HIKI NŌ continues its series of reflections on how COVID-19 has changed students’ lives as they shelter-in-place from their homes.

This special edition features stories from the 2019 HIKI NŌ Fall Challenge.  On October 18, 2019, participating elementary, middle school and high school teams were given four days to complete a HIKI NŌ story based on the prompt: “Half of Hawaiʻi’s people are struggling financially even while many work two or three jobs. 

TOP STORY “Kauaʻi Resilience Project” Students from Kapaʻa High School on Kauaʻi tell the story of their community’s effort to address a serious problem with Kauaʻi’s youth. A 2018 study showed that 9% of high school students on Kauaʻi attempt suicide, and 28% reported feeling sad and worthless over extended periods of time. In response to these alarming facts, the Kauaʻi Resiliency Project was formed to create programs and opportunities for Kauaʻi’s youth that help them navigate life’s challenges.

During April and May of 2020, twenty-five HIKI NŌ students from across the state created video reflections on how COVID-19 had changed their lives as they sheltered-in-place in their homes, giving Hawaiʻi’s youth a prominent voice during the pandemic. This Student Reflections compilation show presents all twenty-five reflections, offering a rare glimpse into the lives of local teens and pre-teens in these challenging times.

This special episode features the winning stories from the HIKI NŌ 2020 Spring Challenge competition. In this year’s Spring Challenge, student teams from across the state were given four days to create a video portrait of a family that is sheltering at home together and how they are coping with life during the COVID-19 pandemic.

TOP STORY   “Online Bullying” Students from Kapaʻa High School on Kauaʻi tell the story of a fellow student who had been bullied online at school and then sought the help of campus counselors to resolve the problem.

TOP STORY:   Students from H.P. Baldwin High School on Maui introduce us to a Filipino immigrant who legally changed her name to Madame Donut.

This special edition features stories from the 2019 HIKI NŌ Spring Challenge. On April 26, 2019, participating middle school and high school teams were given four days to complete a HIKI NŌ story based on the theme: “The unappreciated beauty of simple, everyday things.” Teachers could not provide hands-on help.