NLTV Workshops
The NLTV Creative Media Workshop Series 2026 is designed to strengthen Hawai‘i Island’s creative workforceby making high-quality media education accessible to our community. Whether you're a young person exploring a creative career, an emerging storyteller building your skills, or a working creative looking to sharpen your craft, these workshops are designed to help you grow.
Throughout the year, our team will partner with industry professionals to lead hands-on workshops covering a variety of creative media topics, giving participants practical skills they can immediately apply to personal projects, careers, and community storytelling.
Thanks to an Impact Grant from the County ‘s Dept. of Research & Development, all specialized workshops are offered free of charge in 2026. Be sure to subscribe to our e-newsletter to be the first to know when new workshops are announced and registration opens.
Drone Operations
HILO: Thursday, Aug. 13 – 9AM to 12PM at Nā Leo TV Hilo Studio
KONA: Friday, Aug. 14 – 9AM to 12PM at Nā Leo TV Kona Studio
This workshop combines classroom instruction with real-world demonstrations to introduce participants to the fundamentals of drone flight, FAA regulations, aerial cinematography, and professional drone applications. Whether you're curious about using drones for filmmaking, photography, agriculture, public safety, mapping, or inspections, you'll gain a solid foundation in responsible drone operation.
Topics include: Drone types and their real-world uses; Recreational vs. commercial pilots and the FAA Part 107 certification; drone regulations; Flight planning, weather, and airspace authorization; Safe operating practices and common mistakes to avoid; Aerial composition and cinematic techniques; Professional applications in media production and emergency response.
The workshop also features insights from working drone pilots: Chris Parayno (cinematic aerial storytelling and composition), Kyle Douglas (drone production for live events and commercial projects), and Tyson Goo (drone applications in the fire service and emergency response).
The class will conclude with an outdoor demonstration. Seating is limited.
Social Media? Like, why?
A Four-Part Social Media Marketing Cohort for Hawai‘i Island Small Businesses and Nonprofits with Social Media Marketing Gurus Makana Waikiki (ForTheMo’o) and Jeremy Kalima (Prime Footage/Nā Leo TV)
Posting just to post? Wondering whether your social media is actually doing anything for your organization?
Social Media? Like, Why?(yes, read that in your best valley girl accent) is a four-part learning experience designed to help Hawai‘i Island small businesses and nonprofits become more intentional about how they show up online.
Rather than chasing trends or worrying about likes, participants will dig into their organization’s mo‘olelo, identify the audiences they want to reach, and learn how to turn their goals into thoughtful, engaging content and campaigns.
Session 1: Understanding Your Moʻolelo. Get clear about who you are, what you want people to know about your organization, who you're trying to reach, and the stories that make your work worth following.
Session 2: Creating Content. Turn strategy into action. Explore content planning, storytelling, engagement, and practical approaches for creating social media that connects with your audience and supports your goals.
One-on-One: Strategic Mapping. Each participating organization will receive an individual consultation to develop a social media campaign based on its unique goals, audience, and capacity. We'll also prepare you for the final Hō‘ike.
Hō‘ike: Share What You Created. Come back together to share your campaign, what you learned, early results, and where you plan to take your social media strategy next.
Sessions 1, 2, and 4 are on Wednesdays, from 9-11AM at the Nā Leo TV Studio in Hilo. Session 3 is a one-on-one consultation scheduled at your convenience.
Small Business Cohort: Session 1 (Aug. 19), Session 2 (Aug. 26), One-on-one consultation scheduled between Late August to early September, Session 4 (Sept. 16 Hō‘ike).
Nonprofit Cohort: Session 1 (Oct. 7), Session 2 (Oct. 14), One-on-one consultation scheduled between Mid-to-late October, Session 4 (Nov. 4 Hō‘ike).
COME AS A TEAM!
This program is designed to create change within an organization – not just build the skills of one person. Each participating organization must commit at least two team members to the cohort, including the person who currently manages or contributes to the organization’s social media.
Space is intentionally limited to allow for hands-on learning and individualized support. Participating teams should plan to attend all sessions, complete their one-on-one consultation, and develop a campaign during the program.
Upcoming Creative Media Workshops
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Podcast Essentials
September 2026 - Hilo & Kona
This podcast production course focuses on the technical skills needed to produce and edit a podcast from start to finish. Led by NLTV’s Jasmine Gardner, JE Orozco, and Lia-Licine Cary, with special guest, Heston Ka‘aihue, host of the Good Times Hawai‘i podcast.
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Advanced Editing
September 2026 - Hilo & Kona
Ready to elevate your editing skills? Join David Alvarez and Chris Parayno for a to explore advanced post-production techniques in DaVinci Resolve. Learn efficient editing workflows, the fundamentals of color grading, and storytelling techniques that will help you craft more polished and compelling productions.
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Graphic Design
September 2026 – Hilo & Kona
Bring your ideas to life through great design. Join Kellie Miyazu in Hilo or Kuʻuhiapo Jeong in Kona for a hands-on workshop covering the fundamentals of graphic design, including design principles, typography, branding, and visual communication using industry-standard tools. Leave with practical skills and the confidence to create polished, professional-quality designs.
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Animation
October 2026 – Hilo & Kona
Join Renata Ballo and Rianne Empaynado for an introduction to digital animation tools and techniques. Participants will create animated works for NLTV projects, and leave with skills to add this technique to their work. iPads will be provided, but participants also welcome to bring their own.
