DWS announces poster contest winners
The County of Hawaii Department of Water Supply held its inaugural water conservation poster contest, inspiring Big Island keiki to artistically interpret the DWS motto: “Water, Our Most Precious Resource.”
Students from kindergarten through fifth grade were invited to submit entries on behalf of their elementary school until March 22 in celebration of World Water Day. Over 200 entries were received from students islandwide for this inaugural poster contest. Posters were evaluated on originality, visual artistry, and their ability to convey the contest theme (focusing on fresh drinking water).
The winners are:
Kindergarten – First place: Christian Sawyer Zavodny, Konawaena Elementary – Teacher: Ms. Cheryl Tam – Second place: Leicy Acia, Konawaena Elementary – Teacher: Ms. Cheryl Tam
First Grade – First place: Abigail Cantor, Kahakai Elementary – Teacher: Ms. Tiare Hee – Second place: Cedar Terpening, Waimea Country School – Teacher: Ms. Amanda Rau
Second Grade — First place: Jazz Renauer, Kanu o ka Aina New Century Public Charter School – Teachers: Ms. Kaylea Kaaihili and Ms. Auhea Ha’o – Second place: Aaliyah Lagaret, Kanu o ka Aina New Century Public Charter School – Teachers: Ms. Kaylea Kaaihili and Ms. Auhea Ha’o
Third Grade – First place: Jace Walters, Holualoa Elementary School – Teacher: Mrs. Joy Paul – Second place: Samantha Eicher, Holualoa Elementary School – Teacher: Mrs. Joy Paul
Fourth Grade – First place: Kauahi Alapa’i-Boyd Ke Kula O Nawahiokalaniopuu Iki Lab Public Charter School – Teacher: Kumu Puamana Deal – Second place: Ryder Pedro Kahakai Elementary School – Teacher: Mrs. Kam
Fifth Grade – First place: Kanoa Shinn, Konawaena Elementary School – Teacher: Ms. Melody Schott – Second place: Karlie Kahalioumi, Konawaena Elementary School – Teacher: Ms. Melody Schott
The winning posters will be displayed at the West Hawaii Civic Center and on www.hawaiidws.org.
OHA approves $6M in grants
The OHA Board of Trustees has approved $6 million in grants to 24 programs that will provide critical services to Native Hawaiians in the key areas of housing, income, health, education and culture. Among these grant awardees are six Hawaii Island programs that will recieve a total of $1,129,290.
• KUPA Friends of Hookena Beach Park, $99,920; perpetuating the Hawaiian cultural practice of opelu (mackerel scad) fishing as handed down to fishers in Hookena and South Kona.
• Hui Malama Ola Na Oiwi, $307,822; to support health and wellness via hooponopono, laau lapaau, lomilomi, and healthy hapai (pregnancy).
• Educational Services Hawaii Foundation, $160,868; to provide education and enrichment activities for Native Hawaiian students in foster, kith and kinship care, to improve reading and math standards.
• Hui Malama i ke Ala Ulili, $120,480; for aina restoration, Native Hawaiian research, and cultural regeneration.
• The Kohala Center, Inc, $260,000; to re-establish native forests in the ahupuaa of Kawaihae.
• Edith Kanakaole Foundation, $180,200; to malama the waters of Keaukaha surrounding the only remaining loko ia kuapa (fishpond) on the east side of Hawaii Island.