For businesswoman Gerri Hayes, being told that “you can’t do it” just makes her more determined to succeed. Gerri shares her survival story as a single mother of two young children who moved to Hawaii to take a human-services job that didn't materialize. She founded a business, Office Pavilion Hawaii, providing furniture to workplaces. It was hailed by Pacific Business News as 2011's top female-owned business in the Islands, with revenues that year of $37 million.

The next LONG STORY SHORT features Mike Irish, known as Hawaii’s “kim chee king.” As a young man starting college, Mike broke his neck in a football impact which left him paralyzed. He had to leave college and faced the prospect of never walking again.

Retired Hawaii State Auditor Marion Higa learned from her parents not to let her gender stand in the way of her goals. On this episode, she matter-of-factly shares her story of seeking the State Auditor position, back when few women in the U.S. had such top jobs.

In an instant, Lieutenant Jerry Coffee went from flying his plane over North Vietnam to being a prisoner of war. What followed was seven years of torture and isolation in a Communist prison. But he never gave up hope. Jerry Coffee tells his story of imprisonment, survival and faith.