The Waikiki real estate market is facing a number of quick changes and legal proceedings. This is the same volatility seen in the larger Hawaii real estate market, which is proving increasingly difficult to predict or track. According to a May 21, 2010 article from KITV News, “Kyo-ya, the owner of Sheraton Hotels, wants to build two new high-rise towers in Waikiki. One would replace the Moana Surfrider’s oceanfront diamond head tower. The other would replace the lowrise structures at the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani Hotel across Kalakaua Avenue.” The piece went on to say that “Some have called it a major improvement to this aging side of Waikiki, but Local 5, which represents hotel workers, has filed a lawsuit against Kyo-ya to stop the project until the company clarifies exactly what it wants to build. The union said the environmental impact statement that the company gave to the city isn’t clear.”

One familiar symbol of downtown Waikiki, the International Market Place, is slated to undergo a renovation, one that will likely have a positive impact on surrounding Waikiki homes and condos for sale. According to a May 22, 2010 article in the Honolulu Star Bulletin, “A real estate investment firm was selected to look into developing the International Market Place in Waikiki, pushing forward the on-again, off-again plans to redevelop the Waikiki bazaar.” The piece by Gene Park continued to state that “Michigan-based Taubman Centers Inc. signed an agreement with owner Queen Emma Land Co. to evaluate the market feasibility and physical and regulatory requirements to develop an open-air shopping center…Queen Emma Land Co. owns the 2.9-acre property and owns 18.5 acres total in Waikiki.”
This same good news for Waikiki real estate was reported in a May 21, 2010 article from Pacific Business News. This piece echoed the article from the Star Bulletin, saying that “Queen Emma Land co. has signed an agreement with two Mainland firms to study the feasibility of redeveloping the International market Place in Waikiki…Taubman has partnered on the feasibility studies with CoastWood Capital Group LLC, a San Francisco real estate investment firm that acquires, manages and develops mostly retail properties.”

The Hawaii Student Film Festival (HSFF) is a nonprofit organization through its fiscal agent The Alliance for Culture & Arts, filed with the Hawaii Community Foundation, Federal ID number: 99-0287137.  HSFF is more than an annual festival, HSFF has four primary initiatives: 1) YEAR-ROUND STUDENT OUTREACH PROGRAMS; 2) HSTV (HAWAII STUDENT TELEVISION; 3) HSFF WEB SITE; and 4) ANNUAL HAWAII STUDENT FILM FESTIVAL.

Through our nine carefully integrated student outreach programs, available to more than 400 public and private schools statewide, we have provided services and resources to students, organizations and professionals such as the Hawaii Department of Education Career Pathways, Hawaii Department of Education Teleschool, University of Hawaii, Chaminade University, Kamehameha Schools, Radford high school, Farrington High School, Boys and Girls Club of Hawaii, Big Brothers Big Sister of Honolulu, Pamela Young of KITV4, and Emme Tomimbang of Emme’s Island Moments, among many others.

We have developed the first and largest Web site ever to fit Hawaii film and video students’ needs, with the largest online student film and television resource center in the state.  The Web site also posts internships, jobs and events.  HSFF provides local and Hollywood film and television professionals for mentoring and to visit schools to inspire and educate students, such as producers Richard Holland (former V.P. UNIVERSAL PICTURES and ABC) and Peter Saphier (LOST IN SPACE and JAWS), among many others. These industry professionals are also willing to consider Hawaii student submissions for possible representation, distribution, and production considerations.

HBO, INDEPENDENT FILM CHANNEL, NETWORK MEDIA, HAWAII MEDIA INTERNATIONAL, among other local and international television broadcast distributors, have teamed up with HSFF to provide broadcast consideration opportunities to Hawaii film and video students.

HSTV (HAWAII STUDENT TELEVISION) a year-round Hawaii Student Film Festival outreach program gives Hawaii’s students (and their schools) hands-on production experience, financial assistants and broadcast exposure while they learn.  Businesses and organizations now have the opportunity to have their events, programs, PSA’s, and educational or inspirational messages produced into a video by local students, under the guidance and mentoring of experienced film and television professionals, and televised statewide through HSFF’s broadcast alliances.

And last, but not least, the annual Hawaii Student Film Festival. Since 1999, the Hawaii Student Film Festival has become the largest student film festival in Hawaii.  HSFF considers video and film submissions from the more than 400 public and private schools, elementary through college level, located across the Hawaiian Islands. This year’s festival was held on May 28, 2005, at the 50th State Fair. Hawaii’s AMERICAN IDOL JORDAN SEGUNDO performed, presented an award and signed autographs. The local student/teen cast from NBC/DISCOVER CHANNEL’S 29 DOWN presented awards.  Sassy/G Magazine and the Hyper Squad Dance Company provide youth entertainment to more than 500 attendees, which included students, teachers, schools, family members, youth organizations, community leaders, State Senators and local celebrities.  Awards were given to the best student works in several categories. The Festival and winning student films/videos are televised locally, and winners are eligible for national distribution.
We look forward to having you aboard.

Sincerely,

Hawaii Student Film Festival