LIHU‘E — Not all heroes wear capes, some wear an all-purpose beige vest and carry a camera.
That’s the idea that Kaua‘i High School sophomores Kate Nakamura and Ty Kajihara had for this year’s 2021 Spring Challenge HIKI NO, PBS Hawai‘i’s student news network, anyway.
The four-day video competition kicked off on Friday, April 16, when students were handed the theme, “Not all heroes wear capes.”
Then kicked off the brainstorming.
While scrolling The Garden Island’s website for ideas, staff photographer and writer Dennis Fujimoto came to their minds as somebody who brings so much joy and happiness to the community, and that’s what makes him a hero all on his own, Nakamura said.
“We wanted to share a local hero,” Nakamura, who aspires for a career in broadcast journalism, said earlier this month.
For their broadcast news feature, the pair followed Fujimoto during a portion of his Saturday from the Grove Farm Market in Puhi to the Kaua’i Youth Tennis Tournament at the Po’ipu Kai Tennis Courts, finding time to interview the journalist during a break in his day.
The students then took their footage and headed off to write a script and cut the video and submit it by Monday.
Videographer Kajihara said this project meant a lot to him during a virtual school year and reminded him of his passion after taking a short break.
Nakamura and Kajihara have teamed up for the competition that runs three times a year before, and make a great team, Kaua‘i High School teacher Leah Aiwohi said.
“Ty and Kate are two excellent examples of the students I get to work with every year,” Aiwohi said.
During a HIKI NO challenge, students are on their own and cannot receive help from teachers or mentors.
“What I really love about the whole PBS HIKI NO is that it empowers students,” Aiwohi said.
The episode will air Thursday at 7:30 p.m., and will also include productions from Kalaheo High School and Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School.
