Thanks, everyone
A beach scene, by Davin H.T. Pa'ahana, 11.

Drawing contest winners are a grateful bunch

Star-Bulletin staff

You know, Ben Franklin fought long and hard to have the turkey declared the national symbol of the new United States. But the bald-eagle lobby carried the vote. The turkey got it's own day, though, and for that, we're thankful.

Most of the 146 entries in our latest Kids Only! Quick Draw contest zeroed in on what kids are thankful for, and turkey was right up there. Also tops were family, friends, the beach and surf, animals and good food.

The preschool- through kindergarten-age winner is Michi Tamashiro, 5, a K-level kid at Noelani Elementary. She crayoned a family dinner featuring roast turkey (naturally). Her message: "I'm thankful for the turkeys that are eaten on Thanksgiving."

"I really like turkey," she amplified. "We get it only on Thanksgiving. But I don't like to draw turkeys. I like to draw horsies."

Thanksgiving dinner, by Michi Tamashiro, 5.

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Tasneya Villoch, 9, a third-grader at Wahiawa Elementary, drew her family eating ice cream. The winner in the first- through third-grade category wrote: "I am thankful for my mom and dad because they buy me vanilla ice cream that tastes good, and it makes me happy."

She does love turkey, though. "I like it all, white meat, dark meat, gravy," said Tasneya. "Also, mashed potatoes with butter. My favorite thing to draw is food on the table."

She also likes the family getting together for Thanksgiving, and wishes part of her extended family now living in Pennsylvania could join them on Thursday.

An ice-cream treat, by Tasneya Villoch, 9.

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Also thankful for family is the fourth- through sixth-grade winner, Davin H.T. Pa'ahana, 11, a sixth-grader at Kaala Elementary. He drew his ohana at the beach, enjoying a sunset cookout.

Davin's father explained that both he and Davin prefer "a big Farmer John ham" for Thanksgiving. Davin's got two brothers, although only the arm of one brother is visible, shooting out through the curl of a wave.

Our winners each receive at $50 U.S. savings bond, a gift certificate from Borders Books & Music, and a really cool official KO! T-shirt.