Moanalua’s media students nab wins at Olelo competition
Media and Communications students attended the Olelo Youth Xchange Student Video Competition awards ceremony April 20.
April 21, 2022
Moanalua High School’s media students made a strong showing at their recent state events.
The Media and Communications students received several honors at the 19th Annual Olelo Youth Xchange Student Video Competition this past week at the State Convention Center.
Media teacher Austin Zavala’s team of freshmen Trevor Takeno, Kira Kaneshiro and Chloe Fukumitsu won for their video in the “Elections and Voting” category.
Film teacher Mark Ikenaga’s students placed first in two categories: senior Easton Ikenaga for “Active Living and Healthy Places” and seniors Cole Tanaka, Sam Alog, and Brayden Hanakahi for “Storm Water Hero.”
Ikenaga said the students’ use of story was key to their winning videos.
“Story is the foundation of your video,” Ikenaga said. “Everything else should just complement what is being told.”
Leroy Makekau’s graphics students demonstrated their mastery of digital media by placing in several contests earlier this year. Senior Rachel Yang placed second in the Hawaii Association of Insurance Professionals poster contest, sophomore Nathan Yang placed third in the Clarence T. C. Ching Foundation poster contest, senior Rei Fukuchi won a Scholastic Art and Writing silver key for design, and junior Mikaylah-Lei Llaneza won a gold key for design in the same contest.
Always busy with in-class projects and community contests, Makekau’s students complete one project and then move on to another. As evidence, Makekau said 35 Moanalua students were this week named as finalists for the American Advertising Federation’s Pele Awards for their various graphic designs.
