LIHU‘E — Monday was an observed school holiday, but the technology classroom buzzed with activity from students preparing projects for the Student Television Network convention and Kate Nakamura engaged in a pre-recording segment for the Public Broadcasting Service NewsHour program that will air on Tuesday, Jan. 25.
Nakamura, a junior, has been selected to co-host a special program, “Our New Normal: How Teens are Redefining School Life,” with PBS NewsHour Anchor Anna Nawaz that will air at 7 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time.
“This has been such a beautiful experience because PBS Hawai‘i has also been involved,” said Leah Aiwohi, Nakamura’s teacher. “Our Kate Nakamura will be the first Hawai‘i student to co-host, as a student, a national broadcast. Kate is possibly Kaua‘i’s next newscaster. Earlier, she was also recognized among PBS
NewsHour’s Up-and-Coming 20 Under 20 nationwide.”
Nakamura and Aiwohi have been traveling to O‘ahu for pre-recording segments of the Student Reporting Labs production for the PBS NewsHour. Aiwohi said a PBS Hawai‘i segment featuring the local aspects is scheduled to air sometime this week.
The special will include pre-recorded segments as well as live recording, where Nakamura will co-host the production with Terry Jones, an SRL student in Alabama.
“Kate has made incredible contributions to SRL over the last couple of years, including being selected as a 2020 SRL Academy Fellow,” said Elis Estrada, the senior director for PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs, in his announcement of Nakamura’s selection. “We are excited to work with her on this special.”
Nakamura, who earlier this year earned Kaua‘i High School top honors in the high-school division of PBS Hawai‘i’s Hiki No Spring Challenge video-production contest with schoolmate Ty Kajihara, said her invitation to be a co-host was “just among people PBS felt would be interested.” Some of the criteria on her selection included availability and test interviews.
During the challenge, Nakamura and Kajihara had four days to create a video based on the theme “Not All Heroes Wear Capes.” The completed project was submitted for statewide consideration and edged out entries from Maui High School, Kalaheo High School and Hilo High School.
“Completing a full-blown story in just four days is, in itself, a triumph,” said Robert Pennybacker, the vice president of Learning Initiatives at PBS Hawai‘i, in his congratulatory letter of the program funded by State Farm.
“It was a tough competition, and the judging was equally tough. It also yielded some of the most-creative and diverse challenge stories we have seen for a long, long time.”
“My goal is to continue to tell stories,” Nakamura said. “I learned during middle school that this is something I like to do. I had to learn to come out from behind the camera. Following this program, I’m also participating in the STN convention, too. After graduating, I hope to find a good journalism school and continue doing this.”
Nakamura is also inspired by current newscasters and anchors who have Kaua‘i roots.
“No, I didn’t get to meet Ron Mizutani, the CEO and president for PBS Hawai‘i, while we were up there taping the pre-recorded segments for this show,” Nakamura said. “I did get to see his office, though. It’s inspiring to see all of these people from Kaua‘i who are succeeding in something that I like to do. They are good role models.”
•••
Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
