HMSA lauds top teen PSAs today
Advertiser Staff
Student winners of HMSA's Teen Video Awards Contest will be honored at a "red-carpet" event set for 5 this afternoon at Consolidated Ward Theatre.
The top 69 public service announcements — anti-drug, anti-smoking, anti-underage drinking, fitness and nutrition messages — will be shown at the event.
The annual statewide competition encourages teens and schools to create compelling video messages about the dangers of substance abuse and the importance of living a healthy life. Top PSAs will be aired on local TV stations. This year, 244 videos were submitted by local students from public and private middle schools and high schools around the state.
First-place winners in four categories will receive $1,000 to use toward the purchase of video equipment and software for their schools. "Best of Show" will get an additional $1,000. Second- and third-place winners will receive $500 and $250 respectively. Sponsors include Hawaii Medical Service Association, the state Department of Education, Sassy/G Magazine, and Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
KAMEHAMEHA TO DEBUT KEIKI BOOK
Kamehameha Schools has launched a publishing endeavor to extend its educational reach to young children — with historical fiction aimed especially at children up to age 8.
The first new publication, "White Rainbow, Black Curse," about the birth of Kamehameha, will be introduced this weekend at the Hawaii Book & Music Festival on Honolulu Hale grounds.
The text, written by Kawika Eyre and illustrated by Imaikalani Kalahele, will be priced at $14.95 during its introduction at the fair.
The restructured Kamehameha Publishing also hopes to foster the development of Hawaiian authors, producers, creators, and leaders while giving voice to Hawaiian students and their communities. Its first endeavor in March was to reprint the Pukui Legacy Collection, which includes all of the works of Mary Kawena Pukui, best known as co-author of the Hawaiian Dictionary, in partnership with Bishop Museum Press.
Kehau Abad, the new director of Kamehameha Publishing, said projects are under way to produce up to 11 bilingual children's books, authored by young writers in partnership with Hale Kua Mo'o, a branch of the UH-Hilo College of Hawaiian Language.
"Some are traditional stories and some are fanciful tales newly created," Abad said. "All have a Hawaiian cultural base."
LIBRARY HOSTS SAT PROGRAM SATURDAY
A college preparatory program titled "College Admissions Strategies 101: Demystifying College Admissions." will be offered at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Hawai'i State Library.
The program will include information about the importance of the SAT in college admissions and offer key score-raising strategies and tips for test-day success.
Conducted by Kaplan Test Preparation, a subsidiary of the Washington Post, the free, 90-minute informational program is geared for high school students who are planning to attend college. Parents are invited to attend, too. Registration is requested as seating is limited. For information, call the library's young adult section at 586-3490.
BIG ISLE GIRL GOING TO GEOGRAPHIC BEE
A 13-year-old Big Island girl will represent the state next week at the 19th annual National Geographic Bee in Washington, D.C.
Isolde Callihan, an eighth-grader representing Hawai'i Island Christian Home Educators in Hilo, will be among 55 contestants — ages 10 to 14 — taking part in the event set to begin Tuesday. The bee finalists come from a field of nearly 5 million students who competed in state-level competitions. They represent the 50 states, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Pacific Territories and Department of Defense Dependents Schools.
Ten finalists will each win $500 and advance to the final round on Wednesday, moderated by Alex Trebek, host of "Jeopardy!" The overall event's first-prize winner will receive a $25,000 college scholarship and lifetime membership in the National Geographic Society. Second and third prizes are college scholarships of $15,000 and $10,000.
Wednesday morning's final round will air nationally on the National Geographic Channel. Check online at nationalgeo graphic.com/geographicbee for viewing times.
HSTA HONORS BIG ISLAND'S KURISU
Big Island businessman Derek Kurisu — executive vice president of KTA Super Stores — has been named the 2007 Friend of Youth Award winner by the Hawai'i State Teachers Association.
Kurisu was selected as HSTA's 2007 winner because of his service to public schools in Hilo, with innovative programs and teaching students of all ages about service, community responsibility and what it means to be a positive role model.
"Uncle Derek," as he's called by the kids, developed a recycling program for first-graders. He has also provided financial support to school sports teams and clubs, to help them travel to O'ahu and the Mainland for competitions.
"Derek has been such a great supporter of our school," said Bonnie Burke, a student counselor at the Big Island's Kea'au Elementary School. "Every time we have a really great event at our school, he's been willing to come and support us. He is always such a cheerful, enthusiastic person when he comes, the children just love to see him on campus."
HSTA President Roger Takabayashi said Kurisu makes teachers feel appreciated by his caring about public schools.
"We hope he inspires other business leaders to get involved at the local school level to help make a positive difference in the lives of teachers and students alike," Takabayashi said.
Business or community leaders must be nominated by public school teachers for the annual award.
AIONA TO APPLAUD MOANALUA ROBOTICS
Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona will visit Moanalua Middle School tomorrow to recognize the school's achievement in robotics.
The school's robotics team won the state regional competition and last month participated in the FIRST Lego League World Festival in Atlanta, where it won the Universal Design Award for its research project on nanotechnology to clean up sewage spills.
Aiona will present commendations to students and mentors at the school.
24TH EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCE IN JULY
The 24th annual Pacific Educational Conference is set for July 9-12 at McKinley High School.
The state Department of Education will serve as host, along with co-sponsors Pacific Resources for Education and Learning and the University of Hawai'i at Manoa College of Education. PEC, the largest educational conference in the region, is expected to attract more than 1,000 educators primarily from the U.S.-affiliated island education systems.
The 2007 conference theme, "Language Acquisition: Knowledge that Empowers," covers language arts. Sessions will also address the cultural and educational integration of Micronesian students in Hawai'i, and the recent "One Ocean, One People" voyage to Micronesia and Japan by the traditional Hawaiian sailing canoe Hokule'a. For information or to register, visit www.prel.org/pec2007.
Correction: A free program at 11 a.m. tomorrow at the Hawai'i State Library is titled “College Admissions Strategies 101: Demystifying College Admissions.” The name of the program was incorrect in an item in a previous version of this story.
