SM104

← SM103 : Heart of Fire! Heart of Stone!

Sun & Moon series

SM105 : Showdown on Poni Island! →

That's Some Spicy Island Research!

SM104   EP1043 ポニ島の自由研究！しまキングをさがせ！！ Poni Island Research Project! Search for the Island King!!

First broadcast Japan January 13, 2019 United States April 10, 2019* April 28, 2019* May 4, 2019*

English themes Opening The Challenge of Life Ending

Japanese themes Opening キミの冒険 Ending 心のノート

Credits Animation Team Kato Screenplay 藤咲淳一 Jun'ichi Fujisaku Storyboard 小平麻紀 Maki Kodaira Assistant director 牧野吉高 Yoshitaka Makino Animation director 志村泉 Izumi Shimura No additional credits are available at this time.

Screenshots on Filb.de Preview thread on BMGf Closed Original review thread on BMGf Dub review thread on BMGf

That's Some Spicy Island Research! (Japanese: ポニ島の自由研究！しまキングをさがせ！！ Poni Island Research Project! Search for the Island King!!) is the 104th episode of the Sun & Moon series, and the 1,043rd episode of the Pokémon anime. It first aired in Japan on January 13, 2019 and in the United States on May 4, 2019.

Spoiler warning: this article may contain major plot or ending details.

Blurb

The Pokémon School class is visiting Poni Island, and everyone is excited about their upcoming research projects. Ash wants to compete in his fourth grand trial, but because the island currently has no kahuna, he plans to challenge Tapu Fini instead! While searching for the Island Guardian, he meets a Trainer named Hapu, who impresses our hero with her tenacity and battling skills. Although Hapu doesn’t share Ash’s enthusiasm, she respects his determination. And when Team Skull tries to capture a group of Oricorio, she jumps into the fray and defeats the hapless trio with just one hit!

Plot

Hapu struggles to pull out a radish from the ground, though her Golurk does it for her. Hapu then feeds a trio of Sensu Style Oricorio some radish to thank them. Meanwhile, Nurse Joy greets Professor Kukui, Ash, and his classmates when they arrive at the Seafolk Village port on Poni Island. Kukui tells Joy that the students will be left in her care for the next few days.

Kukui brings everyone's attentions to their personal research projects and asks them to clarify their chosen topics. Sophocles raises his hand first and says that he hopes to evolve his Charjabug after hearing that Poni Island is the place to do so. Joy informs him that Charjabug can evolve at Vast Poni Canyon. Kiawe wants to continue training while Mallow is set on sourcing some Poni radishes for a new dish for Aina's Kitchen menu. Lana tells everyone that she will be catching up with Ida. Kukui notices that Lillie is distracted by something, and she replies that it has been a while since she was last on Poni Island. Ash clarifies that the group were here to save Lusamine and didn't have much time to explore the island. Lillie then says that she plans on studying Poni Island's Pokémon. Ash, however, is focused on taking on the Poni Island grand trial. Everyone falls silent and then Kukui informs Ash that Poni Island doesn't have a grand trial because there is currently no Island Kahuna. Sophocles explains that the former Kahuna recently retired due to his old age. Kukui offers Ash a chance to battle him, but Ash instead decides that he will take on Tapu Fini. Kukui is shocked by Ash's confidence, and Ash goes on to tell Kukui that he can head home now. Lana and the others agree with Ash, and soon Kukui boards the ship back to Melemele Island to await for his students' reports.

