Webling, Waipahu Tops In Video

Webling Elementary's winning video team includes (front, from left) Jonah Lorica, Tyler Kamei, Dogun Hong, Neia Tacadena, Caitlin Taga, (back) Sachi Sawamura, Kylie Bakey, Summer Kamioka, teacher Erin Unebasami, Candice Shimizu and Lucy Lee. Photo courtesy of 'Olelo Community Media.

Nearly 600 teachers, students and guests gathered at the JW Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa at Ko Olina April 27 for some big announcements – 32 of them, to be exact.

That many video winners were named at the Youth Xchange Awards banquet for the ninth annual ‘Olelo Youth Xchange Video Competition, which included 619 submissions from schools across the state.

Students from Webling Elementary School took first place for two submissions: Walking to School Safely topped the Traffic Safety category, and Filet-O-Fat won in the Start Living Healthy category.

Waipahu Elementary School children also secured a first-place win in the Peace-maker category with Invisible World.

High-definition Sony video cameras were awarded to the winners in each of the 32 categories.

Videos were judged based on presentation of the subject matter and technical production, and were evaluated by panels of local news media and film-making professionals, as well as experts on the various subjects presented in the videos.

The competition was established in 2003 as a way to help give children a voice in telling issue-based stories using a video format.

Participating area schools included Aliamanu Elementary, Aliamanu Middle, Alvah Scott Elementary, August Ahrens Elementary, Campbell High, Island Pacific Academy, Waipahu Intermediate and Waipahu High.