[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.

I'm delighted to be here to host another episode showcasing the work of Hawai‘i's New Wave of Storytellers.

In this episode, we're watching stories about resilience, personal growth, and physical and mental stamina.

We'll go on a cinematic journey through the stages of nostalgia and growth.

We'll hear about incredible resilience after loss and injury, stories about what it's like to overcome anxiety, and later, we're going to get moving with some basic boxing moves.

Before we jump into our main stories, we have something special to share.

On April 15th and 16th, O‘ahu hosted the 17th annual Hawai‘i STEM Conference for students from across the islands.

HIKI NŌ on PBS Hawai‘i challenged students to capture the entire energy of the event in 60 seconds.

Here is the winning video.

Come on.

Welcome to this year's 17th annual Hawai‘i STEM Conference.

Hundreds of students, 74 speakers and teachers, and a community united for passion for STEM.

a literal sense of like, science, technology, engineering or math.

It means a lot of growing, a lot of changing and in general, just evolving.

Thanks to STEM Works, powered by the Maui Economic Development Board, students are empowered to pursue their passions through the help of keynote speakers and hands-on experience.

[ocean wave] A huge mahalo to all the schools who stepped up for that STEM video challenge.

To get our show started, we're heading to Kaua‘i.

A student from Kapa‘a High School shares a personal narrative about growing up.

Check it out.

There was a time when colored pencils were the keys to my own kingdom, and the only limit to my reality was the length of the lead.

When I was the architect of empires, with Legos as my foundation, my backyard held an entire world.

I noticed the flowers and stopped to breathe them in.

In every small stream, I saw a raging river.

For hours, I watched the clouds morph, convinced that dragons and giants were moving through the sky.

My best friend was whoever happened to be walking by that day.

I didn't need lengthy introductions, the polite, "How do you do?"

I just needed a space to run, a tree to climb, and someone to be there to see it.

Joy came to me so naturally.

My mind was carefree, and my imagination thrived.

I lived in the moment, never wanting to slow down, never needing to.

The freedom of childhood feels distant now, slipping a little more out of reach every day.

So, I try to remember to hold on before I can't touch it at all.

Sticking with that theme of looking back, our next piece really taps into that sense of nostalgia.

over at H.P.

Baldwin High School on Maui.

I constantly find myself walking through these halls within my mind, digging deep to find the memories I cherish, like dust on forgotten shelves.

that lingers during these moments, causing me to reflect on the past more often than I would like to admit.

Every smile is exactly like how I remember.

Every place has that one spot that I claim as mine.

Every object I loved is worn out, but still holds the same value.

I no longer want to reminisce on everything as a picture-perfect photograph, because I want them to be reality again.

They're more than just snapshots.

They're chapters of who I am.

But time doesn't ask permission to move on.

It slips by, like the ocean breaking a wave on the sand.

This caused me to understand that memories were never meant to stay frozen.

They're meant to guide us, to remind us of what came before.

They shape a path for the future, and now it's time for me to move forward and make space for something new, because even if these memories fade or get lost, they will always be a picture in time.

the people we see every day have the most unexpected journeys.

Next, students at Mid-Pacific Institute on O‘ahu introduce us to a dedicated math teacher with a powerful life story.

When students first meet Ray LaFleur, they see an optimistic and friendly math teacher, but beneath his outgoing personality, Mr.

LaFleur has a unique life story that shaped him into the person he is today, from being the first in his family to go to college, to flying military helicopters, this is the story of Ray LaFleur.

So, I was born in a bamboo hut, and I joke about that a little bit, but literally, it was a dark and stormy night.

Literally, the roads were washed out.

I was born to, like, via midwife, because they could not get to the hospital.

LaFleur moved to the U.S.

from the Philippines, where he and his family lived throughout the continent because of his father's active military duty, until they finally ended up in Hawai‘i.

Mr.

LaFleur had a lot of responsibility, especially when his dad was deployed.

when I was in high school, so my sophomore year, and my dad would then deploy for three different combat tours.

So, it was a really big challenge for my family.

Inspired by his father's bravery and his family legacy, Mr.

LaFleur decided to join the military.

from Mid-Pacific Institute in 2004.

I was a full IB diploma student, and I went to the U.S.

Naval Academy.

So, now kind of fast forward.

Now I am a military pilot.

I got lucky enough to come back to Hawai‘i, literally, like, fly like, in the backyard of where I grew up.

