tell the stories
worth keeping .
A paid 8-week summer program for young Native Hawaiian storytellers. Learn creative AI. Bring two real kūpuna stories to life. Walk away with $1,000 and a portfolio piece.
DUE MAY 15, 2026 · 10 SPOTS · AGES 15–26
WHO THIS IS FOR
THE CREATIVE WORLD IS CHANGING.
AI is rewriting what’s possible with a laptop and an idea. You want in — but not just to make memes. You want to make something that matters. This is for you.
WHAT YOU’LL MAKE
TWO REAL STORIES.
ONE UNFORGETTABLE SUMMER.
This year we’re bringing two kūpuna interviews to life as short films — stories that don’t exist on YouTube or Netflix, told by the people who lived them.
KAIMUKĪ · 1941
the day the sky fell
Featuring Paulette McLain
An 11-year-old girl in Kaimukī watches history unfold on December 7, 1941. A child's-eye view of Pearl Harbor.
KĀNEʻOHE · 1960s
Taking back mōkapu
Featuring Cyrus Kalama
A kānaka maoli family refuses to give up their ancestral ceremony when the Marine base takes over their land.
WHAT YOU GET
REAL WORK. REAL PAY. REAL TRAINING.
$1,000
STIPEND ON COMPLETION
Certificate
RISEHI CREATIVE AI
Portfolio
PROFESSIONAL PIECE
Mentorship
NH CREATIVES
HOW THE 8 WEEKS FLOW
STRUCTURED ENOUGH TO DELIVER.
FLEXIBLE ENOUGH TO LEARN.
Primarily virtual with a 2-hour weekly Zoom session plus async production work. Two in-person gatherings on Oʻahu: kickoff and showcase. Travel support for neighbor island participants.
WEEKS 1–2
FOUNDATION
WEEKS 3–4
TEAM FORMATION
WEEKS 5–7
PRODUCTION
WEEK 8
SHOWCASE
WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR
CURIOUS BEATS QUALIFIED.
Ages 15–26
Based anywhere in Hawaiʻi
Ready for 7–9 hrs/week
Someone who likes stories
YOU SHOULD BE
Experience with AI
Experience with video
To be in school
A fancy computer
YOU DON’T NEED
PREFERENCE GIVEN TO NATIVE HAWAIIAN APPLICANTS PER FUNDER GUIDELINES.
THE PARTNERSHIP
BUILT BY RIEHI.
FUNDED BY HAWAIʻI PACIFIC FOUNDATION.
THE PROGRAM
RISEHI FOUNDATION
A Hawaiʻi-based nonprofit developing the next generation of Native Hawaiian leaders.
“AI is collapsing the barrier between having a story and being able to tell it well. This program is about making sure young Native Hawaiians are on the right side of that shift."
GABE AMEY
FOUNDER, RISEHI
THE FUNDER
HAWAIʻI PACIFIC FOUNDATION
A Native Hawaiian organization supporting workforce development, cultural preservation, and economic opportunity across the pae ʻāina.
“"We look for programs that build real skills for our kānaka and keep our moʻolelo alive. RiseHI's Creative AI Accelerator does both, and we're proud to support it."
JEANINE DEFRIES
CEO, HAWAI'I PACIFIC FOUNDATION
QUICK ANSWERS
THE TOP QUESTIONS, ANSWERED.
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It’s an 8-week paid summer program where a small group of young people learn to use the latest creative AI tools to tell real stories that matter. This summer, we’re bringing two kūpuna stories to life; one about Pearl Harbor, one about a family’s stand for Makahiki at Kāneʻohe. You’ll learn the tools, work in a team, and come out with a professional portfolio piece.
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Creative AI is a new category of tools that let you generate images, video, voices, and music from written prompts. We’ll primarily use Higgs Field AI, which combines several of the best models (Kling, Veo, Nano Banana, and others) in one platform. Think of it as having a film studio in your laptop.
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A little of both. You’ll be paid a $1,000 stipend when you finish, so we treat it like paid work. You’re expected to show up, hit deadlines, and deliver. But we’re also teaching you a new craft from the ground up, and we’ll treat you like someone who’s learning, not performing.
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Monday, June 1 through Friday, July 24, 2026. The final showcase event is the last week of July.
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About 7–9 hours per week, for a total of roughly 50–70 hours across the 8 weeks. That includes a live 2-hour Zoom session, a short team check-in, and async production work you do on your own schedule.
tell the stories
worth keeping .
APPLICATIONS CLOSE MAY 15, 2026
Questions? Email ryenne@risehi.com