chaos of life on land, you know.

But it's just something I've been doing my whole life.

I like to surf because it's fun and I love the ocean.

My uncle, Chris Burkhart, he taught me when I was little.

Yeah, I always surf with him.

Now, I started surfing when I was about, like, five years old, and I just did it ever since.

So, I'm continuing that right now.

My name is Daysha, and I've been surfing for as long as I can remember.

I decided to join the surf team because, like, why wouldn't I?

I surf because I love to do it, and it's something that I just really enjoy.

This is pretty historical, and it's the first ever surf team, and it's cool to be able to do my sport.

My goal was to get a team in the water and develop a good kind of, like team vibe, and we accomplished that, so we feel good about the season.

It's really rewarding.

It's been awesome to work with the athletes and train with them and share the, you know, the joy and importance of the ocean.

We are all wishing the Red Raider Surf Team good luck in their future competitions.

This is Aaron Hinazumi from Kaua‘i High School for HIKI NŌ, on PBS Hawai‘i.

In the middle school division of the 2026 HIKI NŌ Spring Challenge, receiving second place from the island of Maui is Maui Waena Intermediate School.

Congratulations.

These intermediate school students take us to a local shave ice shop to speak to its manager about how they dealt with recent heavy rains and flooding on Maui.

Here, at Ululani's, water is at the heart of their famous shaved ice.

When it comes to our business, we take a lot of pride and take great emphasis in serving the purest water possible.

And, you know, so it's a reverse osmosis system with an ultraviolet blast, so it removes 99.99% of all contaminants, minerals, etc.

Because their shop is in a low-lying area directly across the street from the ocean, Ululani's have gotten used to frequent visits from the water, just not how you would think.

Flooding season's taking on a new meaning, in the sense that the water, through the floods over the last five years, each flood has been progressively worse.

This devastating flood was brought by the Kona Low, being the worst they've experienced, yet they were the most prepared.

Neighboring businesses like the ABC Store are still closed, proving that David, Ulu, and shave-ice-tas’ preparation and experience has paid off.

Through the years, we've waterproofed the lower portion, the lower two feet of our building all the way around.

And we also, instead of using sandbags this year, we fortified it with planks that we, you know, pretty much designed, and we did not get impacted.

In the past, we would get flooded with mud and a lot of water inside.

It would destroy some of the equipment side, however, surrounding us, we had a ton of mud and water that was left after the flood.

What we've done is we've gotten really good at cleaning up.

So literally, the next day, we were cleaned up and ready to open.

However, the roads were closed.

There was still five foot of mud on the road, and in the parking lot there was quite a bit of mud as well.

Because of Ululani's preparation and determination, they are still serving up aloha and delicious desserts, and the customers just keep coming back.

This is Bonnie Dipalma for HIKI NŌ on PBS Hawai‘i.

In the high school division of the 2026 HIKI NŌ on PBS Hawai‘i Spring Challenge, receiving second place is Campbell High School on O‘ahu.

Congratulations.

Anyone will be able to relate to this touching portrait of a group of high school friends who bonded in the ocean.

Surfing definitely is what calls me to the water.

It's just constant fun and constant drive and motivation to want to do better and be better and make friendships and have like, the best vibe you can have, possibly.

My name is Kalani.

I'm 16, and I'm a junior at Campbell High School.

My name is Gabriel.

I'm 12th grade.

My name is Julian.

I'm 11th grade.

So, my name's Cyrus.

I'm in seventh grade.

Hello everybody.

[laughter] During school, after school, whenever the swell hits, four friends from Ewa keep finding their way back here.

For them, surfing isn't just a hobby, it's their way of life.

Don't need much other than this, pretty much.

Just watching waves just break straight on the sand.

Boy, that's fun.

Like, that's worth it.

I love it.

But this love for surfing didn't just come out of nowhere.

At the core of their group is Gabe, who introduced them to the waves.

Oh, we met at the skate park.

Gabe had a car, and he was like, saying, "Oh, you guys want to chill?"

We was like, "Oh, bet."

And then it just came from there.

You know, the bond just gets tighter over experiencing things.

Gabe is the heart of our group.

Without Gabe, I don't think, and we said it before, without Gabe, I don't think we’d have surf.

I wouldn't be here.

What started as a newfound passion for surfing quickly turned into something deeper: a brotherhood built in the water.

However, Gabe is graduating this year, and the brotherhood that surfing built suddenly feels less like forever.

I feel like a life without Gabe, like, I'd be a total different person.

I would have no faith in God, nothing, and there's nowhere like, no motivation.

You know, there's no drive, nothing in my life.

They know these moments won't last forever, but as long as they can meet in the water, they can live in the present and love what they have while it's still here.

Like, in the future, we're all just, we're all gonna have to grow up at some point, and we can't surf together.

And these moments aren't gonna last forever.

The waves, they bring us together.

Whenever there's a swell, that's what's gonna bring us together.

Like, it doesn't last forever, but it's fun, and it's fun right now.

So that's all that matters, and the joy is worth all of it, you know.

Like, it's worth it.

Before they knew the ocean, they were just kids killing time on the concrete.

But after Gabe, they're chasing swells, chasing barrels, and chasing a different style of life.

This is Landon Espiritu from James Campbell High School for HIKI NŌ on PBS Hawai‘i.

And now coming in first place in the middle school division of the 2026 HIKI NŌ on PBS Hawai‘i Spring Challenge is Highlands Intermediate School on O‘ahu.

Congratulations.

Highlands Intermediate School students impressed the judges with their intrepid reporting on the recent Kona Low storm and how a group of scientists enlisted members of the community to help track its impact.

