The Department of Education this week will unveil a locally produced video that is aimed at the prevention of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.

The 20-minute program, "HIV in Hawai'i: Local People, Local Stories," will premiere at 5 p.m. Thursday at McKinley High School's Hirata Hall. The public is invited to attend.

The video is part of the DOE's "Positive Prevention" curriculum that is designed to provide middle school and high school students with information and skills they need to reduce their risk of contracting HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. "HIV in Hawai'i" will be distributed to schools and community agencies that support prevention and care.

Julienne Nakano, executive producer of the video and the HIV state resource teacher, said educators made the video to show students how HIV and AIDS affect people in Hawai'i.

"There have been so many informational videos from the Mainland that address HIV/ AIDS, and none of them address the emotional impact of this virus nor address the fact that this virus is also here in Hawai'i," Nakano said. "We hope that Hawai'i students realize that HIV/AIDS is not only on the Mainland, but HIV/AIDS is also here in the Islands and that this virus affects everyone who participates in risk behaviors."

The video will feature the stories of two Hawai'i residents who are living with HIV. There also will be interviews with members of organizations that provide HIV education and services.

The video is sponsored by the DOE through a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; the Coalition for a Drug-Free Hawai'i through a Federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration grant; Healthy Hawai'i Initiative; Life Foundation; and the Department of Health STD /AIDS Prevention branch.