Salutes

Advertiser Staff

Art semifinalists announced

Congressman Ed Case announced the 10 O'ahu semifinalists who will represent their island in the upcoming statewide high school congressional art contest, Kaha Ki'i: An Artistic Discovery. The semifinalists include:

First place, Lisa Ballesteros, Leilehua; second, Kyle Takiguchi, Castle; third, Tiarre Tenorio, Kapolei; Mayor's award, Kira Enoki, Castle; County Council award, Brandon Eum, Leilehua; State Department of Education award, Michelle Decierdo, Kapolei; Sean Connelly, Castle; Corby Plumb, Leilehua; Amanda Vaughan, Leilehua; and Chelsea Maeda, Castle.

The grand prize winner, who will be announced in a ceremony on Kaua'i May 24, and his or her art teacher, will win a trip to Washington, D.C., in June. The winner's work will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year.

Young artists honored

The first- and second-place grade winners in the 2003 Hawai'i Civil Rights Art Contest were awarded on April 22 and include:

• Fourth grade: First place, Adayna Wong-Sagiao, Kauluwela; second, Kristen M.K. Santos, Pearl City Highlands.
• Fifth grade: First place, Charlene Malapitan, Thomas Jefferson; second (tie), Zachary Smith, Wheeler, and Melodie Shuler, Lehua.
• Sixth grade: First place (tie), Shearamie Esteban, Kapalama, and Kristina Kam, Nu'uanu.

First-place winners each receive $50, plus $100 for their class. Second-place winners get $25, plus $50 for their class.

The subject of the contest was, "What can we do in our daily lives to promote civil rights and diversity in our society?" The event is co-sponsored by the Hawai'i Civil Rights Commission, Japanese American Citizens League-Honolulu Chapter, the University of Hawai'i Student Excellence, Equity, and Diversity Program, the National Industry Liaison Group, and the Hawai'i Justice Foundation.

Teen writers win HPU awards

Three Hawai'i high school students received writing awards that included cash and a tuition waiver from Hawai'i Pacific University at the 20th annual honors banquet, April 6 at the Hawai'i Prince Hotel.

First-place winner Jeffrey Todd Lawi of Iolani School was awarded more than $8,000 for his essay, "End of the Rainbow." Calla Lee Luera of Kea'au High School on the Big Island won more than $5,000 for her work entitled, "The Difference." Third-place winner Allison Brown, also from Kea'au High School, was granted nearly $3,000 for her essay, "He'e Nalu: Hawai'i's Gift of Surfing."

Hotel receives diversity award

The Hilton Waikoloa Village Resort has received the 2003 Hilton Hotels and Resorts Diversity Award as the hotel with the most outstanding diversity initiatives in the community among the Hilton's 230 full-service hotels across the United States, Canada and Mexico for its philanthropic program, Na Lima Hana (Helping Hands.)

Each year, the more than 1,000 team members volunteer their time and commit to at least one local event or program. Last year, Na Lima Hana raised more than $100,000 for various community outreach organizations, including the Dolphin Days Charities, Hawai'i United Way, and the Waikoloa Marine Life Fund.