In this episode of HIKI NŌ on PBS Hawai‘i, the first of two special episodes, meet three exceptional graduates from HIKI NŌ’s Class of 2026 as they share their experience being part of HIKI NŌ productions and reflect on what they learned.

From James Campbell High School, Izzy Rodriguez shared how HIKI NŌ made it more clear that a career in film production could be a reality in the future, even as a middle school student at ‘Ewa Makai Middle School.

“As someone who wants to do this in the future and be in this setting, I’m grateful that you guys do provide this and you guys have this opportunity, because now I have things that like I could say that like, ʻOh I did this like in high school,” says Rodriguez.

Rodriguez is headed to Chapman University in California to study film production.

Aaron Hinazumi, a recent graduate of Kauaʻi High School, also discovered HIKI NŌ in middle school while attending Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School.

Due to his shy nature, he found some aspects of production were difficult at first, but as a high schooler working on projects individually he found his stride.

“I do feel proud about myself looking back on the journey that I’ve taken,” he said.

Hinazumi is attending Creighton University in Nebraska to study accounting.

Van Anh Nguyen, a recent graduate of Hilo High School, says she never would have guessed she would be part of a video production crew, let alone share her own life story in one.

“If my younger self [saw] me now, they would definitely laugh,” she says. “I didn’t expect myself to work, to be here, and to work with K-VIKS, to work with TV, and to make this many friends, to being interviewed for jobs maybe in the future, and to be a little bit outgoing now. Just a bunch of surprises, I think.”

Nguyen will be attending University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa this fall.