Waiākea High School and Maui Waena Intermediate bested some 50 other schools and won the top prizes at the 19th Annual ‘Ōlelo Youth Xchange Student Video Competition Awards Gala last week.
Waiākea won the Expert category with the video “Alexis Ann” and Maui Waena nabbed Junior Expert with “Help, Teachers Wanted.”
Category winners came from every county in Hawai‘i.
‘Ōlelo Community Media’s Youth Xchange is Hawai‘i’s oldest and largest contest of its type.
As the Expert and Junior Expert winners, Waiākea and Maui Waena each took home equipment and accessory prize packs valued at over $700 that included a SmallRig professional smartphone video rig kit including LED light, microphone and desk tripod; DJI OM5 gimbal smartphone stabilizer; Movo Photo two-person wireless lavalier microphone system; Anker – PowerCore III Elite portable charger and an anamorphic movie lens.
The other 36 category winners took home prize packs worth more than $500 that included the same smartphone video rig, gimbal and wireless lavalier microphone system.
The winning Youth Xchange student videos were selected based on subject impact and technical production. The judging panels included local news media, filmmaking professionals and, in the case of sponsored categories, subject experts.
This year, Youth Xchange videos competed in 14 categories. The five broad categories were mini-documentary, public service announcement, short, Expert and Junior Expert.
A more resilient and sustainable Hawaiʻi:
Elementary: Turn Hawai‘i Green – Pōmaika‘i Elementary Middle: Hawaiian Electric PSA – Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle High School: Sustainability One Step at A Time – President William McKinley High
Active living and healthy places:
Elementary: Active Living Is Inspiring! – Ma‘ema‘e Elementary Middle: A New Breath of Air – Āliamanu Middle High School: Oh, the Healthy Places You’ll Go – Moanalua High
Elementary: Unity Day – Kīpapa Elementary Middle: How to Keep Peace Between Friends – Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle High School: The Move to Peace – Kamehameha Schools Maui
Elementary: Our Community Relies On You – Pōmaika‘i Elementary Middle: Voting by Mail – Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle High School: Go Vote – Moanalua High
Elementary: ROD and the ‘Ōhi‘a Tree – Pearl City Highlands Elementary Middle: Ka Nahele O Ka Mokupuni: The Island’s Forest – Kaimukī Middle High School: Ola Kākou I ka ‘Āina – Kamehameha Schools Maui
Elementary: Mental Health Issues – Pearl City Highlands Elementary Middle: The Struggle – Kamehameha Schools Maui High School: Ocean Safety – Henry Perrine Baldwin High
Prepare now: Donʻt forget tutu… and popoki too!
Elementary: Ready for Disasters – Pearl City Highlands Elementary Middle: Prepare for the Worst – Moanalua Middle High School: A Special Place in Your Heart, Means a Special Plan to Protect – Waiākea High
Prevent bullying together with aloha:
Elementary: Bullying EL Students – Maʻemaʻe Elementary Middle: Unique – Highlands Intermediate High School: Erase the Hate – Mililani High
Elementary: Why Get Your Covid Vaccine? – Alva A. Scott Elementary Middle: Why Do I Wear My Mask? – St. John Vianney School High School: Our Oceans are in Danger – Hawaiʻi Technology Academy PCS
Elementary: Cyberbullying, Tell Someone Now – Alvah A. Scott Elementary Middle: Save Our People: Ban Guns – Āliamanu Middle High School: Dear Mallory – Mid-Pacific Institute
Elementary: Down the Drain – Mayor Joseph J. Fern Elementary Middle: The Future Counts on Us – Moanalua Middle High School: How To Be a Storm Water Hero – Moanalua High
Elementary: Just Say “NO to Drinking and Driving” – Kīpapa Elementary Middle: Your Life Matters, Wear a Seatbelt – Moanalua Middle High School: Mind Your Spacing – Hawai‘i Technology Academy PCS
Help, Teachers Wanted – Maui Waena Intermediate
Alexis Ann – Waiākea High