Ka Mo'i, the student newspaper for Kamehameha Schools' Kapalama campus, took on issues such as the Akaka bill, the challenge to Kamehameha's Hawaiian's-first admission policy and the refusal of Army 1st Lt. Ehren Watada to deploy to Iraq to win the state's top high school journalism award.

Ka Mo'i placed second in the Hawai'i State High School Journalism Awards last year. But this year, the staff edged Nanakuli High School's Ka Leo O Nanakuli by one point for the title of "Best In State."

Hawai'i Baptist Academy's Eagle Eye newspaper placed third this year. Farrington High School won this year's top award for best single issue.

The awards honor student newspapers on all islands in categories that include editorial, feature, sports and news writing, layout and design, photography and illustration.

At Kamehameha's Kapalama campus, Ka Mo'i's 23 staff members also regularly report on topics such as proms and sports events in each month's edition, said Abigail Trenhaile, Ka Mo'i's 17-year-old editor-in-chief.

But it's the touchier subjects that have taught the students journalism lessons such as balance, fairness and objectivity, Trenhaile said.

"You have to be very careful what you say," Trenhaile said.

Ka Mo'i's staff members sometimes work until midnight, she said, and treat their journalism responsibilities like a part-time job.

"It's nice to be recognized for the individual amount of hours our students put in," said Ka Mo'i's faculty adviser, Lionel Barona.

Kamehameha Schools last won in 1970, said Advertiser editor Mark Platte, who presented the award.

The awards were handed out yesterday at The Pagoda Hotel and are sponsored by the Hawai'i Publishers Association, The Honolulu Advertiser and Honolulu Star-Bulletin.

THE WINNERS

BEST IN STATE

1. Kamehameha Schools-Kapalama Campus, Ka Mo'i, Lionel Barona, adviser; 2. Nanakuli High School, Ka Leo O Nanakuli, Robin Kitsu, adviser; 3. Hawai'i Baptist Academy, Eagle Eye, Elaine Olson, adviser


2007 MERIT AWARD-BEGINNING DIVISION

Kamehameha Schools-Maui Campus, Ka Leo O Na Koa, Kye Haina, adviser


2007 MERIT AWARD-INTERMEDIATE DIVISION

Mililani High School, The Trojan Times, Christopher Sato, adviser


2007 MERIT AWARD-ESTABLISHED DIVISION

'Iolani School, Imua Iolani, Karin Swanson, adviser


BEST EDITORIAL WRITING

Castle High School — Windward District
Kaiser High School — Honolulu Public Schools
Hawai'i Baptist Academy — Honolulu Private Schools
Kaua'i High School — Kaua'i District
Lahainaluna High School — Maui District
Mililani High School — Central District — STATE WINNER
Nanakuli High & Intermediate School and Pearl City High School — Leeward District
Waiakea High School — Hawai'i District


BEST FEATURE WRITING

Castle High School and Kahuku High & Intermediate School — Windward District
Kaimuki High School — Honolulu Public Schools
Kamehameha Schools-Kapalama — Honolulu Private Schools
Kapa'a High School — Kaua'i District
Kohala High School — Hawai'i District
Lahainaluna High School — Maui District
Moanalua High School — Central District
Nanakuli High & Intermediate School — Leeward District — STATE WINNER
Pearl City High School — Leeward District
Radford High School — Central District


BEST LAYOUT & DESIGN

Farrington High School — Honolulu Public Schools
Kalaheo High School — Windward District
Kamehameha Schools-Maui — Maui District
Kapa'a High School — Kaua'i District
Kohala High School — Hawai'i District
Moanalua High School — Central District
St. Andrew's Priory — Honolulu Private Schools
Wai'anae High School — Leeward District — STATE WINNER


BEST NEWS WRITING

Castle High School — Windward District
'Iolani School — Honolulu Private Schools
Kaiser High School — Honolulu Public Schools — STATE WINNER
Kapa'a High School — Kaua'i District
Kohala High School — Hawai'i District
Lahainaluna High School — Maui District
Mililani High School — Central District
Nanakuli High & Intermediate School, Pearl City High School and Waipahu High School — Leeward District


BEST PHOTOGRAPHY

Castle High School — Windward District
Kaiser High School — Honolulu Public Schools — STATE WINNER
Kamehameha Schools-Kapalama — Honolulu Private Schools
Kamehameha Schools-Maui — Maui District
Kapa'a High School — Kaua'i District
Nanakuli High & Intermediate School — Leeward District
Waialua High & Intermediate School — Central District


BEST SPORTS WRITING

Castle High School — Windward District
Kaimuki High School — Honolulu Public Schools
Kapa'a High School — Kaua'i District
Lahainaluna High School — Maui District
Moanalua High School — Central District
Nanakuli High & Intermediate School — Leeward District
Punahou School — Honolulu Private Schools — STATE WINNER
Waiakea High School — Hawai'i District


BEST ILLUSTRATION

Farrington High School — Honolulu Public Schools
Kaua'i High School — Kaua'i District
'Iolani School — Honolulu Private Schools
Moanalua High School — Central District
Pearl City High School — Leeward District — STATE WINNER


BEST SINGLE ISSUE

Farrington High School — Honolulu Public Schools

Reach Dan Nakaso at dnakaso@honoluluadvertiser.com.