Kaua‘i Teams Make the Finals of ‘Olelo Youth Xchange Student Video Competition

‘Olelo Youth Xchange Student Video Competition, presented by Sony — the state’s oldest and largest contest of its type — has just announced this year’s finalists from a record of 892 submissions, and it includes quite a few Kaua‘i teams.

The finalist videos are from students who attend public, charter and private schools all across O‘ahu, the Big Island, Kaua‘i and Maui. See below the article for a complete list of finalist schools in each category.

Judges selected finalists based on subject impact and technical production. These panels included local news media, filmmaking professionals and, in the case of sponsored categories, subject experts.

High-definition Sony digital video cameras will be awarded to the winning schools in each of the 44 divisional categories on the morning of Monday, May 4 at the Awards Gala at the Sheraton Waikiki Resort.

The live cablecast of the ‘Olelo Youth Xchange Awards Gala will air starting at 10:30 am on Channel 54.

Last year, more than 600 educators, student-producers and guests celebrated the finalist videos at the awards banquet. Many traveled from the Neighbor Islands to attend and be honored.

‘Olelo Youth Xchange was developed to help give island keiki a voice to tell stories in a variety of video formats and about subjects that are meaningful to them.

This year, Youth Xchange videos are competing in seven broad categories and nine sponsored categories. Broad categories include animation, mini-documentary, news, public service announcement and short, Expert and Junior Expert.

Sponsored competition categories include Be a Jerk, Creating Peace, Forest Health in Hawai‘i, Malama ‘Aina, Meth: Not Even Once, Start Living Healthy, Taking Assessments Seriously, The Value of Water and Traffic Safety.

Students will compete in three age divisions: elementary, intermediate and high school. Previous winners and students with professional experience compete in the Junior Expert (kindergarten through middle school) and Expert (high school and college) categories.

‘Olelo is committed to airing programs of special community interest on its four cable channels: 49, 53, 54 and 55.

In addition to presenting sponsor Sony, the 12th annual ‘Olelo Youth Xchange Student Video Competition receives significant support from event sponsors First Hawaiian Bank, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, Ko Olina Resort and Marina, and the Sheraton Waikiki Resort. Additional support is provided by category sponsors the Board of Water Supply; City & County of Honolulu; GEICO; Hawai‘i Meth Project; Hawai‘i State Departments of Education, Forestry and Wildlife, and Health; the Office of Hawaiian Affairs; and the Rotary Club of Honolulu.

Visit www.olelo.org/yxc, call ‘Olelo Community Media at 834.0007 or follow Youth Xchange on Facebook and Twitter for more information.

Established in 2003, ‘Olelo Community Media’s Youth Xchange is Hawai‘i’s largest and first issues-oriented statewide student video competition.

2015 ‘Olelo Youth Xchange Video Competition Finalists:

ANIMATION

Elementary

“Bullying” – Pearl Ridge Elementary School

“The Test Ditcher” – Pauoa Elementary School

“The Hamburglar” – Fern Elementary School

Middle School

“You Don’t Get a Second Chance” – Kawananakoa Middle School

“Think Before You Drink” – Mid-Pacific Institute

“Weird Loud and Proud” – Honoka‘a Intermediate School

High School

“Benefits of Physical Education” – Kaua‘i High School

“Earth in a Year” – Mid-Pacific Institute

“A Surprise Encounter” – Waipahu High School

BE A JERK

Elementary

“Bottles Down, Thumbs Down, Be a Jerk” – Waipahu Elementary School

“Think Before You Drink” – Maunawili Elementary School

“Don’t Buy Alcohol for Underage Kids” – Moanalua Elementary School

Middle School

“(Zom) Be a Jerk” – Moanalua Middle School

“Be a Jerk” – Kamaile Academy PCS

“Give Em Root Beer” – Mid-Pacific Institute

High School

“The Jerk” – Moanalua High School

“Stop Underage Drinking” – Leilehua High School

“Underage Drinking at Home” – Kaua‘i High School

CREATING PEACE

Elementary

“What is Your World Full Of” – Kainalu Elementary School

“Stomp Cyber Bullying” – Waimalu Elementary School

“Racism” – Waimalu Elementary School

Middle School

“How to Prevent Bullying” – Niu Valley Middle School

“Keep the Chain Going” – Mid-Pacific Institute

“Stop Bullying” – Niu Valley Middle School

High School

“The Girl in the Mirror” – Kaua‘i High School

“He Loves Me Not” – Kapa‘a High School

“Kindness is Contagious” – Aiea High School

FOREST HEALTH IN HAWAI‘I

Elementary

“Stop Forest Fires” – Sacred Hearts Academy

“Save Hawai‘i Forest & Watershed” – Kainalu Elementary School

“The Invasive Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle” – Ka Waihona o ka Na‘auao PCS

