Nā Leo TV launches 2026 Youth Media Challenge

Nā Leo TV — Hawaiʻi Island’s community media center and public, educational and governmental access television station — is fYoor the third year invites Big Island youths up to age 24 years old to turn their ideas, perspectives and stories into original media and participate in this years Youth Media Challenge.

Those young creators who are part of the annual Challenge get to display their artwork while at the same time letting the island and beyond know what matters to them the most.

“Too often, young people are talked about rather than given the opportunity to speak for themselves,” said Nā Leo TV President and Chief Executive Officer Ashley Kierkiewicz.

Youth Media Challenge gives participants an opportunity to explore their priority issues while developing practical skills in storytelling, filmmaking, journalism, photography, digital art and animation.

“Youth Media Challenge puts the camera, microphone and creative process in their hands,” Kierkiewicz said. “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.”

Deadline to submit entries is Nov. 1. Winners will be honored during an awards ceremony in December.

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 and Well-Being.
• Road Safety.
• Community Changemakers.
• Emergency Preparedness.
• Community Stories and Issues.
• Environment and Sustainability.
• Arts and Creativity.
• Local History.
• Civic Life and Government.
• Kūpuna Manaʻo.
• Teach Us Something.

Youth also can explore any theme through one of 6 project formats:

• 60-second public service announcement.
• 2- to 5-minute creative short film.
• 2- to 5-minute news story.
• Original digital artwork.
• Photo essay.
• 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.

Youth Media Challenge is divided into four age groups:

• Rising Creators for students in grades 4 and 5.
• Junior Visionaries for students in grades 6 through 8.
• Teen Trailblazers for students in grades 9 through 11.
• Emerging Creators for students in grade 12 and young adults through age 24 years old.

The Challenge since launching in 2024 provided Hawaiʻi Island youth with a platform to share original work with their community.

Six submissions from the 2024 and 2025 challenges advanced 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 an online Youth Media Challenge information session from 3 to 4 p.m. Sept. 23 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.

Visit the Nā Leo TV website for complete Youth Media Challenge guidelines and details, theme information, examples, resources, Zoom information session registration and submission details.

Links to select national award-winning submissions:

• “Prepare Now, You Silly Goose!” (Hilo High School).
• “Harvesting a Better Tomorrow” (Kealakehe High School).
• “Tides of Change” (Kealakehe High School).
• “There are Always Signs” (Hawai‘i Academy of Arts & Science).