Home Is Here on PBS Hawai’i is sponsored by: Hawaii Leadership Forum, HEI, The Olson Trust and Pasha Hawaii.

[Instrumental music] Kalaʻi Miller: Aloha, I’m Kalaʻi Miller.

Welcome to Home  is Here.

Hawaiʻi has long had a special connection to the world of sumo, producing some  of the sport’s most legendary champions.

Today, a new generation is learning the  traditions and techniques of the sport.

And taking with them a fighting  spirit that goes far beyond the ring.

Kena Hefferman: Head up.

Head up.

Head  up.

Head up.

Head up.

Head up.

Break!

[applause] KH: Aloha State Sumo Association is a, we’re a nonprofit that teaches kids the spirit of sumo.

[wrestling sounds] KH: So what, what is sumo?

So the basics of sumo,  there's about 74 moves.

And the objective is basically you're going to be in a, in a circle  that - 16 feet in diameter, you either have to push a person out, or make anything else, but the  soles of his feet, touch the inside of the mat, you do that, you win.

That's the simple  premise behind it.

Now how you get to do that, that's the part that is really dynamic.

(Woah!)

Break, break, break, break, break, break, break.

Woah, woah!

Break, break, break!

KH: When we start sumo, when the kids come in for the first time, there's a lot of calisthenics.

What we'll do is we just we start with shiko.

One of the basics of sumo and it's going to be  the sumo squats, lifting the leg for balance, coming down.

So, we usually start with between  around 200 or so of those.

So, after that, we'll do suri-ashi, which is basically going  to be the sliding of the feet.

It's almost like shadow boxing, but it's going to be just them  just going across the ring get a feel for the ring.

They’re doing a lot of work.

Sometimes  it might seem a little monotonous repetitions, repetitions, repetitions, but they're  getting comfortable at being uncomfortable.

David Junk: When I first started, it  was rough for me because I didn't know any techniques or anything.

The exercises  were hard my legs like after the first day, I felt like I couldn't move my legs.

Zaeden Keala-Tomas: The first time I did sumo it was really hard and tough.

Just because  my body wasn't used to doing certain movement like stretching out like that.

It was hard and  like kind of draining, like the first time.

KH: So, once they do all the motions then we might  go through some of the different techniques.

Then what we'll do is we'll do matches.

(Hakkeyoi!)

KH: And so that's a real big learning process for  them.

Because it's not necessarily a natural thing for, you know, kids who just to kind of step  off the street who have no experience with that type of combat to be able to be one on one.

But  everybody off the get go we always learn to go forward, first.

The tachiai, the initial charge is  going to be 70 to 80% of the matches is going to come off of a very good tachiai.

So, you're going  to be able to hit the person off the tachiai, whether you're going to just be grabbing belt  and forcing them out, you're gonna be pushing the person out, there’s different throws.

The mawashi  is the belt that goes around their waist, it acts as a, not just as like a support, but it also  gives a person the ability to grab onto the belt.

(Yeah, not bad, not bad.)

Pono Kaakua: Most people like, like at school everybody's like, bro, my mom showed me you on  Facebook.

And then they were like, do you have to wear the diaper?

It’s, it's not even that bad.

It  kind of feels like, kinda just feels like a belt.

Uriah Luamanu: When I tell my friends I do sumo  they thought it was cool.

But at the same time, like weird because I'm like,  you’re, your skin is showing and stuff.

And you don't have any clothes on.

KH: For some of the kids that come in, they've never, they don't like to take the shirt off.

They might have a negative image of themselves, if they're younger kids, or if they're teased or  this, or that.

So, first thing they do they come in to kind of look around all the kids just take  off their shirts.

And then next thing you know, next day, they come in all the time, shirts  off, they're getting together, working together.

Doesn't matter, the age doesn't matter, they're a  boy or a girl, they're both going to be wrestling together and they're able to lift each other  up.

So those are these, like small things, small values that they can take with them.

