Deadline to enter 2026 Maunakea Coin Contest approaching quickly

Big Island students have just days left to show off their art skills by drawing a design representing majestic Mauna Kea and its many different aspects — such as its natural resources, astronomy and culture — as part of Maunakea Observatories 2026 Maunakea Coin Contest.

But don’t wait to submit your design: the deadline is this Friday (Feb. 13).

The annual coin design contest is open to all island students in kindergarten through 12th grade, including home-schooled keiki.

Hawaiʻi Island students have created inspired designs representing the mauna since 2011 as part of the coin contest.

Students are asked to draw a design for a collector’s coin, with the winner to be cast on a bronze coin and available for sale at First Light Bookstore inside Onizuka Center for International Astronomy Visitor Information Station on Mauna Kea.

Aluminum versions also will be available at Maunakea Astronomy Outreach Committee events throughout the year.

Entries are divided into three categories:

• Grades K-4.
• Grades 5-8.
• Grades 9-12.

Judges select first, second and third place winners for each category. A grand judge then chooses the top three overall winners among those nine category winners.

The grand prize 2026 winning design and its creator will be announced during the 24th annual AstroDay in May at Prince Kūhiō Plaza in Hilo.

Students can get information about Mauna Kea to help with their designs by consulting the Maunakea Heritage and Natural Resources guide from the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo’s Center for Maunakea Stewardship.

They can also get inspiration by looking at past winning coin designs online.

All category winners and the three overall winners will receive prizes from KTA Super Stores, ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center, Galaxy Garden/Paleaku Gardens Peace Sanctuary, Onizuka Space Science Program, Onizuka Center for International Astronomy Visitor Information Station and the Maunakea Observatories.

The overall winner of the 2025 Maunakea Coin Contest was Ros Haleyah Mari Asuncion Ganot, then a junior at Pāhoa High and Intermediate School.

Last year’s contest had a total of 400 entries, including:

• Grades K-4: 191 entries.
• Grades 5-8: 158 entries.
• Grades 9-12: 51 entries.

Visit the Maunakea Observatories website to download an entry form and contest rules, get additional information or with any questions.