Edumund Y.K. Yip took Fifth Place in Canon's 2005 Amateur Photo Contest with "Let's Go Fishing."

Portraits of Hawaii

Contending with more than a thousand photographs can take the wind out of you. Just ask Merla Caballos, the receptionist at Canon U.S.A. Hawaii, about Canon's amateur photo contest this year.

"Oh my!" she exclaims, the memory of the 1,066 entries whooshing the breath from her body. "There were a LOT of entries this year." On the last day of submission, photographers spilled from the lobby into offices to fill out entry forms.

"But it was good," Caballos recalls with a laugh.

The theme of Canon's ninth annual contest is "Portraits of Hawaii," a broad topic that drew 465 hopefuls to enter their works. Judges -- including Canon U.S.A.'s Jeff Fukui, KGMB's Kim Gennaula and KRATER 96's Wayne Maria -- bore the unenviable task of whittling down the offerings to a mere 30 selections, which now hang on Canon's gallery walls. Top five winners were awarded Canon cameras.

Kelli Kaneshiro, a Maui High School student, took top honors with her black-and-white photograph titled "Poi."

Stop in at Canon Photo Gallery to see unique representations of "Portraits of Hawaii." The exhibit runs through April 28. The gallery is located at Canon U.S.A. Hawaii offices, 210 Ward Avenue, suite 200, and is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays to Fridays. Call 522-5930.

While you're there, say hello to Merla. And if you ask about the 1,066 photographs, remind her to breathe.

Watercress farming was Isabel P. Martin's representation of Hawaii. Martin won an Honorable Mention.

"Poi," by high school student Kelli Kaneshiro, took the contest's top honors.

"Portrait of a Nation" by Mary Theal was given an Honorable Mention nod.