Kenzie Hefferman: For me, being the only girl or not the only girl but one of the only girls in the  sumo ring.

It's not really that bad.

Because, you know, genders don't really matter.

In practices,  they treat girls the same as boys.

So, it's girls against boys, not just girls against girls or  boys against boys.

So, it's not that different.

Kulia Hefferman: Definitely here, an advantage  in sumo would be like, when I'm going up against someone new, they don't really expect much so I  have like, the element of surprise.

When you go up against like, really strong guys.

You don't expect  like a girl to like be so like physical with you.

And they probably wouldn't expect that.

So, it's  an advantage for them to kind of underestimate me.

KH: Since before COVID.

We've been invited  to go to Japan and compete in the Hakuhō Cup, which is a championship basically from, they  might have some first graders all the way up to middle school.

And so, when they were invited,  they’re the only US team.

There's no weight classes it’s by grade.

So, like last year, one of  our athletes, the older ones, Killian he had to fight against a really big kid who might have  been, you know, kind of close to 400 pounds, a little bit less than 200 kilos from Ukraine.

Killian Hefferman: Stepping into the ring, at first, I get a little nervous, I kind of size  up, whoever my opponent is just trying to check them out.

See, if they're big, they're gonna use  their weight, if they're skinny, they're gonna be more technique.

And I kind of have to try to  counter that.

As soon as I step up to the middle, I think my mind kind of goes blank, I just  feel that I have to do this.

And like, it doesn't really matter if I get hit or if I  get hurt.

I kind of have to try not to worry about that I kind of just have to finish through.

Kena Hefferman: Size will give you an advantage.

Is it the only advantage?

No.

It's not the whole package.

Louis Taeguchi: For me, I’m obviously not that  big and I have to always go against bigger people.

Sumo has taught me to like, never give  up.

Like no matter who you go up against whether they're bigger or smaller, taller  or shorter, to just keep, keep going at it.

KH: The resiliency is a real big point.

We  want these kids to be able to, you know, they gotta be able to, even in the ring,  they're gonna lose, they get knocked down, they gotta get back up, they cannot get back  up and then go dig out, they gotta get back up, they gotta go, and they gotta bow at the very end,  right?

Whether they lose, or whether they win, you're gonna see, the countenance of their  face does not change.

They're not stomping.

They're not swearing.

They fight as hard as they  can.

They leave it in the ring.

Whether they win or whether they lose, you shouldn't be able to  tell.

I mean, that's part, that's the respect.

[applause] KH: We've been able to train at Musashigawa-beya, which is the stable  of Musashimaru, former Yokozuna now Oyakata now the boss of Musashigawa-beya.

So, a stable is  going to be the place where everyone trains.

So, it's the building where they train, they sleep -  the athletes sleep, the boss sleeps.

It's all in one area, one building.

So, when we say stable  or when we say the beya - that area, that's what we're just, that's what we're talking about.

PK: Learning from Musashimaru was like, the real deal.

Because it was super intense, first  of all, and I could tell that, like his disciples, they were just super like, toned, with,  with everything.

And then I was like, just watching them because it's super, like  amazing how they can, how they're such big dudes where they can move like, you know, gymnasts.

KH: They train the kids, they fed the kids, which has been an amazing experience for  everyone involved, including the parents, who, like me have always been, idolized a lot of these  a lot of these Yokozuna and Ozeki.

They've been able to train with, speaking of Ozekis, the famed  Konishiki and he is he is larger than life.

And when I mean that, I mean his heart and his heart  is always giving, giving, giving to these kids, and I love that guy.

They've always been always  to a tee been so supportive of the kids.

That's the part where it man, it just really brings,  you know, tears just to see like, hey, this is amazing that they're taking time out of their busy  day, busy schedule, everything that they're doing, they're dropping everything for you guys.

The  travel all that that's fun.

That's only the icing on the cake.

I think if they have  a firm foundation in hard work.