Ash and the others set off to explore Poni Island, reaching the Ancient Poni Path. Kiawe urges Ash to slow down and assures him that he won't find Tapu Fini any faster. Rotom then spots a Golurk working the fields and scans it into its database. Mallow is thrilled to see Golurk harvest a Poni radish, known for their extreme length. Ash is eager is assist and as he prepares to climb the picket fence he hears a voice that tells him to stay out. The voice commands Golurk to use Flash Cannon. The attack sends Ash and Pikachu hurtling away, but Tsareena manages to stop their momentum. Hapu reveals herself to the group and challenges them; assuming that they are radish thieves. Ash accepts the challenge and has Pikachu make the first move, a Quick Attack. Hapu remains stern and states that Quick Attack won't work because of Golurk's Ghost typing. Pikachu then strikes Golurk's leg with an Iron Tail, causing the giant Pokemon to fall into a kneeling position. Hapu takes note of Ash's strategy and under her breath admits that it was clever. Ash has Pikachu go in for another Quick Attack and Iron Tail combo, but Golurk grabs a hold of Pikachu's tail and slams him into the ground. Pikachu is then knocked out by Golurk's High Horsepower. Hapu warns Ash’s group to not return to steal her crops before walking off with her Golurk and Mudsdale.

Ash and his friends return to the Pokémon Center, and Pikachu makes a swift recovery thanks to its treatment. Joy overhears Ash and Kiawe's conversation about the Golurk Trainer they met, and she adds that the girl's name is Hapu. Nurse Joy explains that Hapu prefers to live alone, and while her parents live close by, she is deeply attached to her grandfather Sofu's land. Kiawe recognizes the name and claims that his grandfather was friends with Sofu. Joy adds that Hapu grew up around adults, and this contributed to her stubborn determination to win. Lillie is still unsure as to why they were called radish thieves, and Joy replies that Hapu has recently been struggling with a series of thefts. Mallow is keen to taste some Poni radish, and luckily Joy has some remaining. Everyone takes a bite, but Ash, Kiawe, Sophocles, and Lillie finds it too spicy, while Lana, Mallow, and Tsareena enjoy the taste. Then, Marowak takes a bite and finds it tolerable, much to Kiawe's surprise. The rest of the Pokémon try the radish and all but Sandy and Charjabug finds the radish too spicy. Joy admits the radishes are an acquired taste, but Hapu's produce is particularly good. Meanwhile on Hapu's property, Hapu contemplates Ash's odd decision to send out Pikachu against her Golurk.

Soon, Ash and his friends split up to do their own activities; Lana is going fishing before catching up with Ida, Lillie and Mallow decide to explore the Seafolk Village markets, Kiawe and Sophocles decide to do more training while Ash is set on locating Tapu Fini. Hapu looks out at the ocean and sets off on her Golurk to do a patrol after noticing that the sea is particularly still. Ash soon reaches Poni Beach, hoping to find Tapu Fini, but he instead finds a group of Oricorio. Suddenly, someone throws out a radish on a string and it immediately attracts one of the Oricorio. The Team Skull trio, Rapp, Tupp and Zipp, are then revealed to be the culprits and have already netted themselves several Oricorio. Tupp plans to have the Oricorio perform as dancers to the entrance of Team Skull Paradise. The trio is surprised to see Ash and go on to explain that they are on Poni Island to create Team Skull's Paradise. Tupp declines Ash's demands and the trio then sends out their Salandit, Zubat, and Garbodor against Pikachu.

Hapu spots the confrontation from the air and intervenes before things get heated. She then spots some of her stolen radish and turns to Ash for answers. Ash proclaims his innocence and explains that Team Skull were trying to catch the Oricorio. Hapu then notices the loot bag and tells Team Skull that they are in need of punishment. Tupp and his teammates remain defiant and belittle Hapu for her short stature. Hapu then calls on Mudsdale for assistance and its arrivals causes Team Skull's Pokémon to walk backwards. Ash insists that it is his battle, but Hapu cuts him off and declares that she is capable of handling the situation on her own. The Skull trio command their Pokémon to attack Mudsdale. The direct hits instead help activate Mudsdale's Stamina Ability, which increases its defenses. Mudsdale's High Horsepower attack defeats the Team Skull trio in one blow. Suddenly, the Team Skull trio's boss, Admin Plumeria, arrives on the scene. She is unimpressed when Tupp admits that they were trying to capture the Oricorio to have them dance at the Team Skull Paradise. Zipp, Tupp, and Rapp follow after Plumeria and ignore Hapu entirely.

