A 16-year-old Aiea boy won Aloha Tower Marketplace's third annual Ukulele Contest, today. Chris Salvador beat out 21 other contestants for the title, and will become a representative of the 2009 Aloha Festivals.

In addition, Salvador won a Kamaka concert ukulele and a concert ukulele case from the Hawaiian Ukulele Company.

All participants were judged on instrumental ability, stage presence, rhythm/timing, and overall performance.

Second place went to Kirk Shimabukuro of Hilo, who won a KoAloha concert ukulele; and third place went to David Ardo of Manoa, who won a Leolani Mahogany concert ukulele. Both winners also received a concert ukulele case from the Hawaiian Ukulele Company.

Celebrity judges this year — who also performed "kanikapila style" during intermission — were Melveen Leed, Sean Na'auao, Jan Luna, Nate Mata, Tracy Terada and Japanese ukulele star Kazuhiro Sekiguchi.