So, I'm sure everybody is aware of how much rain just fell from the sky in such a short period of time, and then all of a sudden, you saw brown water everywhere, and then the question is, what is in your water?

Professor Nyssa Silbiger is an Associate Professor at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa.

Her small question led to a huge statewide objective of figuring out the effects of the recent intense storms on our oceans.

Everybody wanted to know – How can we understand what's in the water?

This was crucial information to learn, because fresh water from these storms can be really harmful to our oceans.

The Kona Low just sits there and it just dumps rain, and if that's going to keep happening, then we're going to have flooding that's going to affect our infrastructure.

We're going to have health issues because of the bacteria that's flooding into the ocean, and people swim and fish and eat stuff from the ocean.

The coral reefs are our life support here in Hawai‘i.

They provide us with fish.

They provide us with protection from storms.

If we lose those reefs, then we lose a major part of the cultural and ecological and economic importance of what we have here on these special islands in the middle of the Pacific.

To learn more about our oceans, they sent out an email requesting help from other scientists.

I'm Sara Kahanamoku.

I study past climate change events and how it affects life on Earth.

My name is Jordan Vest.

I work on research about how the land and the sea kind of influence each other.

So, when the storms happened, it was like, immediately, what can I do?

And this was a cool way to help people here in Hawai‘i.

And we got a team together very, very quickly and collected water samples with the community all over the islands of O‘ahu, Maui, Lana‘i, and Molokai.

And it wasn't only scientists that showed up.

In a matter of days, hundreds of citizens came ready to help out.

And so, our team have the knowledge of how to sample water, and we have the infrastructure.

So, we were like, "Okay, we're going to try to do everything we possibly can to get answers back to the community."

Everyone was so engaged and wanting to understand, like what had happened and how to prevent it.

And did they find their answers?

We only got through 130 samples of the 750 we got back.

So, it's going to take several weeks for us to get through all of them, but already I could see some sites on the North Shore had more fresh water still in the ocean than, you know, other areas that were less impacted.

We've seen the visible destruction on the news.

However, changes in ocean salinity pose an unseen threat with lasting effects.

So, what can we do?

Anything that we can do to clean up our land is going to protect our ocean.

So, as simple as not throwing plastic on the beach, because at these rains, all of that's going to get into the ocean.

And then really, as much as humanly possible, talk to our change makers, our lawmakers, and voice your opinions.

Tell them what you care about, and hope that they make those changes.

In the end, we may not be able to control the weather, but we can still work together to show that our community cares for our waters just as it cares for us.

This is our Aura Arios from Highlands Intermediate for HIKI NŌ on PBS Hawai‘i.

Receiving first place in the high school division of the 2026 HIKI NŌ on PBS Hawai‘i Spring Challenge, from the island of Kaua‘i is Kapa‘a High School.

Congratulations.

New official school surf teams proved to be a popular topic.

This story gave deep insight into what it took to get this recognition, as well as the impressive training the student athletes undergo.

Surfing has kind of been a little bit like, hidden away, like in the shadow is not really like, something huge, and now it's becoming way bigger.

This year for students in the state of Hawai‘i, surfing has become the newest sanctioned high school sport.

Any type of activity in the ocean is unreal, like just being a part of the ocean.

Oceans, for me, is a very healing place.

I feel like it's the fountain of youth, honestly.

For me, the ocean is a place of family.

I grew up on the water.

My parents were always involved with water sports.

Being in the water, it's like immediately happy, like there's no worry, just like, in the moment, and you're not distracted by anything going on.

With Hawai‘i being the birthplace of modern surfing, bringing the sport into the public school setting still proved to be a difficult paddle.

And I tried athletic directors and stuff, and I kind of got closed doors, like, just not really interested or, you know what I mean?

I think a lot of the people in education or DOE, they already working hard as it is.

So, when (Mayor) Kawakami gave the okay to, like, have it as a KIF sport, one of the guys reached out to me first, because I was always trying to push it into a school sport.

That's how I kind of got involved with it, you know.

I think we've seen some improvements, like a positive just general feeling amongst the team that's really helped students' confidence level.

Still in its first year, the momentum is increasing with a focus on working together.

Surfing is actually a really selfish sport.

So, to see it as a team sport, the whole team wins, not just one person, is very unreal to me.

It's like, when I played football for Kapa‘a High School, I wasn't good, I wasn't a starter, but I was on a team, you know, we won a championship, and I was like, and I still claim it till today.

You know what I mean?

Championship was a KIF.

You know, but I never really played.

So, when I see kids, "Oh, I'm not that good, Uncle.

I shouldn't be on."

I said, "No, just go.

Know what I mean?

You might not win the contest, but at least you part of the team."

It's not really about competing or winning or losing or whatever.

It's just about being together and connected and loving the same thing, which is surfing.

This new opportunity is about more than just winning heats.

It prepares young surfers for life beyond the break.

Every one of these kids, they have to get the lifeguard training to be a part of the surf team.

So, that's amazing.

Now you got that much more people that are knowledgeable about CPR, and maybe somebody down at the beach or something that they can help out.

It's giving an opportunity for schools, colleges and universities, to see these kids, what they can do in the water with an organized sport.

There's definitely competing on tour in the WSL, which is definitely a huge thing and a huge dream of mine that I think could be achieved through this, because of the eyes that will be on this new and improved team.

This is Alia Russell from Kapa‘a High School for HIKI NŌ on PBS Hawai‘i.

Congratulations to all of the student teams who worked so hard under the pressure of a professional deadline.

They really stepped up to the challenge.

We hope you've enjoyed the work of Hawai‘i's New Wave of Storytellers.

Don't forget to subscribe to 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.

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