Ready, Set, Create! Hiki Nō Inspires the Next Generation of Storytellers

Photo: Courtesy of PBS Hawai‘i

Hiki Nō means “can do!” and for 14 years, PBS Hawai‘i’s Hiki Nō has been opening doors for local students, showing them there is nothing they can’t do when they put their minds to it. The new season of Hiki Nō premieres Tuesday, Oct. 21, with the next generation of storytellers ready to share the stories of their communities.

As Hawai‘i’s first and only weekly student news program with a statewide network of schools, Hiki Nō provides elementary, middle and high school students with the tools they need to create PBS-quality news features that reach a statewide audience on PBS Hawai‘i and a worldwide audience at pbshawaii.org. Last season, more than 80 schools across Hawai‘i took part in what many students, past and present, describe as a life-changing opportunity.

“We’re really about storytelling, and I think one of the most rewarding parts is being able to help students tell their stories, the stories that they want to tell, in a creative way,” says Brent Keane, Director of Learning Initiatives at PBS Hawai‘i.

Photo: Courtesy of PBS Hawai‘i

Under the guidance of teachers and industry experts and mentors, students craft their stories from start to finish, gathering interviews and videos and writing and editing each piece. Some also take the opportunity to host an episode, gaining confidence each step of the way. Every participant takes away something unique from their experience.

Photo: Courtesy of PBS Hawai‘i

“I knew I wanted to do filmmaking pretty much from middle school,” says Baldwin High School graduate Jacqueline Cano. “One of the most notable experiences I had with Hiki Nō was a Spring challenge. I stayed up 24 hours and literally pushed it to the deadline. It solidified my choice in choosing filmmaking as a career.”

Each season, Hiki Nō issues three story challenges to students, providing story prompts like “Hidden Gems” or “Weathering the Storm” and tight timelines for participants to turn around their submissions. The challenges encourage creativity and collaboration.

Photo: Courtesy of PBS Hawai‘i

“PBS Hawai‘i has given me the stepping stones to reach the career goals that I want to reach in life,” adds Cano.

Catch the new season and its new wave of young storytellers on Hiki Nō beginning Tuesday, Oct. 21, at 7:30 p.m. on pbshawaii.org and on YouTube @PBSHawaii.

SEE ALSO: Get Behind the Scenes of Filming PBS Hawai‘i’s Kākou: Hawai‘i’s Town Hall Program

Every month, HONOLULU publishes a blog written by the folks at PBS Hawai‘i, the only locally owned, statewide television station in Hawai‘i that receives support mainly through donations. Visit pbshawaii.org to learn more about exceptional, locally produced shows and the most prominent provider of educational and national programming. Explore music and the arts, discover in-depth documentaries and learn what makes Hawai‘i so special. Follow PBS Hawai‘i on all platforms: @pbshawaii