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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, May 7, 2006

Top student public service ad is from Kapolei

Advertiser Staff

"Hazards of Smoking" by two Kapolei High School students won for Best of Show PSA in the HMSA Teen Video Awards Contest.

Courtesy of HMSA

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Two students from Kapolei High School took Best of Show honors for their TV public service announcement on smoking. The winners of the 2006 HMSA Teen Video Awards Contest were announced at a red-carpet ceremony Thursday at Consolidated Theatres' Ward Stadium in Honolulu by the Hawaii Medical Service Association, Hawai'i Department of Education, Sassy/G Magazine and Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

This is the second year in a row the school has captured Best of Show at the competition.

Dane Kurihara and Justin Ryckman, seniors at Kapolei High School, worked together to create an announcement called "Hazards of Smoking." It was selected as the best student-produced PSA out of 232 entries. Their PSA also captured first place in the contest's Anti-Smoking category.

The top 70 PSAs were shown at the awards ceremony, which was attended by teachers, students and family members from O'ahu and the Neighbor Islands, as well as special guests and celebrity presenters.

These schools and students were honored at the ceremony:

Best of Show PSA — "Hazards of Smoking" by Kapolei High School (Students: Dane Kurihara, Justin Ryckman. Teacher: Daryl Madela.)

Best Anti-Drug PSA — "Egghead" by Maui High School (Students: Kelcie Kawano, Ashley Orr. Teacher: Clint Gima.)

Best Anti-Underage Drinking PSA — "Making a Decision" by Mililani High School (Student: Alexander Delapena. Teacher: Shelly Bishop.)

Best Anti-Smoking PSA — "Hazards of Smoking" by Kapolei High School (Students: Dane Kurihara, Justin Ryckman. Teacher: Daryl Madela.)

Best Health/Fitness PSA — "Feel Alive" by Seabury Hall (Student: Elliott Cost. Teacher: Roberta Hodara.)

First-place winners in each category received $1,000 to use toward the purchase of video equipment or software for their school. Second- and third-place winners received $500. The Best of Show winner received an additional $1,000. As further recognition, top PSAs will be aired on local TV stations later in the year.

The HMSA Teen Video Awards Contest challenged students to come up with creative PSAs on health and fitness, or to help address the problems of drugs, underage drinking and smoking among Hawai'i's youth. Students attending public or private high schools or middle schools in Hawai'i were eligible to participate. The students, working individually or in teams, produced their PSAs under the guidance of their teachers.

Learn more: To view the winning PSAs, see www.HMSA.com.