Moving Us Forward

Create your vision! Participate in the 2010 Youth for Rail Poster Contest.

Summary. Your poster must articulate a positive message about rail transit. For example, your poster can communicate how rail transit offers fast, safe and reliable transportation for Honolulu residents, or that rail transit will enhance our quality of life. Or you can focus on how rail transit will benefit Hawaii’s economy, make us more energy efficient, and protect our environment. Or simply, how does transit benefit you and future generations? Ultimately, the topic of your poster is up to you.

Criteria. Your poster will be judged on the following factors: (1) creativity, (2) message, and (3) appeal.

Rules. You must be currently enrolled in high school in the state of Hawaii. The poster must be your own work. All entries must be submitted using our online submission form (see below). Your poster must be no more than 11″x17″ and 1 mb in size, and we must receive it no later than November 1, 2010 at 5:00 pm.

Awards. The winner will earn the following awards:

• You will win an iPod Touch.
• Your poster will appear in a local publication.
• Your poster will be posted online on MovingUsForward.org, the official youth website for the Honolulu Rail Transit project.
• And of course, you will receive bragging rights.

Educate Yourself. Before you begin, educate yourself. To learn more about the Honolulu Rail Transit system, or the benefits of rail transit in general, please visit:

• www.movingusforward.org
• www.honolulurailtransit.org
• www.publictransportation.org/takesusthere
• www.apta.com

Also, there are several more websites on the Internet that informs readers about the benefits of rail transit as well as sites on other rail transit systems throughout the world. Finally, you can visit the library at your school or the local, public library in your neighborhood, for more information.

Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann announced today that the federal environmental impact statement (FEIS) has been released, reaching another major milestone for the Honolulu rail transit project. The mayor made the announcement in front of media and hundreds of supporters chanting “Go Rail Go” at Honolulu Hale.

“We Will Ride,” a youth group that supports the rail project, also attended the historic event.

Hannemann says they’ve collected 99.6% of the money needed to fund the rail. He says people need the jobs now and that west Oahu is in dire need of traffic relief.

“The studies we’ve been doing, the research we have been engaged in, the public meetings, the public input, all of that has reached this point where they’re saying the community, the economic the social impact and benefits of rail are good to go in the final environmental impact statement” said Hannemann.

May 5, 2010

Mayor Mufi Hannemann presented awards to the student winners of the Youth for Rail art and ad contests.   Special recognition was given to art and graphics teacher, Todd Yoshizawa, whose students captured four of the top six awards.  Mililani High School was the overall champion.  Accepting the award on behalf of the school was Dr. John Brummel.

3rd Place, Ad Contest: Taliya Hayes, Jesse Bayot & Nicole Mckewen for "Transition to the Future"

2nd Place, Ad Contest: Heather Saenz & Patrika Silva for "Moving Us Forward"

1st Place, Ad Contest: Brennan Mata& Chelsie Mangca-Valdez for "Transition to the Future"

1st Place, Art Contest: Edward Birtodaso for "Moving Us Forward". (Edward's mother accepted on his behalf.)

Special Award to Art & Graphics Teacher, Todd Yoshizawa

Overall Champion, Mililani HS. Accepting the award: Dr. John Brummel

April 4, 2010

A group of more than 100 high school and college students voiced their support for the Honolulu Rail Transit project by submitting a letter to the editors of the Honolulu Advertiser and Honolulu Star-Bulletin.  This letter was subsequently published.

            HUNDREDS ATTEND MAYOR’S “SMART” YOUTH SUMMIT 2010

Rail transit and improving Oahu was the topic of the day at the Leeward Community College auditorium.  Nearly 300 students  from 30 elementary schools, high schools and colleges gathered to learn about the Honolulu Rail Transit Project at the Mayor’s SMART Youth Summit. SMART stands for “Save Money And Ride Transit.” 

Watch the virtual studio highlight video from the Youth Summit by clicking here.
View photos of Youth Summit student participants by clicking here.

The free summit brought together students on a Furlough Friday. The day’s educational activities featured speakers on environment and energy, the Honowai Elementary robotics team, displays from the rail youth poster contest, a “Transit 101” video, videos produced by the Waianae Seariders student video team, a virtual train ride, breakout groups and moderated discussions.

Local entertainer Augie T emceed the event and Mayor Mufi Hannemann delivered the keynote address.

“I heard loud and clear that young people are fired up about rail and want it to happen,” said Hannemann. “They are as tired of traffic congestion as adults are and they recognize rail will help ease rush hour traffic in the future. I also saw a strong sense of ownership about rail and creating a more sustainable Oahu. Young people want green, energy-efficient transportation options like rail for their future.”

Hannemann remarked he is committed to creating a new curriculum with the UH Community Colleges to train local residents for jobs operating and maintaining the elevated rail line and train fleet.

RADIO SPOTS

Visit the 2009 Student Art Gallery by clicking below.  The artistic interpretations by students in the “Youth for Rail” art contest do not necessarily depict the technology planned for the city’s rail transit project.  The art contest was open to all high schools students throughout Hawaii, and students were provided creative freedom in expressing their vision of a future rail transit system for Honolulu.

→ Visit the 2009 Student Gallery

→ KHON2 announces our Student Winners

Congratulations to Edward Birtodaso of Mililani High School for winning 1st Place and to Kathryn Pagaragan Farrington High School for placing 2nd.

Edward Birtodaso (Mililani HS)Kathryn Pagaragan (Farrington HS)

Kathryn Pagaragan (Farrington HS)

Visit the 2009 Student Ad Gallery by clicking below.  The artistic interpretations by students in the “Youth for Rail” ad contest do not necessarily depict the technology planned for the city’s rail transit project.  The ad contest was open to all high schools students throughout Hawaii, and students were provided creative freedom in expressing their vision of a future rail transit system for Honolulu.

→ Visit the 2009 Student Gallery

→ KHON2 announces our Student Winners

Congratulations to Mililani High School seniors Chelsie Mangca-Valdez and Brennan Mata for winning 1st Place.

Brennan Mata and Chelsie Mangca-Valdez (Mililani HS)

Photo by Cindy Ellen Russell | Honolulu Star Bulletin

Mayor Mufi Hannemann delivered a “State of the Rail” speech, where he praised the collaborative work of city, state and federal officials.  Before a live audience that included members of the Hawaii State Legislature and Honolulu City Council; past and present transportation officials; community, business and labor leaders; and teachers and students, Mayor Hannemann discussed the milestones that the Honolulu rail transit project has achieved over the past four years and the remaining steps before groundbreaking can take place.

Mayor Hannemann reminded us of the benefits of rail transit:  improving the quality of life for Honolulu residents, creating thousands of jobs, reducing our energy consumption, protecting the environment, and providing a safe and reliable transportation system that will benefit all of us as well as future generations.

The speech took place at the historic Mission Memorial Auditorium, and was originally televised on KGMB and KHNL on October 29, 2009, and KFVE the following evening.  It will be re-aired on Olelo Channel 54, at 6:30 pm every Monday in November.

You can watch a web video of the speech now or read the transcript.

The Honolulu Rail Transit team has launched a youth website.  Our youngest generation will benefit the most from a rail transit system that will provide safe, reliable transportation, improve our economy, make us more energy-efficient, protect our environment, and enhance the quality of life in Hawaii for generations.

We value your input and your questions. Please feel free to ask us any questions you may have about the project. Or share with us your insights and ideas. Together, we can keep moving forward.