Again, being comfortable being uncomfortable, how  to handle hardships better, how to be able to take what life is going to throw at them,  and be able to move through that always moving forward.

Those are big things I really hope that  they learned to take with them.

And that spirit, that passion, that fighting spirit, for  whatever sport that they're going to be doing, for that test that they're going to be taking,  for whatever obstacle that's going to be placed in front of them, for them to just attack it, and  move through it and have that grit to be able to, to make those adjustments and keep moving forward.

And if they can do those things, then, you know, their success will be abundant for them.

Kalai Miller: Across Hawaii, becoming a firefighter is a dream for many people.

But  getting there takes more than strength and courage.

It takes preparation, confidence,  and a lot of perseverance.

A local non-profit is helping folks build those skills while  preparing them for a career in public service.

[Music] Reid Shimabukuro: The meaning of Hoʻomau is to persevere.

Recruit: Tilo, two.

Recruit: Hoʻomai, one.

RS: You got to dig deep.

You got to be patient.

But if you are persistent,  you believe in the process, you trust the process, good things will come out of that.

The Hoʻomau  Fire Academy was really the brainchild of the late fire captain Douglas Barbieto.

He had a vision.

As a member of the federal fire department, and at the time, I was the current union president,  we were trying to come up with ways that we could retain firefighters, and the solution was  to start a academy and invest in local kids.

It’s a six-week, six Saturday course.

They start  with introductions, cadet introductions.

It's really to kind of get them to come out of their  shell.

We need them to be able to talk to people, prepare themselves for the interview,  which today, that's what we're going through.

It's probably the heaviest day for  a cadet.

Lot of cadets think they're ready until they are actually put to the test.

Max Wynant: I always thought I was decent at talking like you talk to uncle,  aunty your whole life, talking story, but in a professional setting, it's a lot more  nerve wracking when there's four individuals in front of you who are fire Chief, Deputy  Chief, and they have the decision to hire you or say no.

And when it's your dream,  you can really start sweating a little bit, stumbling over your words.

So having an interview  or mock interview with Hoʻomau was huge for me.

So, they really just wanted to make sure  that you put your best foot forward and show why you're authentic, or why you're  different than someone else.

Why do my life experiences stand out more than someone else?

RS: We have two hands-on days where we take the cadets out of the classroom and we take  them to the field.

The first one is called the mock agility.

It’s a mile-and-a-half run and an  obstacle course, basically.

Our whole goal is to make sure that you can complete the agility within  the time frames.

So that's one day.

That's a true wake up call for a lot of the cadets.

Recruit: Come on.

Recruit: You got it.

You got it.

MW: The dummy carry was definitely where everyone struggles the most, just because it's dead weight  is so awkward to carry, and it's not helping you out whatsoever.

But once you get taught the  right technique, it's a game changer, for sure.

RS: The second day is hands on training.

There's  three stations.

First Station is forcible entry.

Instructor: Hit.

Hit.

Hit.

Drive.

(Hammering) RS: How do you get the door open, using  an ax and a Halligan?

The second one is a bunker drill.

Now, can you get all of  this gear that you see here, head to toe, can you get all of that on in a minute?

That's  the second one.

It's called the bunker drill.

[Upbeat music] Instructor: Observe it.

See if it got damaged during that one fire, right?

While  you’re in the [inaudible] you’re gonna look at it, see if there’s any cuts and abrasions.

RS: And the third one is hose evolution.

So, we have cadets pulling hose, advancing it,  and loading it, simulating if you were on an actual emergency.

[Upbeat music] RS: Cadets, they want out of the classroom, they  want to get on the field.

They want to get sweaty, dirty; they want to get physical.

They want to see  if they have what it takes, right?

Because they do a lot of talking until, we get them on the field,  but it's one of the best days for them, you know, they get to really blow off some steam, you know,  and get a taste, a true taste, of what it's like.

