(BIVN) – Nā Leo TV is launching its 2026 Youth Media Challenge.
Big Island youth in grades 4th through 12th, and ages up to 24, are invited to create and share original media, with entries due by Sunday, November 1st. An awards ceremony will be held in December.
This is the third year of the Youth Media Challenge, which “gives young creators an opportunity to explore issues that matter to them while developing practical skills in storytelling, filmmaking, journalism, photography, digital art and animation,” a Nā Leo TV news release says.
“Too often, young people are talked about rather than given the opportunity to speak for themselves,” said Ashley Kierkiewicz, President and CEO of Nā Leo TV. “The Youth Media Challenge puts the camera, microphone, and creative process in their hands. We want to know what they see, what they care about, and what they have to say. Our kuleana is to give them the tools and the platform to share it.”
From the news release:
Participants select from 12 themes designed to encourage creativity, community awareness and exploration of Hawaiʻi Island. The 2026 themes are: Ola i ka Wai; Mind, Body & Well-Being; Road Safety; Community Changemakers; Emergency Preparedness; Community Stories & Issues; Environment & Sustainability; Arts & Creativity; Local History; Civic Life & Government; Kūpuna Manaʻo; and Teach Us Something.
Youth can explore any theme through one of six project formats: a 60-second public service announcement (PSA); 2- to 5-minute creative short film; 2- to 5-minute news story; original digital artwork; photo essay; or 30-second to 3-minute animation.
The expanded formats reflect the many ways young creators communicate today while making the challenge accessible to participants with different interests, skills, and levels of experience.
Participants select from 12 themes designed to encourage creativity, community awareness and exploration of Hawaiʻi Island. The 2026 themes are: Ola i ka Wai; Mind, Body & Well-Being; Road Safety; Community Changemakers; Emergency Preparedness; Community Stories & Issues; Environment & Sustainability; Arts & Creativity; Local History; Civic Life & Government; Kūpuna Manaʻo; and Teach Us Something.
Youth can explore any theme through one of six project formats: a 60-second public service announcement (PSA); 2- to 5-minute creative short film; 2- to 5-minute news story; original digital artwork; photo essay; or 30-second to 3-minute animation.
The expanded formats reflect the many ways young creators communicate today while making the challenge accessible to participants with different interests, skills, and levels of experience.
The Youth Media Challenge is divided into four age groups: Rising Creators for grades 4–5; Junior Visionaries for grades 6–8; Teen Trailblazers for grades 9–11; and Emerging Creators for grade 12 through age 24.
Since launching in 2024, the Youth Media Challenge has provided Hawaiʻi Island youth with a platform to share original work with their community. Six submissions from the 2024 and 2025 challenges have gone on to receive national recognition from the Alliance for Community Media, which represents hundreds of community media organizations throughout the United States.
“That national recognition shows our young people that a story created right here on Hawaiʻi Island can resonate far beyond our shores,” Kierkiewicz said. “But winning an award isn’t the only measure of success. We want participants to leave this experience more confident in their voice, more capable as creators, and excited to keep learning.”
Nā Leo TV will host a virtual Youth Media Challenge information session on Wednesday, September 23, from 3 to 4 p.m. via Zoom. The session will provide an overview of the challenge, project formats, themes, submission requirements, and resources available to participants.
Youth do not need to be experienced filmmakers or media creators to participate. The challenge is designed to encourage experimentation, skill-building, and original expression.
For complete Youth Media Challenge guidelines, theme information, examples, resources, Zoom information session registration, and submission details, visit naleo.tv/youthmedia.
The 2026 Youth Media Challenge is supported by the Dept. of Water Supply, Hawai‘i Dept. of Transportation, Hawai‘i County Civil Defense, KKL Collective, and Vibrant Hawai‘i.
