PBS Hawaii’s ‘Hiki No’ spotlights four Big Island schools

For the first time, students from four schools representing diverse, rural Hawaii Island communities will join forces to host an episode of PBS Hawaii’s student news program “Hiki No.”

The students represent Ka‘u High School in Pahala, Kanu O Ka Aina Learning Ohana in Waimea, Kua o ka La Public Charter School — Milolii Hipuu Virtual Academy in Milolii, and the Volcano School of Arts &Sciences in Volcano Village.

This will be the first appearance for all four schools.

The episode is scheduled to premiere at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 24, on PBS Hawaii.

From March 31-April 4, Executive Producer Robert Pennybacker, Managing Editor Susan Yim and Editor/Assistant Producer Lawrence Pacheco visited each school to train students and teachers on their responsibilities as “home-base,” or host, schools.

“One of the key goals of ‘Hiki No’ is to teach students the skills to tell visual stories about their communities, especially remote communities rarely covered by traditional media outlets,” Pennybacker said. “It’s important for the people of Hawaii to get a glimpse of unique communities across the state, and to give students in those communities a voice.”