CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM The Farrington High School newspaper, the Governor, was named Best Overall school newspaper yesterday in the annual Hawaii State High School Journalism Awards. Lhery Claire Abella, left; Iyar Martin, editor; Jo-Ann Mastin, adviser; Dova Rabusa; Andrew Phillips; and Daniel Galima celebrated their win.

Best paper: Farrington

The Governor tops the high school
contest for the fifth straight year

Farrington High's Governor was lauded as Hawaii's best high school newspaper yesterday, continuing its domination in a category it has won in seven of the last eight years.

2005 state awards Winners of the Hawaii High School Journalism awards that were announced yesterday: » Best Overall: The Governor at Farrington High School » Editorial Writing: Ka 'Elele at Hawaiian Mission Academy » Feature Writing: Ka 'Elele at Hawaiian Mission Academy » Sports Writing: Imua 'Iolani at Iolani School » News Writing: Ka Mo'i at Kamehameha High School, Kapalama campus » Photography or Illustration: Trojan Times at Mililani High School » Layout and Design: Ke Kukui at St. Andrew's Priory School » Best Overall Issue: The Governor at Farrington High School » Cover Art & Design: Na Hoku O Moanalua at Moanalua High School » Merit Awards: Beginning Division: Kahuku Journal at Kahuku High & Intermediate School and Na 'Oiwi o Hawai'i at Kamehameha Schools, Hawaii campus; Intermediate Division: The Pinion at McKinley High School; Established Division: Ka Leo at Sacred Hearts Academy

Farrington was among 36 schools participating in the 36th annual Hawaii High School Journalism Contest, which held its awards ceremony yesterday at the Pagoda Hotel. The Hawaii Publishers Association, the Honolulu Star-Bulletin and the Honolulu Advertiser sponsor the contest.

Jo-Ann Mastin, the Governor's adviser for the second straight year, said, "There was always the pressure to repeat. ... That was the scary part -- can we do it again?"

Mastin, a news writing and English teacher, said the students' attitude was behind the success.

"The kids care. They motivate themselves and each other. I don't have to explain to them how important it is," she said.

But "we struggled," she added. "We had our battles, getting each other up to par. ... I have a few more white hairs."

Hawaiian Mission Academy captured two top awards for editorial and feature writing. Editor Sarah Teehee was also named the most valuable staffer of the academy's paper, Ka 'Elele.

She said she was amazed at winning the awards since "we haven't won anything in a long time."

Teehee gave credit to adviser Jane Cheeseman, who "taught me so much (and) encourages me" while helping the four-member staff publish the eight-page monthly.

Farrington has won the Best Overall top prize eight times since the contest began in 1970, winning its first in 1972. Since 1998 the Governor has dominated the competition, losing only in 2000 to Sacred Hearts Academy. (The two schools tied for first in 2003.)

Winning the top award "makes up for all the stress and frustration," said Iyar Ruth Martin, Farrington's editor in chief. "We're so happy!"

Martin credited Andrew Phillips, the layout and copy editor voted the most valuable staffer of the paper, for picking up the slack. When she could not attend some of the after-school working sessions because of her part-time job, Phillips would take charge, giving special help to the inexperienced underclassmen, Martin said.

Mastin said that she plans to concentrate next year on instilling the basics of sound news writing in students who are "not natural writers" and focus on the discipline of meeting deadlines, which she said was rather painful this year.

Kirk Shinmoto, a senior at Moanalua High School, won $100 and a framed poster of his illustration of the awards brochure for the second year in a row.

Merit awards went to the Kahuku Journal of Kahuku High School and Na 'Oiwi o Hawaii of Kamehameha Schools, Hawaii Campus, in the Beginning Newspapers Division. The Pinion at McKinley High School won the Intermediate Division, and Sacred Hearts Academy won the Established Division.

---