Jessica Svendsen was the overall poster winner in Na 'Oiwi 'Olino Student Essay, Art and Debate Awards.
29 students win honors
for articulating Hawaiian
social and ecological issues
Twenty-nine youths were honored for their artwork, essay and debate expertise during the annual Na 'Oiwi 'Olino competition and award ceremony that took place Saturday at the East-West Center Keoni Auditorium.
A total of 253 Hawaiian and English essays and art entries from 10 Hawaiian charter and immersion schools were submitted, exploring the contest theme "Malama Kekahi I Kekahi," meaning "to take care of each other, the 'aina and the environment." This year's theme builds on last year's topic of "He Hawai'i Au (I am Hawaiian)."
"Na 'Oiwi 'Olino" (people seeking wisdom) was the phrase selected by Malia Craver to capture the essence of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs' campaign to inform Hawaiian and non-Hawaiian communities of the issues that affect Hawaiians.
With this in mind, OHA began its annual youth poster, essay and debate contest last year. The debate dealt with the question, Should the U.S. government recognize native Hawaiians as indigenous aboriginal Americans?
The awards ceremony will be broadcast at 7 p.m. today on KFVE.
Star-Bulletin staff
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In her own words
This is the winning essay in the 6th- to 8th-grade English essay portion of the Na 'Oiwi 'Olino competition:Today our world is moving forward, but not in the way it should. Look at the war that is taking place right now in the Middle East in Iraq. What is our nation doing in Iraq? Is America there for its own benefit? I strongly feel we, as a nation, are doing the right thing. I may not agree about how some of the situations are being handled, but we are nonetheless doing the right thing. Other nations around the world look upon us for guidance and understanding in freeing them from their hardships.
In Iraq, the women in their society can be independent. They can choose to be teachers as well as professionals, like they were before Saddam Hussein came into power. I watch as the women in that part of the world stand up for what they think is right. They are able to move forward with their lives as well as their children's lives. They can be productive citizens in their own country. But more so, it is our duty as a nation to ensure that they reach their goals.
If each and every one of us can take part in the responsibility, as in the word "laulima," in ensuring that our earth can and will be here for years to come, how beautiful it would be. It is my duty as well as everyone else's duty to come to some kind of understanding in order to work together and fulfill this deed.
I believe that we also have a duty to educate our nation and other nations as well so that we must all come together to make our world a better place for all of us. If people around the world do not want to come together for some reason or another, we must still find a way to put aside our differences in order to protect our world. If not for us living now, for the generations to come. So let us all come together in unison so that we all can and will make our world a better place to live for myself, my children and my grandchildren of tomorrow.
If all of us come together in respecting others and our environment, our world would be a better place for you and me. Since the world is filled with so much hatred toward one another, we need to reach out with helping hands and understanding without being asked or told.
We should help the homeless. Today, whenever our family sees someone homeless, we don't give them money, instead we give them some type of food. We can and must teach other children, besides myself, not to look down at them, but have compassion for them. I believe that we should teach others the meaning of "Malama kekahi i kekahi" so that they also will pass on the knowledge to others; and the cycle of this meaning, "Malama kekahi i kekahi," will continue.
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Chalice Chun-Gillland, of Pa'ia Elementary, took first place in the grade 4 to 5 category of the Na 'Oiwi 'Olino Student Essay, Art and Debate Awards, for her photograph, "Bikes."
English essays
>> Grades 4 to 5: Louis Roseguo, Ke Kula 'O Nawahiokalani'- opu'u Iki Laboratory
>> Grades 6 to 8: Ulanaihouokahialoha Kalahiki-Anthony, Ke Kula Kaiapuni 'O Puohala (first); Sheridan Kamalani Ho, Ke Kula Kaiapuni 'O Pu'ohala (second); Hailiopua Kailiwai-Ray, Ke Kula 'O 'Ehunuikaimalino (third)
>> Grades 9 to 1: No entries
Hawaiian essay
>> Grades 4 to 5: Anoalo Stanley (first), Sheyenne Ka'inimaikalani Phillip (second), Keanu R.S. Freitas (third); all from Ke Kula Kaiapuni 'O Pu'ohala
>> Grades 6 to 8: Kawenaula Elkington, Ke Kula Kaiapuni 'O Pu'ohala (first); Ka 'ohinani Ellen Kamalu, Ke Kula Kaiapuni 'O Pu'ohala (second); Kemele Lyon, Ke Kula 'O Nawahiokalani'pu'u Iki
>> Grades 9 to 12: No entries
Posters
>> Grades K to 1: Sariah Lopes (first), Khalia Ann kaiulani Houpo (second), Shaunacie Leihoku Gooman-Kahele (third); all from Ke Kula Kaiapuni 'O Pu'ohala
>> Grades 2 to 3: Keala Lopez, Ke Kula Kaiapuni Hawai'i o Kapa'a (first); Melia M.A.K. Ha'o, Kano O Ka 'Aina (second); Allen H. Bond, Kanu O Ka 'Aina (third)
>> Grades 4 to 5: Lauren Chow, Kualapu'u Elementary (first); Kawai Adrian Kauweloa, Ke Kula Kaiapuni 'O Pu'ohala (second); Kailana Eheu-ula Ritte-Camara, Kualapu'u Elementary (third)
>> Grades 6 to 8: Kuulei Bezilla, Ke Kula 'O Nawahiokalani'opu'u Iki Laboratory (first); Cheyenne Pauahi Kinimaka, Ke Kula Kaiapuni 'O Pu'ohala (second); Tehani Kau'ionalani Louis, Ke Kula Kaiapuni 'O Pu'ohala (third)
>> Grades 9 to 12: Jessica Svendsen, Kanu O Ka 'Aina (first, also overall poster art winner); Chenoa Amada Lizarraga, Kanuikapono Charter School (second); Sunny Pomaika'i Brandt, Ke Kula 'O Nawahiokalani'opu'u (third)
Photographic essay
>> Grades 4 to 5: Chalice Chun-Gilliland, Pa'ia Elementary, for "Bikes" (first); Mailani Baz Pa'ia Elementary, for "Young and Old" (second)
>> Grades 6 to 8: No prize given
>> Grades 9 to 12: No entries
Student debate
>> Lindsey Doi, Daniel Lee (first)
>> Thais Lilia Lee, Kainui Smith (second)
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