Ash releases the Oricorio from the loot bag, and the wild Pokémon are happy to be free and reunited. Hapu apologizes for mistaking Ash for a radish thief and asks for his forgiveness. Ash is not fussed and then asks Hapu for a battle. Hapu, however, abruptly declines and she recalls Mudsdale before heading for home. Ash declares that he won't give up on the rematch, causing Hapu to consider it as she soars away. Overnight, Ash and his classmates return to the Pokémon Center for a meal prepared by Nurse Joy.

Major events

• Ash and his classmates travel to Poni Island.
• Professor Kukui leaves his students in the hands of Poni Island's Nurse Joy before heading back to Melemele Island.
• Sophocles reveals that he is planning to evolve his Charjabug and learns that he can do so in Vast Poni Canyon.
• Ash learns that Poni Island doesn't currently have an Island Kahuna, as the previous one retired due to ill health, so he decides to find and battle Tapu Fini for his grand trial instead.
• Ash and his classmates meet Hapu for the first time.
• Ash has a battle with Hapu and loses.
• Ash and his classmates learn that Hapu is the granddaughter of the Island's second-most recent Kahuna, Sofu.
• Ash meets Plumeria, the Admin of Team Skull, for the first time.

For a list of all major events in the animated series, please see the history page.

Debuts

Humans

• Hapu
• Plumeria

Pokémon debuts

• Oricorio (Sensu Style)

Characters

Humans

Dare da?

• Ash
• Lana
• Kiawe
• Lillie
• Sophocles
• Mallow
• Nurse Joy
• Professor Kukui
• Hapu
• Plumeria
• Tupp
• Zipp
• Rapp
• Man (fantasy)

Pokémon

Who's That Pokémon?

Who's That Pokémon?: Golurk

• Pikachu (Ash's)
• Rotom (Rotom Pokédex)
• Popplio (Lana's)
• Eevee (Lana's; Sandy)
• Marowak (Kiawe's; Alola Form)
• Vulpix (Lillie's; Alola Form; Snowy)
• Togedemaru (Sophocles's)
• Charjabug (Sophocles's)
• Tsareena (Mallow's)
• Blissey (Nurse Joy's)
• Comfey (Nurse Joy's)
• Golurk (Hapu's)
• Mudsdale (Hapu's)
• Salandit (Tupp's)
• Garbodor (Zipp's)
• Zubat (Rapp's)
• Oricorio (Sensu Style; multiple)
• Relicanth
• Tapu Fini (Pokédex image)

Trivia

The Pablo Picasso reference

• Poké Problem: Where does everybody go in today's episode?
  • Host: Poni Island's Nurse Joy
  • Choices: Akala Island, Ula'ula Island, Poni Island, Aether Paradise
  • Answer: Poni Island
• Notebook of the Heart replaces Twerp, Twerpette as the ending theme.
• The English dub was released on Google Play on April 10, 2019 and on the iTunes Store and Amazon Video on April 28, 2019, 24 and six days before the episode aired in the United States, respectively.
• As of this episode, all four variants of Oricorio have appeared in the anime.
• This episode marks one of the very rare cases when a Pokédex entry is shown for a Pokémon that doesn't otherwise appear in the episode. The last time this happened was in The Battle Club and Tepig's Choice!, 382 episodes earlier.
• Hapu, Rotom, and Ash narrate the preview for the next episode.
• Ash, his classmates, and Hapu read the Who's That Pokémon? segment in the English dub.
• Ash's facial reaction to the revelation that there isn't an Island Kahuna on Poni Island is similar to Pablo Picasso's art style.

Errors

• Rapp's Zubat takes damage from Mudsdale's High Horsepower, even though Flying-type Pokémon are supposed to be immune to Ground-type attacks.

In other languages

Language		Title
Mandarin Chinese		波尼島的自由研究！找出島嶼之王吧！！
Korean		포니섬의 자유 연구! 섬의 왕을 찾아라!!

← SM103 : Heart of Fire! Heart of Stone!

Sun & Moon series

SM105 : Showdown on Poni Island! →

This episode article is part of Project Anime, a Bulbapedia project that covers all aspects of Pokémon animation.