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For Immediate Release
May 9, 2018

Board of Water Supply Announces Winners of Water Conservation Poster and Poetry Contest

Forty-two school children honored for place-winning and honorable mention entries

HONOLULU – The Board of Water Supply (BWS) announced the winners of its 2018 Water Conservation Week Poster and Poetry Contests today at an awards ceremony at the City and County of Honolulu’s Mission Memorial Auditorium.

The BWS received more than 1,050 posters and 300 poems in the 40th Annual Poster and 10th Annual Poetry contests. Winners were selected based on the accuracy of information, originality, creativity, and artistic or poetic ability, to convey this year’s contest theme, “Conserve Water: Use It Wisely.”  Winning students were each recognized and presented with awards.

“For over 40 years, the BWS’s Water Conservation Week program inspires our youth to learn about Oahu’s ground water supply and how conserving water is vital to our lives,” said BWS Chair Bryan Andaya. “With the knowledge gained in the program, we hope this generation can model responsible stewardship of our precious water resources for the next generation.”

2018 poster and poetry contest winners

The contests invited Oahu school students in kindergarten through grade 6 to share their thoughts on the important value of water through poster art, and students in grades 7-12 to use poetry to express their views on the same subject. Top honors were awarded to 24 Oahu students in different categories from Kindergarten to 12th grade, along with 18 honorable mentions.

“It is encouraging to see our youth expressing themselves to create awe inspiring works of art and poetry focused on water conservation,” said BWS Manager and Chief Engineer Ernest Lau. “The entries communicated their understanding of the importance of conserving an irreplaceable resource and the need to use it wisely now and for the future.”

The winning and honorable mention artwork and poems will be featured in the BWS’s 2019 Water Conservation calendar, which will be printed and made available to the public at the end of the year.  The artwork and poems will also be posted on the BWS website at www.boardofwatersupply.com to download for free.  All winning and honorable mention entries will be on exhibit at:

  • Honolulu Hale Lane Gallery from May 9 to May 29;  
  • Kapolei Hale from June 5 to June 21;  
  • Windward Mall from June 25 to July 13;
  • Kahala Mall from July 27 to August 10; and   
  • BWS Public Service Building Lobby from August 13 to August 31. 

This year’s poster contest was judged by Design Asylum, Inc.’s President Lowell Gillia, Hawaii State Department of Education (DOE) Teacher Amanda Kim, and BWS Office of the Manager and Chief Engineer Secretary Lorraine Lee. The poetry contest was judged by the Element8 Marketing & Advertising’s Creative Director Wade Nishimura and BWS Communications Office Information Specialist Jane Pascual.

To view the winning artwork and poetry, or for more information about these contests, visit www.boardofwatersupply.com.

This year’s contests were made possible through the support of Platinum Sponsors Sodexo, the Friends of Halawa Xeriscape Garden, Board of Water Supply/Hawaiian Tel Federal Credit Union, Times Supermarket, and Hard Rock Café Honolulu; Gold Sponsors Alexander & Baldwin Foundation, Aloha Pacific Federal Credit Union and Hawaii Energy; and Silver Sponsor Pasha Hawaii.

2018 Water Conservation Week poster contest place winners:

Kindergarten

  • 1st Place: Danae Hsia, Kaneohe Elementary School, Mrs. Jamie Murakami
  • 2nd Place: Anuhea Sgan, Na’au Learning Center, Mr. Melvin E. Spencer III
  • 3rd Place: Kairi-Faith Vasquez, Kaneohe Elementary School, Mrs. Jamie Murakami

First and Second Grades

  • 1st Place: Ariana Esibill, 2nd Grade, Ka`ōhao School, Mrs. Kristi Petosa-Sigel
  • 2nd Place: Olivia Liu, 1st Grade, Na’au Learning Center, Mr. Melvin E. Spencer III
  • 3rd Place: Hi`ilei Tuikolongahau, 2nd Grade, Ka`ōhao School, Mrs. Kristi Petosa-Sigel       

Third and Fourth Grades

  • 1st Place: Hana Gunji, 4th Grade, Jefferson Elementary School, Mr. Keo Genus
  • 2nd Place: Bella Amey, 4th Grade, Ka`ōhao School, Mrs. Kristi Petosa-Sigel
  • 3rd Place: Ariana Valmoja, 4th Grade, Enchanted Lake Elementary School, Mrs. Marie Kira

Fifth and Sixth Grades

  • 1st Place: Jayden Nakoa Scotty, 6th Grade, Heeia Elementary School, Mrs. Lainie Chang
  • 2nd Place: April Jusi, 6th Grade, Kapolei Middle School, Mr. Daryle Mishina
  • 3rd Place: Kevin Kalani, 6th Grade, Keoneula Elementary School, Mrs. Toni Livernois


2018 Water Conservation Week poetry contest place winners:

Seventh and Eighth Grades

  • 1st Place: Kylie Lianez, 7th Grade, Kailua Intermediate School, Ms. Karen Kutsunai
  • 2nd Place: Emma Vincent, 7th Grade, Kailua Intermediate School, Ms. Karen Kutsunai
  • 3rd Place: Micah Branner, 7th Grade, Kaimuki Christian School, Mrs. Jeanne Holm
  • 4th Place: Natalie Kuo, 7th Grade, Niu Valley Middle School, Ms. Gwen Lee

Ninth and Tenth Grades

  • 1st Place: Ayana Haid, 9th Grade, Hawaii Technology Academy, Ms. Chrissy Layton
  • 2nd Place: Brandon Mendoza, 10th Grade, Moanalua High School, Ms. Joy Okano
  • 3rd Place: Heona Ayau-Odom, 10th Grade, Moanalua High School, Ms. Joy Okano
  • 4th Place: Brooke Kumasaka, 10th Grade, Moanalua High School, Ms. Joy Okano

Eleventh and Twelfth Grades

  • 1st Place: Kristen Pang, 12th Grade, Punahou School, Mr. Eric Reppun
  • 2nd Place: Jenna Takano, 11th Grade, Mililani High School, Dr. Namthip Sitachitta
  • 3rd Place: Haley Evile, 11th Grade, Mililani High School, Dr. Namthip Sitachitta 
  • 4th Place: Kiley Pazcoguin, 12th Grade, Sacred Hearts Academy, Ms. Jill Sprott

About the Board of Water Supply

The Board of Water Supply (BWS), a semi-autonomous agency of the City and County of Honolulu, manages Oahu’s municipal water resources and distribution system.  As the largest water utility in the State, the BWS serves approximately one million customers on Oahu.  The BWS embraces its mission of “Water for Life – Ka Wai Ola” – to provide a safe, dependable, and affordable water supply, now and into the future.  Uwē  ka lani, ola ka honua – “When the heavens weep, the earth lives.”  For more information, visit www.boardofwatersupply.com.

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A photo is attached for your consideration and use. The photo is courtesy of the Board of Water Supply.


Contact:

Kathleen Elliott-Pahinui
Information Officer
Honolulu Board of Water Supply
Phone: (808) 748-5319