[Upbeat music] Braden Suzuki-Scott: I want to become a firefighter because I believe it's  a great career choice, and it's more, more than that.

It's a lifestyle that you  have to live, you have to eat, sleep and breathe it.

I know it's going to be a grinding  process to get there, you know, tested mentally, physically, you know, emotionally, but man, just  trying to get our foot in the door is going to be, you know, this is what we're here to do, is to,  you know, make, make opportunities for ourselves.

RS: Initially, we all came from the federal and  we all made a decision that, you know what?

This is more than just about building one department.

This is about building firefighters in the whole state of Hawaiʻi.

That's what Hoʻomau is about,  and that's what Captain Barbieto would want.

{Somber music] RS: Captain Barbieto was stricken with prostate cancer.

He sat me down in November of  2017, and he was the most positive guy, he says, “I'm beat this thing, right?” And he was, he  was giving it all he had, and it took its toll on him.

And in March of 2022, he passed.

Didn't  get a chance to see any of this.

But, we want his family to know that we never forget.

So, the  Most Inspirational Cadet is in his honor.

In every class there's always one standout.

And so, in his  honor, we award that to one cadet of each class.

BS: Most important thing I've learned so far  is, you know, being you know, your attitude, your work ethic, the things that you do in and  out of the Academy are, all have to align with that lifestyle of going into the world of being a  firefighter, you know, and being a servant of your community.

Like, it doesn't start and stop, you  know, in here.

It's what you take home with you, the values you know that are instilled from  your family and the community around you.

You know you're supposed to be able to give that back.

MW: I think that it’s a great stepping-stone for anyone who's interested in the fire service.

And I believe, even if you don't want to be a firefighter, and maybe you're not really  sure what you want to do, the skills you learn and the people you meet here is, is amazing.

RS: Everything that we teach in the academy is a stepping-stone for another opportunity.

Seeing the  success rate so far, it's just been tremendous.

We've been hearing a lot about investing in  our local youth, keeping them home.

Hoʻomau Fire Academy that's what really what we want to  do.

That's the objective, is to keep kids home, give them a future, you know, and there is a place  for every one of them.

We have to open doors.

Kalaʻi Miller: On the island of Lānaʻi, where  history is deeply rooted in the land and its people, preserving culture is a responsibility  shared across generations.

The Lānaʻi Cultural and Heritage Center stands as a guardian of  the past and a hub for the present—offering community programs that keep traditions alive.

It’s a place where history isn’t just remembered but practiced and carried forward every day.

Shelly Kaiaokamalie: The Lānaʻi Culture & Heritage Center's mission is to perpetuate, preserve  and honor Lānaʻi’s rich history, culture, and landscape.

So, we do not just a museum, but  we run stewardship programs, educational programs for youth, and we also run a hunting program.

Our  ultimate vision is ola ka ʻāina, ola ke kanaka, ola ke kaiāulu; which means thriving  land, thriving people, thriving community, and we believe all three of those things are  deeply intertwined.

Our archival collections are made up of over 40,000 different kinds  of items, including photos, documents, maps, artifacts that range from traditional Hawaiian  times all the way up through plantation and the tourism eras.

And so, we steward probably  the largest collection of Lānaʻi focused archival materials in the world.

Ever since our founding  in 2007 we've, you know, collected items that families have donated.

You know, different  things from our history, including, you know, the ranching times, plantation era, and up through  Castle and Cooke times, and so we have a growing archival collection that reflects different facets  of Lānaʻi’s history over the past many centuries.

Our exhibits just focus on a few of the things  that we have in our collection, but our archive is really where we store a lot of the items that  aren't able to be on exhibit, but we want to make sure they are in the best care possible.

Our  front room highlights more traditional facets of Lānaʻi’s history and culture.

So, a lot of  artifacts from traditional times, pre-Western contact, so a lot of stone artifacts, ceremonial  tools, things like that.

