HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-12-04 Puna Eruption Student Art Contest Winners Announced -- press release
Diane L. Ley
Harry Kim
Director
Mayor
Riley Saito
Deputy Director
County of Hawai‘i
DEPARTMENT OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
25 Aupuni Street, Room 1301 Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720-4252
(808) 961-8366 Fax (808) 935-1205
E-mail: chresdev@hawaiicounty.gov
December 4, 2019
NEWS RELEASE
Media Contact: Tom Callis
Tom.Callis@hawaiicounty.gov
808-961-8729
Puna Eruption Art Contest Winners Announced
Six students were announced as winners in the Nā ‘Ōpio o Puna Art Contest
during a Wednesday meeting of the Hawai‘i County Council in Hilo.
Through the contest organized by Hawai‘i County’s K ī lauea eruption recovery
team and its partners, students attending high schools in Puna were invited to submit
original artwork illustrating what it means to be “Hawai‘i Island and Puna Strong.”
“They dug down deep and they reflected on how the K ī lauea eruption impacted
them, their families and their community,” said Puna Councilwoman Ashley
Kierkiewicz. “But beyond that, they wanted to celebrate what they feel makes Puna and
Hawai‘i Island strong.”
Each student is awarded an individual development account (IDA) with Hawaiian
Community Assets (HCA) in amounts of $250 for honorable mentions, $500 for third
place, $750 for second place and $1,000 for first place. The top three winners and their
families also receive a one-night stay at the Grand Naniloa Hotel courtesy of the hotel.
An IDA is a restricted matched savings account often used for university
expenses, career training, or entrepreneurial opportunities. The contest IDAs are
sponsored by Tetra Tech, SSFM International, Hawai‘i Alliance for Community-Based
Economic Development, and HCA.
The students will work with HCA to determine the parameters of their savings
goals.
Winners were determined by a selection committee consisting of Kierkiewicz,
Puna Councilman Matt Kaneali‘i-Kleinfelder, Recovery Officer Douglas Le, P ā hoa High
School alumnus and University of Hawaii at Hilo student Keinan Agonias, and Puna
Action Committee Vice-Chair Franny Brewer.
Hawai`i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer
“Today, you should have a little bit more confidence in proceeding through life
and in being part of your community,” commented Kaneali‘i-Kleinfelder.
The County will use this contest to explore an expanded pilot program to build
financial resilience across Puna through financial education and savings opportunities for
students and their ‘ohana.
Winners
First Place
“Love for Hawai‘i Island” by Jubilee Nelson Drakee of Hawaii Academy of Arts and
Science.
“The hands are kind of there to kind of hold the love for the island, in the heart, there is
what makes this island special from the mountain to the nene goose. These are some of
the things that I think make the island as amazing as it is and shows some of its colors
like in the flowers.”
Second Place
“Champagne Ponds” by Cayla Peat of Hawaii Academy of Arts and Science.
“This is a drawing of Champagne Ponds in Kapoho. … I grew up going here, and so did
most of the community. Even though it no longer exists, the community still finds ways
to come together.”
Third Place
“Howzit & A Hui Hou” by Janelle Chang of P ā hoa High School.
“At times we may need to say “howzit” (hello) to the new and “a hui hou” (till we meet
again) to the past we leave behind us. To be Puna and Hawai‘i Island Strong we must
remain united and have what we are known for, island pride!!”
Honorable Mentions
Tara Davis of Hawaii Academy of Arts and Science for “Shattered Faces.”
Travis Chai-Andrade of Kamehameha Schools for “Glowing Road.”
Serenity Waiki of P ā hoa Intermediate School for “As One Puna Hawaii.”
Group photo caption:
From left, Jubilee Nelson Drakee, Cayla Peat, Tara Davis, Serenity Waiki, Travis Chai-
Andrade, Janelle Chang, and Puna Councilwoman Ashley Kierkiewicz.