May 24, 2023
NEWS RELEASE
Winners, Runners-Up Announced for Water Supply’s 5th Annual Keiki Water Conservation Poster Contest
HAWAIʻI ISLAND – The Department of Water Supply (DWS), County of Hawai‘i, congratulates the nearly 500 Hawai‘i Island schoolchildren who entered the Department’s 5th Annual Keiki Water Conservation Poster Contest held earlier this year.
Open to K-6 students, the contest drew entries from 13 public and private schools located around the island, along with one homeschooler. This year’s theme was “Our Water, Our Future, Conserve It” to emphasize how using water wisely and reducing wasteful water use helps preserve the island’s finite supplies of safe drinking water. Participants created original artworks, and the entries were judged on poster originality, visual artistry, and depiction of the contest theme.
Prizes were awarded for the winning and runner-up entries for each grade, except for first grade, which drew only one entry. A YETI® water bottle customized with the DWS’ logo was the main prize.
DWS thanks all the students and their teachers for embracing drinking water education. Teaching keiki about the water they drink in fun, engaging ways will help to create water stewards best equipped to manage and protect our most precious resource – safe drinking water.
All poster entries can be viewed under the “Community” tab on the Department’s website, www.hawaiidws.org.
Mahalo to the following young artists for sharing their amazing works and water-conservation knowledge:
Kindergarten:
Winner: Josie Davis, Standing Springs Academy
Teacher: L. Mei-Lan Sharpe
Runner-Up: Keala Hall, Standing Springs Academy
Teacher: L. Mei-Lan Sharpe
1st Grade:
Winner: Jack Olson, Homeschooler
Teacher: Patricia Olson
Runner-Up: No entry
2nd Grade:
Winner: Hi‘ila‘i Laeda, Keaukaha Elementary School
Teacher: Karlie Lewis
Runner-Up: Paisley Kalani-Royston, Keaukaha Elementary School
Teacher: Kevyn-Bren Inouye
3rd Grade:
Winner: Elle Mochida, E.B. deSilva Elementary School
Teacher: Kari Maikui
Runner-Up: Luciana Balzotti, E.B. deSilva Elementary School
Teacher: Kristen Doolittle
4th Grade:
Winner: Olivia Williams, E.B. deSilva Elementary School
Teacher: Tracie Yamashita
Runner-Up: Jaeden Like, E.B. deSilva Elementary School
Teacher: Jaimie Lynn Himalaya
5th Grade:
Winner: Ella Rubio, Waiākeawaena Elementary School
Teacher: Lane Matsuura
Runner-Up: Gemma Bassetti, Waiākeawaena Elementary School
Teacher: Lane Matsuura
6th Grade:
Winner: Keirah Wong, E.B. deSilva Elementary School
Teacher: Christopher Curry
Runner-Up: Brooklyn Kim, E.B. deSilva Elementary School
Teacher: Breanna Nelson