Watch Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026 at 11 p.m. on KPBS TV / Stream with YouTube (not available in the KPBS+ app)
PACIFIC HEARTBEAT "Island Cowgirls" highlights two Hawaiian cowgirls (paniolo) who have dedicated their lives to caring for their family ranches. On the northwest side of Hawai'i island, as La'I Bertlemann prepares to graduate from highschool, she must make a difficult decision whether to stay home in Hawai'i and continue her family tradition of land stewardship or leave. Meanwhile, on the south side, Lani Cran Petrie is at a crossroads as she continues to plan for the future of her ranch while faced with the uncertainty of the state-held lease of the land expiring soon
A film by: Liz Barney and Alison Week. PACIFIC HEARTBEAT is an anthology series that provides viewers a glimpse of the real Pacific—its people, cultures, languages, music, and contemporary issues. The series features an array of films that will draw viewers into the heart and soul of Pacific Islander experiences.
