The FBI and other law enforcement agencies in Hawai'i are teaming up with students across the state to help fight cyber crime.

Federal officials yesterday announced plans to sponsor a contest to have students produce public service messages that will make teens more aware of the dangers lurking on the Internet.

"We're asking every teen out there to join in our effort," said Pam McCullough, the assist special agent in charge of the FBI office in Honolulu.

Officials hope the pilot program being started in Hawai'i can be used as a model for other federal agencies across the nation next year, McCullough said.

Under the new Internet Safety Awards program, federal officials will encourage middle, intermediate and high school students to produce the public service video announcement that will warn teenagers about the dangers of cyber-bullying, plagiarism, privacy and online predators, officials said.

Individual winners and their schools will receive prizes from many of the big corporations and celebrities who have signed on to be sponsors of the program, said FBI special agent Arnold Laanui.

Kamehameha Schools senior Jolene Young said she thinks the contest will be popular because it involves kids talking to kids, rather than being preached to by adults.

"Teen-to-teen talk will work because teens listen to teens more than they do to adults," Young said.

Federal officials said the problem has been growing in Hawai'i and across the country. Last year four men were arrested and convicted in Hawai'i of soliciting sex online with minors, said U.S. Attorney Ed Kubo.

About one in seven youths have reported receiving a sexual solicitation over the Internet and about half say they have been bullied online. Sixty percent admit they have plagiarized material for book reports and essays, the FBI reported.

"This is where we have to draw the line," Kubo said.

For more information about the Internet Safety Awards Contest, go to www.internetsafetyawards.org. The deadline for entries is Jan. 22.