You'll see the five teens in Youth Speaks Hawai'i who won first place at the Brave New Voices International Youth Poetry Slam Festival last year on HBO in a series that begins tonight. The Hawai'i team makes a first appearance next week.

Will Giles of Hawai'i Kai, Alaka'i Kotrys of Kunia, Jocelyn Ng of Kaimuki, Jamaica Osorio of Palolo Valley and Ittai Wong of Kailua are featured throughout "Russell Simmons Presents Brave New Voices," a seven-episode series.

"What we're really hoping is that (the show) expands our program's ability to reach more kids," said Lyz Soto, executive director of Youth Speaks Hawai'i, "and that it also gives the kids who participated an opportunity to share the work that they've done as individuals."

Described as one part Def Poetry Jam and two parts documentary, the "Brave New Voices" series features young spoken-word artists from around the country. The show follows teens preparing to compete in the 2008 Brave New Voices poetry slam, which drew more than 500 teens for four days in July in Washington, D.C.

Back here in the Islands, Youth Speaks Hawai'i's Grand Slam Final takes place at 7 p.m. Saturday, in the Kaimuki High School auditorium. The event determines who'll be on the team for this year's Brave New Voices poetry slam festival in Chicago.

For more information, visit www.myspace.com/youthspeakshawaii.