Keaau Middle School student Jazmeen Mendoza has been awarded the Hawaii Island grand prize in the 21st annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Peace Poetry Awards.
Mendoza’s poem was selected from a field of over 100 entries.
“We are delighted to receive work of this caliber from this young Hawaii poet,” said awards coordinator Melinda Gohn.
The annual competition, sponsored by the Maui-based International Peace Poem Project, is to honor King, the civil rights leader who promoted nonviolent means to achieve social justice and equality.
Mendoza received an aluminum painting donated by Maui Artist Chad Paranto and a grand prize certificate from Gov. David Ige.
Seven Hawaii Island students participated as Golden Circle winners and received certificates from Ige. Some 20 students received certificates as finalists from former Hawaii County Mayor Harry Kim and a limited edition, commemorative poster featuring the double-hulled sailing canoe Hokule’a.
Hawaii first lady Dawn Ige, Kim, and Gohn delivered congratulatory speeches and the winners recited their poems on a video, now available for viewing on Vimeo at https://vimeo.com/peacepoem/hawaii2020.
Poetry organizer Melinda Gohn said Mendoza’s winning peace poem, “My Comfort,” is a unique free verse poem using metaphor to lyrically explore human uncertainties through nature. The poem begins: “Peace feels like a leaf falling from a tree/it makes me feel at home/It’s my friend when I’m lonely/It’s not having violence in the world.” She continues: “a flower opens to see the world/And feel what it’s like to live in it/…when pain can’t break my smile.” Mendoza concludes: “Peace is like the reflection of the earth and river/ it’s my comfort to see what’s next, from my chapter in life/To bring new hope/and to start over if I have to.”
Hookena Elementary School third-grader Leilia P. Alu-Leslie was announced as the contest Grand Finalist and Ka Umeke Ka’eo PCS teacher Ainaaloha Ioane was announced as the Dr. King Teacher of the Year.
The project is now accepting poetry entries from students for 2021 contest until the end of Black History Month in February. To enter, contact Ms. Gohn via email to poem@maui.net.