So, I'm super fortunate for this experience.

Hanging out with pilots developed my planning and communication ability and how to manage stress.

I am so thankful to the military for teaching me these things.

LaFleur many life skills that gave him personal growth, but some lessons came with a cost.

We had a big helicopter crash for my squadron.

I'm in the Philippines at the time, but, we have two helicopters that are on the North Shore that collided into each other.

feeling so helpless.

I could not go back for my friends' funerals, and we're talking, 12 people died at once.

The hardest part actually wasn't that.

The hardest part was not being there for my wife.

One of the guys was in our wedding party.

And I know it was so hard for my wife.

This unexpected tragedy was one of the most difficult events in Mr.

Lafleur's life, but it also gave him a sudden insight that would change his life forever.

It just comes to me, like, you should be a teacher.

Like, I will never forget the teachers here at Mid-Pacific because at a very vulnerable time in my life, they were just that sense of nurturing stability.

that could lead him to a career with more income, Mr.

LaFleur still made an important choice to be a teacher.

what things are worth doing.

Even if I had a ton of money, I think about my daughter.

I'm like, well, how can I make the world a better place around my daughter?

And I don't see a lot of people stepping up.

I think we need leaders in education.

We need that sense of stability for kids that need it.

And for me, I feel so blessed.

You know?

To be one bamboo hut over, I don't think any of this would have happened.

This is Pono Wong at Mid-Pacific Institute for HIKI NŌ on PBS Hawai‘i.

Students from Island School on Kaua‘i tell the story of Josh Miller, a junior who didn't let a traumatic bike injury stop him.

Instead, he fought his way back to become captain of his cross-country team.

A gifted runner, skilled soccer player, and passionate mountain biker, Josh Miller is a junior at Island School who experienced a horrific accident while doing one of the things he loves.

March of 2013, Josh was mountain biking in Koke‘e when he underestimated the steep decline, overshot the landing, and broke his neck.

because I didn't remember the jump, and my arms were tingly, and it's like, as if your arms fell asleep, but it never went away for almost three months.

Upon impact with the ground, Josh broke six vertebrae.

Pressure on his spinal cord led to a persistent tingling sensation and lack of fine motor skills.

I grabbed my first soda can, and my mom was, like, super excited, and she, like, called my grandpa and everything that I grabbed a soda can.

So, I didn't have to drink from a straw anymore.

That was that was pretty exciting.

Josh quickly realized he wouldn't be able to race through his recovery.

When I had the conversation with my doctor, I asked him if I'll be able to play soccer or run cross country or track.

And he told me, he said, "Look, kid, we're trying to get you to be able to walk again, not be able to run.

So, let's just take this one step at a time," and that just kind of just set me back in place.

And I was like, okay, this is really, like, more serious than I thought it was.

That made me, like, super depressed and super scared, because I didn't really know what was going to happen.

And then after my surgery, and everything got better and went well, he changed his mind and said, "Look, it's healed superbly, and so just have at it.

Just don't be stupid.

Don't play football.

Don't wrestle."

Josh underwent surgery to restore his physical capabilities.

The operation consisted of removing and replacing two vertebrae with titanium mesh.

The operation was a success, and Josh made a full recovery.

So, when I was over on O‘ahu, I called my coach and called my stepdad and called my soccer coach, and was just like, "The doctor said, I'll be able to play."

And everybody was super excited, and I just started training right away as soon as I can.

I was just kind of like on cloud nine, because it felt like he took my life away and then he gave it back.

He was like, ‘never mind.

Here you go.

Have fun.’ Josh is one of the top runners on Kaua‘i and captain of his cross-country team.

He also plans to play varsity soccer, track, and tennis for his letterman jacket, but there are still limits to what his body can do.

I mean, I can look side to side and look up and down.

But I can't, like, hold a phone next to my shoulder, because my neck doesn't go that far to the side, and I can't go to the chiropractor or anything, just because all they do is crack your neck and it's all metal now.

So, I mean, I can't really do that.

For Josh, these limitations serve as a constant reminder of just how lucky he is.

to play sports, because I'll take them more serious now that I know it's so easy to for them to be taken away, and other people out there that have been injured can't run.

So, it's just kind of like a blessing to be able to run.

This has been Jacob Dysinger from Island School for HIKI NŌ.

Let's watch another memorable story from our archives.

