Hale Kula Team Shines At Video Contest

By MEGAN CUMMINGS
Hale Kula Elementary School

Creating in digital media provides students with opportunities to learn new skills. Students from across the state produced 30-second public service announcements for the 11th annual ‘Olelo Youth Xchange Student Video Competition.

A record 804 videos were submitted this year representing elementary, intermediate and high school students throughout Hawaii.

Among the award-winners was Hale Kula Elementary School, which was a finalist in three categories – Start Living Healthy, Public Service Announcement and Mini-Documentary.

Winners received a Sony HandyCam HDR-PJ540 for their school, which included two teams of Hale Kula students, who created Choose Water for a Healthy Life and Be Cool, Come To School. Hale Kula’s winning videos competed against more than 20 videos in each category.

Choose Water for a Healthy Life was created by fourth-grader Deziree Ensrud and third-graders Cheyenne Barfield, Falesoa Tufi and Hanna Strom. The 30-second animated feature was designed to educate people about the effects of sugary drinks and to be aware of the advertisements companies use to promote the drinks.

Be Cool, Come to School featured a rap written by counselor Marleen Clarke that was remixed and animated by fourth-graders Nettie Oswalt, Ella Reibsome and Ariana Carter.

Hale Kula’s public service announcements and mini documentary can be seen on the HKES Kids Vimeo channel at vimeo.com/channels/hkeskids. All Youth Xchange videos can be seen at olelo.org/yxc/.

The videos also are being aired on ‘Olelo Channel 53.