Hiki Nō - Hawaii's First Student News Network

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting evaluates many grant applications every year. In these tough fiscal times, competition for this type of funding is stiff. That's why C.P.B. showed a vote of confidence in Hawaii's students when it awarded a $200,000 grant to PBS Hawaii to launch Hiki Nō. This seed grant will be used exclusively to start work on the technology infrastructure that will connect students in every community on every island, as well as other startup needs such as workshops with the participating schools.

"Our ultimate goal is to broadcast a half-hour newscast every weeknight to the PBS Hawaii statewide audience. The newscast will be produced by the students of Hiki Nō," said Linda Brock VP Programming & Community Relations. "The schools will be linked via an online virtual newsroom, creating a statewide news gathering network. They'll work in teams to produce individual newscasts."

Brock said the projected launch date is 2010. Some local educators see Hiki Nō as an example of what author and educator Tony Wagner says is lacking in America's schools today.

"The global achievement gap is the gap between what we are teaching and testing in our schools, even in the ones that are most highly-regarded, versus the skills all students will need for careers, college, and citizenship in the 21st century," says Wagner. In a news gathering environment, students learn to ask questions, rather than memorize answers. They must work as a team, drawing upon each other's individual strengths. Communication skills must be sharp. And, they will use technology as their tool of empowerment. The model Hawaii builds could be one followed by other regions and states in our country.

"In the Hawaiian language, 'Hiki Nō' means 'can do,' " points out Leslie Wilcox, President and CEO of PBS Hawaii. "The students of Waianae High School, where academic testing scores, as well as income levels are low, have shown that they can perform at a top national level in the collaborative, creative, multi-media environment of the 21st-century. PBS Hawaii is inspired by the great promise of our students statewide. "Hiki Nō!"



Waianae High's multi-media program Searider Productions has already brought home a prestigious national Student Emmy Award. Last year it added another top national award to its achievements, at the U.S. Student Television Network conference. Other Hawaii high schools also won honors at the conference. Some schools are doing wonderful work in multi-media but currently are not collectively focused on news reporting. This will be the first time these schools come together working as one entity. The leadership of the Department of Education, Hawaii Association of Independent Schools and Hawaii's Charter Schools have all supported the preliminary plans for Hiki Nō. But no one is underestimating the challenges. Our state's geography. Three separate school systems. A diversity of resources and programs. An environment of tight funding.

But what an opportunity for our young students. And what an opportunity for our community to support them.

Photos courtesy of Maui High School, Waianae High School and Chiefess Kamakahele Middle School.