We have a little bit about our ranching era from the mid-1800s up  until the last round up in 1951 and so we have some photographs and things from that era.

But I  would say that the plantation era, which lasted about 70 years on the island, is probably what a  lot of people make the connection with Lānaʻi for, because there was a large immigrant population  that came for that.

There's a lot of descendants that still exist today.

And I think the plantation  history in Hawaiʻi is so interesting because there were plantations all over Hawaiʻi.

So, there's  different connections, I think, across Hawaiʻi, that local people can relate to when they are  learning about our plantation history.

So, we have an online presence I would say most  people who are looking to donate items will, will come in.

Typically, they're residents  or folks who have, you know, a grandparent or something that is connected to Lānaʻi.

And so,  we do have a collections management policy where we take a look at what they're looking to donate.

Photographs are great because, you know, even if they are not looking to donate the original  to us, we can always make scans of that, and that's a great part of documenting our history.

Sometimes people reach out to us via email and maybe send us a photo, and we'll talk about, you  know, whether it's something that should be added to our collection, because we do try to make  sure that what we're taking in does have direct relevance to Lānaʻi’s culture and history.

Our  ultimate vision for the Culture Center is just to keep serving the island in the best way we know  how like, connecting people back to our history, connecting people back to the ʻāina.

And so, in  the past few years, I feel like we've tried to introduce new programs, such as the resident  hunting program, such as temporary exhibits, or virtual exhibits, increasing our online  presence, all as a way to keep broadening our audience and making sure that we're reaching folks  who are interested in connecting with Lānaʻi, giving them the chance to do that.

And so, I guess  my ultimate goal would be to continue expanding all of the diverse programs that we have.

Being  able to expand our staff capacity would be great, and so we do always welcome donations from people  who are interested in supporting the programs that we do to serve our community.

So, I think that  the work of the Lānaʻi Culture and Heritage Center is made possible only through the hands of our  community coming together to support us.

And so, if people are willing to join our projects, or  to donate, or to just learn more about Lānaʻi by coming into the museum or downloading our guide  app.

I think those are all ways that people can get more involved in just caring a little  more about Lānaʻi, learning a little bit more, and hopefully are helping us to perpetuate our  really important history and culture.

It's so much about the people here.

It's so much more than just  me, like I think everything that we're doing isn't possible with just one person or one family.

It  really takes a community and beyond.

It takes an island to be able to do the work that we're doing  and to reach the vision that we're ultimately trying to get to it's going to take all of us.

At the end of the day, we are a community-based organization that is filling a need here on Lānaʻi  that no one else is filling.

So, we're really proud and honored to do the work that we're doing.

Kalaʻi Miller: Mahalo for joining us.

If you would like  to help PBS Hawaiʻi continue to preserve and share these important stories,  please consider donating by going to PBS Hawaiʻi dot org and clicking on  the Donate Now button.

For Home is Here, I’m Kalaʻi Miller, a hui hou.

Kena Hefferman: I would love, I would, is the next Yokozuna coming out of this  club, wouldn’t that be amazing?

(Hakkeyoi) Let’s just do the little things [inaudible] If this is  something that they want to continue and pursue I just want them to fall in love with the sport  of sumo and treat each other with respect, again, learning how to keep, continue moving forward.

Reid Shimabukuro: It really starts with the attitude.

It starts with their dedication.

Every cadet has to start their morning with forty burpees and making their bed.

Shelly Kaiaokamalie: There are things that people in Hawaiʻi and elsewhere and beyond can learn  from the lifestye of lving here and the values that we are ultimately trying to teach which  aren’t just Hawaiian values but the values of the plantation community and, I think the way that  we pay homage to those that come before us is by not only teaching that to the next generation but  making sure that we’re offering opportunities for our community to be involved in making sure Lānaʻi  has a bright future for many years to come.

Home Is Here on PBS Hawai’i is sponsored by: Hawaii Leadership Forum, HEI, The Olson Trust and Pasha Hawaii.