From Maui, students at Lahaina Intermediate profile a veteran security guard whose own journey to U.S.

citizenship inspired him to help his students find their own path to success.

at Lahaina Intermediate School call him, Tuki, is a warm and gentle giant.

As the school security guard, he has cast a warm and friendly shadow over the campus for more than 12 years.

And then I meet all the students and all the staff members in the front end of the school office, and I made it a duty that I am welcoming everyone that comes across L.I.S.

Making people feel welcome has a deeper meaning for Mr.

Tukana.

He fled from his home country of Fiji in 2000 after a coup that left him seeking political asylum.

And I came here into the United States, not knowing what to expect, but when I reached here within two weeks, I discovered it is a big change from where I used to be, in the islands of Fiji.

Struggling, hardship in life, and here in America, I can see opportunities that will lead me to a better life.

It took 14 years of hard work, classes, questionnaires, criminal background checks and more for Mr.

Tukana to earn the title U.S.

citizen.

But even with his change in status, he never plans to change the job he cherishes.

after the safety of the children and also their education.

Hi, Sheila, how are you?

I'm fine, thank you.

And his number one priority is to help make sure the kids he sees every day take advantage of the opportunities he just received as a citizen.

I would love to see our students get a good education, not only a good education, a safety for environment.

Tukana arrives before most others on campus.

He checks all classrooms and makes sure the environment is secure for the day.

Then he keeps an eye on everyone throughout the day.

from classrooms to classrooms, that no noises, no disruptions in the class.

While most of his interactions with students are friendly, he does have to deal with students who are not where they're supposed to be or need escorting to the office.

He has a way of dealing with these students.

I look at the positiveness of what we expect, rather than to the negativeness of the student’s behavior.

Tukana is happy to be at Lahaina Intermediate and is excited about what his future as a new U.S.

citizen will hold.

And I want to have some more of what America can give and offer me.

This is Micah Berorzi reporting from Lahaina Intermediate School for HIKI NŌ.

All right, it's time to get on your feet.

We're learning some basic boxing moves, thanks to a tutorial produced by the crew at Wahiawā Middle School on O‘ahu.

No, not that kind of boxing.

I'm boxing today.

Boxing has been a traditional sport practiced by men and women for many decades, but it is unknown when women began boxing in Hawai‘i.

Since the early 2000s, women's boxing in Hawai‘i has developed and gained world recognition.

Boxing is a fun sport, and it helps build strength and confidence, gives you a workout for your entire body, and teaches valuable self-defense skills.

When someone lunges or tries to punch you, there are two defense moves you can use.

You can parry and block those strikes with your hands.

There are different ways to parry, but it is essential for a beginner to know the side parry.

Start by being in your fighting stance with your dominant foot behind the non-dominant foot, and your arms up, keeping an eye on your opponent.

Side parry involves pushing the opponent's hand to redirect the strike to the side.

This type of parry is a good way to defend against a powerful hit.

To do a down parry, you slap the punch down, and it's ideal for a jab.

Another way to defend is by blocking.

The high guard is as simple as putting both hands touching your forehead and making sure that it's not blocking your view.

The low block protects the body.

Put both hands to your chest and slightly bend down when a punch comes towards you to prevent your body from getting hit.

Keep practicing the parry or block move until it becomes second nature to you.

Now that you know how to properly defend yourself in boxing, you can apply offensive moves to your opponent.

I hope that got you hyped because we're staying in the ring.

Let's look back at this story about the Waipahu Boxing Club brought to us by students at Waipahu Intermediate School on O‘ahu.

Have you ever wanted to meet a boxer before they became famous?

You possibly could here at the Waipahu Boxing Club located at the Waipahu District Park.

helping out the community and the kids and giving a few of them a chance to improve their skills as far as boxing goes.

youths who train at the gym come from disadvantaged families.

The Club offers them an alternative to hanging out on the streets by teaching them how to box.

and they make it in the newspaper, and it puts their name out here, as you know, being part of Waipahu Boxing Club.

Keoni has been supervising the boxing club ever since legendary boxing coach Al Silva passed away.

he was like our grandfather, our father, you know, and he was a figure in the community.

I mean, he was a lot to everyone here.

He gave us advice.

He was a friend.

He was a role model.

like the former lightweight champion, Andy “the Hawaiian Punch” Ganigan from Waipahu; Jesus Salud, a former featherweight WBA, and the North American Boxing Federation champion; and finally, Brian Viloria: the former Olympian is the reigning WBO and WBA flying weight champion.