Middle School

“Little Fire Ants” – Montessori School of Maui

“Coconut Rhino Beetle Traps” – Ka Waihona o ka Na‘auao PCS

“T.V. News 1: Wildfires” – Kailua Intermediate School

High School

“Feral Pigs” – Kaua‘i High School

MALAMA ‘AINA

Elementary

“Malama the ‘Aina” – Webling Elementary School

“The Recycling Team” – Fern Elementary School

“The Revenge” – Ma‘ili Elementary School

Middle School

“Malama the ‘Aina” – King Intermediate School

“This Land is Our Land” – Mid-Pacific Institute

“Love, Appreciate, and Take Care of the Land” – Kawananakoa Middle School

High School

“Malama the ‘Aina” – Moanalua High School

“Malama ‘Aina” – Hilo High School

“Blessed For This ‘Aina” – Roosevelt High School

METH: NOT EVEN ONCE

Elementary

“The Skeleton”– Makaha Elementary School

“Meth Equals Death” – Kainalu Elementary School

“Meth is Death” – Ka Waihona o ka Na’auao PCS

Middle School

“The Meth Effect” – Ewa Makai Middle School

“Addiction Follows You For Life” – King Intermediate School

“Say No!” – Mid-Pacific Institute

High School

“Texting with Meth”– Kaua‘i High School

“Hawaii Meth Project” – Mililani High School

“Do the Math” – Waianae High School

MINI-DOCUMENTARY

Elementary

“The Beatles, Artistic Leaders” – Kainalu Elementary School

“Voyaging in the Pacific” – Maunawili Elementary School

“Hula Ki‘i: Hula Puppets” – Sacred Hearts Academy

Middle School

“American Titan” – Maui Waena Intermediate School

“A Different Home” – Waianae Intermediate School

“Mission Possible” – Honoka‘a Intermediate School

High School

“Live on Leighton” – Moanalua High School

“Angela of ALS” – Maui High School

“Special Needs Screenprinting” – Kapolei High School

NEWS

Elementary

“Lunalilo – Hokule‘a and Malama Honua” – Lunalilo Elementary

“Drive Smart, Ride Safe” – Webling Elementary School

“Newscast About Our Superhero” – Alvah Scott Elementary School

Middle School

“Don’t Be a Drip” – Kalama Intermediate School

“L Building” – Waipahu Intermediate School

“Home is Where the Heart Is” – Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School

High School

“Musical Nightmare” – Aiea High School

“Paul Refuses to Fail” – Moanalua High School

“‘Olelo Hawai‘i” – Wai‘anae High School

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

Elementary

“Bully Bystanders” – Nanaikapono Elementary School

“Stop For Pedestrians” – Nanakuli Elementary School

“Superhero” – Kainalu Elementary School

Middle School

“Drinking and Driving” – Maui Waena Intermediate School

“Get Up, Get Out, Get Active” – Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School

“Because of You” – Washington Middle School

High School

“Spelling Bee” – Kaua‘i High School

“A.C.B.A.V.O.D.V.” – Waipahu High School

“You Matter” – McKinley High School

SHORT

Elementary

“What is Your Career Lexile” – Kainalu Elementary School

“The Hand” – Makaha Elementary School

“Be Safe When You Drive” – Waikele Elementary School

Middle School

“I’m Only Human” – Waimanalo Intermediate School

“One Connection” – Waipahu Intermediate School

“Matthew Ka‘aha‘aina’s Thanksgiving” – Ka Waihona o ka Na‘auao PCS

High School

“Going Home” – Moanalua High School

“Their Voice” – Kaua‘i High School

“Click It or Ticket” – Mid-Pacific Institute

START LIVING HEALTHY

Elementary

“PE Does a Body Good” – Pearl Ridge Elementary

“Healthy Hearts = Happy Hearts” – Webling Elementary School

“P.E. Rocks” – Kainalu Elementary School

Middle School

“P.E. – Physical Education” – Niu Valley Middle School

“Be Active!” – Kawananakoa Middle School

“P.E. – Powerful Education” – Ewa Makai Middle School

High School

“Teamwork Makes the Dream Work” – Leilehua High School

“Focus in Class But Not at the Clock” – Kaimuki Christian School

“Start Living Healthy” – Kaua‘i High School

TAKING ASSESSMENTS SERIOUSLY

Elementary

“CopyCat” – Kainalu Elementary School

“Do Your Best on Your Test” – Hale Kula Elementary School

“Three Little Students” – Kainalu Elementary School

Middle School

“Taking Assessments Seriously” – Moanalua Middle School

“Prepare Your Best to Take the Test” – Ka Waihona o ka Na‘auao PCS

“Taking Tests Seriously” – Maui Waena Intermediate School

High School

“Man vs Teenager” – Leilehua High School

“Preparing for the Test” – Mililani High School

“Preparing for the ACT” – Roosevelt High School

THE VALUE OF WATER

Elementary

“Water’s Not a Toy” – Mililani Waena Elementary School

“Save a Drop, It’s Worth a Lot” – Ma‘ema‘e Elementary School

“Shower Less or Be Showerless” – Waipahu Elementary School

Middle School

“Save Water” – Mid-Pacific Institute

“Conserve Water” – Waipahu Intermediate School

“Drip Drip Drop” – Ewa Makai Middle School

High School

“Why Waste Wai?” – Kamehameha Schools-Maui

“It Can Save You” – Roosevelt High School

“Value of Water” – Moanalua High School

TRAFFIC SAFETY

Elementary

“My Message to You” – Ka Waihona o ka Na‘auao PCS

“2 Lessons of Traffic Safety” – Kalihi Kai Elementary

“Everyone is a Pedestrian! Tips for Drivers” – Hale Kula Elementary School

Middle School

“Riding in the Back of a Truck” – King Intermediate School

“The Distracted Pedestrians” – Aliamanu Middle School

“Don’t Let the Keyboard Take the Wheel” – Kawananakoa Middle School

High School

“Safe Driving PSA” – Kapa‘a High School

“Don’t Drink, Think” – Mid-Pacific Institute

“Never Too Late” – Mililani High School

JUNIOR EXPERT

“Cyberbullying” – Mid-Pacific Institute

“Take Assessments Seriously” – Wai‘anae Intermediate School

“Plantation Coffee Company” – Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School

EXPERT

“A Metal Challenge” – Maui High School

“The Last Day” – Wai‘anae High School

“Many Rivers One Ocean” – Moanalua High School