Hiki No Executive Producer Robert Pennybacker visited Kua o ka La Public Charter School’s Milolii Hipuu Virtual Academy on Nov. 9 to present the 2015 Hiki No Best News Writing Award for its “Mauna Kea TMT” feature story.
Hiki No Executive Producer Robert Pennybacker visited Kua o ka La Public Charter School’s Milolii Hipuu Virtual Academy on Nov. 9 to present the 2015 Hiki No Best News Writing Award for its “Mauna Kea TMT” feature story.
The story is about one student’s struggle between his love of science and his deep respect for his Hawaiian culture. The story followed him as he explored different perspectives of the conflict surrounding the construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea.
Written and edited by student Hoku Subiono with the assistance of fellow students Dazza Kuahuia, David Watai-Simeona and Quinton Kuahuia, the story aired in Episode No. 611 and can be viewed at video.pbshawaii.org/video/2365430462/.
Hiki No is PBS Hawaii’s statewide student news network and the first and only weekly student news show with a statewide network of schools.
Under their teachers’ guidance, students from more than 80 public, private and charter schools from throughout the islands share stories from their communities to Hawaii and the world.
Kua o ka La Public Charter School was established in Puna in 2002. In 2011, the school established a Hipuu virtual online program around Hawaii Island. The Hipu‘u site in the village of Milolii was established by Kaimi Kaupiko and Leivallyn Kaupu in 2011.
In 2012, Kaupiko started the Hiki No program at the site. Today, Kaupiko and Kaupu oversee the program with the help of volunteer instructors Eric Edwards and Laurel Schultz.
For more information about Kua o ka La Public Charter School, call 965-2193 or visit kuaokala.org.