Grant to benefit Hiki No

PBS Hawaii’s student news program and statewide digital media learning initiative, Hiki No, has received a three-year, $2.1 million grant from the Stupski Family Fund of the Hawaii Community Foundation.

PBS Hawaii’s student news program and statewide digital media learning initiative, Hiki No, has received a three-year, $2.1 million grant from the Stupski Family Fund of the Hawaii Community Foundation.

The grant is intended to be a game changer, leading to the development of Hiki No standards-aligned curriculum and the establishment of an elective course in Hawaii’s middle and high schools.

Accepting the grant, Leslie Wilcox, PBS Hawaii president and CEO, said, “We’re thrilled that this significant gift will enable many more students to learn 21st-century skills in real-world conditions.”

Joyce Stupski, head of the Stupski Family Fund and a former special education teacher, said she strongly believes in Hiki No’s potential to help close the achievement gap in schools and equip students for the future workforce.

“Hiki No belongs in the schools, not outside the school day,” noted Kelvin Taketa, president and CEO of the Hawaii Community Foundation. “We’re honored to partner with passionate donors like Joyce, who have the desire to create a greater impact in our education system.”

Since Hiki No’s launch in 2011, most of its participating students have been working on video stories about their communities as an extracurricular activity. Hiki No teachers have been using vacation and weekend time to receive training in the new literacy of digital media.

Both the Hawaii Community Foundation and the Stupski Family Fund of Hawaii Community Foundation were early Hiki No supporters.

Hawaii State Department of Education Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi welcomes the development of Hiki No curriculum.

“Our participating public schools have already seen very encouraging learning outcomes from this groundbreaking digital media initiative,” Matayoshi said.

The curriculum also will be available to independent and public charter schools.

Hiki No airs on PBS Hawaii at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays. View past episodes or learn more about Hiki No online at pbshawaii.org/hikino.

Since Hiki No’s launch in 2011, most of its students have been working on video stories about their communities as an extracurricular activity. Hiki No teachers have been using vacation and weekend time to receive training.