Coach Silva's legacy lives on in the kids he trained over the years who grew up to train a whole new generation of athletes.

Wasn't for him, I wouldn't be into this coaching business, you know?

I would just train little while, and I would just give it up.

But because of Al Silva, he helped me out.

Coach Silva's lessons went far beyond the boxing ring.

He taught respect and dedication.

Al Silva was a really big part in boxing.

He used to really like it, no matter what.

He can be sick.

He can be, you know, badly sick, and he still will come to the gym.

The Waipahu Boxing Club is a place full of memories and great members.

Although the club lost the boxer and coach, they are still going strong, and that passion is passed on every day at the club, a place through the decades where champions are made.

Intermediate School reporting for HIKI NŌ.

In the next story, students from Punahou School profile legendary paddler Joseph "Uncle Nappy" Napoleon.

He's been taking on the Moloka‘i Hoe from Moloka‘i to O‘ahu every year since the very first race.

In 1958, 17-year-old Joseph "Nappy" Napoleon competed in his first Moloka‘i, Hawai‘i, the long-distance open ocean canoe race from Moloka‘i to O‘ahu.

Since then, Uncle Nappy has competed in the annual race every year.

My first Moloka‘i race was the best, actually, my first Moloka‘i race, because I really didn't know what to expect in that race.

But I think the best one and fun one was in '66 and there was our life there.

There was a roughest year.

I cannot forget, because we turned over three times.

I have movies where the waves white water just passing the canoe and hitting us on the side, and we're upside down.

Before, before and now, now there's a lot of long-distance races now.

distance race, was the Moloka‘i.

From June to August, we battled sprint races.

And in August we have our championships in August, regatta races.

And then now October, we train all the way till October for the Moloka‘i race.

So, we had a lot of time training.

Sundays we would make long runs, like three hour run training.

you know, the top, in fact, in our age bracket now, because we’re little older than whatever we racing against.

But maybe someday they make a division for us guys, if they have enough guys.

When you're young, you know you're up there, up there, you're fighting for the first and as you get older, then you know, everybody starts passing you.

you know, age bracket we usually do all right.

Well, like I always share, that's all I know what to do.

I wasn't good in baseball when I was young.

Play baseball, basketball, but luckily, I always was involved in canoe paddling, and I enjoy going out there in the water, surfing and whatever.

My favorite part, the favorite part, I like the start, the start of the race, yeah.

And, of course, finishing the race.

You see everybody, and you come up here and enjoy, enjoy with everybody.

After 55 years of paddling in the race, Uncle Nappy shows no sign of slowing down.

This is Alexis Kaneshiro reporting from Punahou School for HIKI NŌ.

Switching gears to something deeply personal.

In this next student reflection, you'll meet Finnegan LeDuc from Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy on the Big Island.

She's sharing her experience working through anxiety as a young person.

Aloha.

My name is Finnegan LeDuc.

I'm an eighth grader at Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy on the island of Hawai‘i.

Ever since I was little, I've struggled with my anxiety.

It's controlled my life, and I've had issues with obsession and having very high standards for myself.

Because of this, it can be hard for me to control my emotions.

In the past, I felt like people didn't like me or wanted to be around me because of my emotions.

I had a really hard time accepting this.

My parents started noticing my anxiety getting worse when I was in third grade.

They were worried, so they decided to find someone I can talk to.

That's when I started therapy.

At first, I was scared and resistant towards it.

I hated being told what I had issues with, in terms of my mental health.

It made me feel like something was wrong with me.

Me and my therapist worked hard for me to get past this.

We also worked past other aspects of my anxiety.

She taught me skills about how to stop obsessing and strategies to keep myself calm.

We also worked together to notice trigger subjects.

through lots of things, including family and friendship relationships.

She helped me through problems that seemed huge at the time but turned out to be minuscule.

But most importantly, she gave me someone to talk to without any judgment.

Today, six years later, I still use all these skills, I still go to the same therapist, and my life has changed for the better.

I now have a better handle on my emotions, and I know how to live with my anxiety.

Therapy can be an amazing tool for everyone.

Through my journey with anxiety, I've realized that I'm not alone in my mental health, and I will always have people to support me.

This is Finnegan LeDuc from Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy for HIKI NŌ on PBS Hawai‘i.

Thank you, Finnegan, for sharing your story with us.

That brings us to the end of our show.

for watching the work of Hawai‘i's New Wave of 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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