April 23, 2026
Springdale Today welcomes Springdale High School teacher Rachelle Nichols; Bulldog Media Program students Angel Kumtak and Yulissa Martinez-Fuentes; film director Nathan Fitch; and creative director and designer Jacob Hawkes, whose story inspired the film “Iawke: Hello, Goodbye.”
Hawkes, who was adopted from the Marshall Islands as a child, unexpectedly reconnected with his biological relatives after knocking on the door of his aunt’s Springdale home in 2019 while working as a door-to-door salesman.
The encounter sparked a deeper journey into his heritage, culminating in his first visit to the Marshall Islands in 2024. Fitch, known for his documentary work with Marshallese communities, collaborated with screenwriter Russell Sharman to adapt Jacob’s story into the short, narrative film.
Hawkes stars as himself in the film, which was produced in Springdale with support from Springdale High School’s Bulldog Media Production students, who gained hands-on experience and pay through the experience.
LISTEN/WATCH NOW: https://app.smore.com/n/p1zs4-iawke-hello-goodbye
Hawkes, who was adopted from the Marshall Islands as a child, unexpectedly reconnected with his biological relatives after knocking on the door of his aunt’s Springdale home in 2019 while working as a door-to-door salesman.
The encounter sparked a deeper journey into his heritage, culminating in his first visit to the Marshall Islands in 2024. Fitch, known for his documentary work with Marshallese communities, collaborated with screenwriter Russell Sharman to adapt Jacob’s story into the short, narrative film.
Hawkes stars as himself in the film, which was produced in Springdale with support from Springdale High School’s Bulldog Media Production students, who gained hands-on experience and pay through the experience.
LISTEN/WATCH NOW: https://app.smore.com/n/p1zs4-iawke-hello-goodbye