HONOLULU - Handmade bird puppets, lab scientist costumes, mo?olelo, and animated infographics are just some of the tools that K-12 students across Hawai?i used to create video projects about forest birds as part of the 2024 ??lelo Youth Xchange Video Challenge. The video contest, run by ??lelo Community Media, includes a video category called “Makahiki o N? Manu Nahele: Year of the Forest Birds,” sponsored by the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW).
 
Twenty-four student groups submitted videos for the forest bird category, which were reviewed by judges and narrowed down to nine finalists, including three from elementary schools, three from middle schools, and three from high schools. On Tuesday, those students gathered with finalists from 13 other categories for ??lelo’s award show at Hilton Hawaiian Village.

“Seeing students share their voices to talk about the importance of native birds in Hawai?i is so inspiring,” said Dr. Josh Atwood, Information and Education Specialist for DOFAW. “They did a lot of research to produce these videos. You get the sense from these videos that even if they haven’t seen these birds in person, the students take pride in them as part of what makes these islands special.”

The top-ranked videos were submitted by Pearl City Highlands Elementary School, Kaimuk? Middle School, and ‘Alo K?hau o ka ??ina Mauna High School. At Tuesday’s award ceremony, student video creators were invited on stage to receive trophies.

“Participating in the contest was a way to further Hawaiian language and learn more about the birds of Hawai?i,” shared Kaniele Tubon, from ‘Alo K?hau o ka ??ina Mauna on Hawai?i Island. “Because they were one of the first inhabitants to live here, even before humans, it’s important to be able to protect them and help them live on,” she said.

“I love that people visiting our website can now learn about these birds directly from Hawai?i’s students,” added Atwood. “They are the future of conservation in Hawai?i –keiki who will grow up to inherit the results of our actions today. Who better to tell us what’s important to protect?”