Each year Hawaii recognizes a student journalist of the year. Congratulations to the 2024 HiJOY winner, Devin Panalal of ‘Iolani School.  Second place goes to Shane Kaneshiro of McKinley High School. Third place goes to Charlize Pilialoha Gaudiello of Mid-Pacific Institute.

To enter, the student must be a senior who has been involved in student journalism for at least one year. The journalist could work for their school newspaper, yearbook, broadcast media, etc. They must make a digital portfolio providing evidence and reflection on Reporting/Writing, Editing/Leadership/Teamwork, and Law/Ethics/News Literacy, plus evidence from one choice category: Design, Commitment to Diversity, Broadcast Journalism, Photojournalism, Web/Social Media, or Marketing/Audience Engagement.

The Hawaii Chapter of the Asian American Journalists Association provided monetary prizes. AAJA is an organization that supports Asian American and Pacific Islander representation in the newsroom and strives for equitable and accurate coverage of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and AAPI issues.

First place earned $250, second place earned $150, and third place earned $100. This is the first year HiJOY has awarded third place. This was possible because more than six students entered the contest.

Panalal has worked for Imua ‘Iolani for five years. This year, he is Overall Editor-in-Chief. Panalal’s advisers are Lindsey Combs and Jade Higa. Panalal will represent Hawaii in the national Journalism Education Association’s Journalist of the Year contest.

In his HiJOY personal narrative, Panalal shared the experience of his first story assignment – a double truck featuring students in ‘Iolani’s residential life program who came from places across the globe.  

After the reporting process and beginning to design the pages, Panalal wrote, “I hit a major road bump. How do I tell these students’ stories so that they appeal to all the other students who read my page?”

He landed on using travel tags and wrote, “The design change enabled me to make a clear connection with my audience.”

Here are a few comments the judges made on Panalal’s portfolio:

• “Even though you say that design was a difficult journey for you, it appears that you have mastered it. Your layouts show the type of attention to detail that makes your work stand out. I also enjoyed hearing your reflections on how you arrived at the eventual designs.”
• “I think this student is very talented and will be able to take these skills on display in this portfolio and do whatever he wants with them. But I do hope he pursues journalism, because it seems like its second-hand nature.”

Kaneshiro has worked for McKinley High School’s The Pinion since his freshman year. In  his senior  year, he is editor-in-chief. Kaneshiro’s adviser is Cynthia Reves.

In his personal narrative, Kaneshiro shared that he did not enter his Newswriting class with a passion for writing and journalism. But he did enter with a passion for history, in particular WWII.

He wrote that he realized “journalists are the ones who document history for future generations. … What I appreciate from this journalism journey is how I have a passion for history more than ever. Being a part of a historical school and with its archived newspaper collection opened my eyes to how fortunate I am to be able to access a century of recorded history.”

Here are a few comments the judges made on Kaneshiro’s portfolio.

• “You have a dedication to delve into the stories that count for McKinley students. You interview a lot of people for a story to make sure all views are represented.”
• “The way you were able to grow with each new experience is admirable. Your portfolio reflects total commitment to your craft and represents a range and wealth of experience.”

Gaudiello joined Mid-Pac’s Na Pueo her freshman year and is now editor-in-chief. Gaudiello’s adviser is Roland Nipps.

In her personal narrative, Gaudiello shared an experience having something she wrote edited by a guest speaker.

Gaudiello wrote, “Having entered class that day pretty confident in my story, the feeling of defeat I felt by the end was unexpected.”

But she revised that article, which went on to be recognized by Best of SNO for Opinion Writing.

Gaudiello wrote, “Through hard work, intense focus, and experiencing one of the most uncomfortable moments as a student journalist, I was able to create something that I was truly proud of. Not only did this experience mold the way I view my own stories, it made me a better mentor, editor and peer in the newsroom.”

Here are a few comments the judges made on Gaudiello’s porfolio.

• “This student is edgy and provocative in their reporting and newswriting, and I appreciate it so much to read articles about Micronesian students, the LGBTQ+ students and others who may otherwise be marginalized.”
• “Your commitment to diversity is stellar. It’s clear that you go out of your way to cover important issues of race and gender equally.”
• “Your writing style is conversational, and there seems to be no topic you won’t tackle.”

Honorable Mention goes to Joseph Mai of McKinley High School, Josephine Brewer of Mid-Pacific Institute, Jolene Palijo of Waipahu High School (adviser, Ray Anne Nicole Galzote) and Paige Lum of Sacred Hearts Academy (adviser, Alyssa Myers).

In addition to support from Hawaii AAJA, the 2024 HiJOY was supported by five local judges:

• John Burnett, senior reporter, Hawaii Tribune-Herald, Hilo
• Tiffany Edwards Hunt, Keaau Middle School student activities coordinator, leadership teacher, and Greenwaves Gazette student newspaper adviser; Big Island Press Club vice president and Scholarship Committee chairwoman
• Nathanial Gronewold, University of Hawaii at Manoa
• Kye Haina, journalism adviser, Ka Leo o Nā Koa, Kamehameha Schools Maui
• Stirling Morita, president of the Hawaii Professional Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists and retired night city editor for the Honolulu Star-Advertiser

If you are a high school journalist or adviser, you can learn more about HiJOY here.