ANAHOLA — It’s not a rerun, more like a return to old fashioned fun. The television show “Gamekids” is set to return to a channel near you, and a host of Kauai students are part of the featured performers who
ANAHOLA — It’s not a rerun, more like a return to old fashioned fun.
The television show “Gamekids” is set to return to a channel near you, and a host of Kauai students are part of the featured performers who will sing, dance and play their way in televisions across Hawaii and the world.
“It’s really fun,” said 9-year-old Lele Gonzalez, a Kanuikapono Charter School student who will take part in the program. “We sing, we play games, we talk about what it’s about.”
Gonzales and other Kauai students have been busy rehearsing for the relaunch of the popular TV show.
“Our theme back then and now remains the same,” said Rennie Mau, Gamekids director and executive producer. “Online, offline, go out and play!”
Gamekids started in 1993 as a website that featured non-computer, traditional and contemporary games and activities from nations across the world to get other children interested in being active.
The website received 1 million hits a month and earned numerous awards.
It later developed into a digital magazine and TV show, which aired throughout the world.
In Hawaii, the show aired on Time Warner Cable’s channel Ocean 16 five times a week from 2005 until 2007.
The TV series was a Pacific-based program that showcased the acting and singing talents of multiple children throughout Hawaii and Oceania.
Media Bridge Productions is looking forward to working with such children throughout Hawaii to bring the TV show back.
The children featured on Kauai will be the production’s sixth and main cast.
Mau is working with middle schoolers from across Kauai between the ages 8 and 12 and is teaching them multiple songs, dances, jokes and games in addition to acting, camera and speaking skills to prepare them for the show where they will teach other kids to have fun and be active.
Mau has published both teen and child productions for the past 30 years for various companies.
Mau said the Kauai production, which will air worldwide June 1, will focus on the four Fs of multiculturalism and diversity — food, fashion, festival and folklore.
”I think there’s a side to play that teaches creativity and imagination, problem solving and team building,” Mau said. “One of the components of Gamekids is to learn how children play in different cultures and sometimes you don’t need expensive toys to play.”
Some of the activities the students play include Chinese jump rope, bubbles and tag.
Many of the kids are enjoying what they’ve learned through Gamekids, including third-grader Eden Green.
”I love it,” she said. “I like it all.”
Fellow Gamekids actor, third-grader Atticus Fleming, agreed.
”I love it, it’s really fun,” he said. “You get to go on all these cool excursions, you get to sing fun songs, you get to go into movies but we haven’t done any of that yet.”
Students will show what they’ve leaned at Anahola’s Prince Kuhio Day Celebration at 12:30 p.m. Saturday.
”They’re really excited,” Mau said. “Some of them are much more aware of the TV. Some of them don’t know what it’s like to be a star. You don’t really know until you’ve experienced it yourself.”
