Big Island Student Among Winners of Memorial Day Poster Contest

Nine students were recognized today in an award ceremony at Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s conference room in Honolulu for winning the Mayor’s annual Memorial Day Poster Contest.

From left to right: Talan Akina-Chong, Brent Dorde, Erika Shigeyama, Malisa Lo, Maria Janelle Bautista, Cyryelle Valdez, Tyrell Futialo, and Saige DeloSantos. Photo Courtesy

For the first time in several years, two of the winners hailed from neighbor islands including Saige DeloSantos, fourth grader from Keaukaha Elementary School and Talan Akina-Chong, fourth grader from Lihikai Elementary on Maui.

Hawaiian Airlines provided airfare for the two neighbor island winners to attend the ceremony today.

The winning contestants include:

Kindergarten – 4th grade division
1st place: Saige DeloSantos, 4th grade, Keaukaha Elementary School (Big Island)
2nd place: Brent Dorde, 4th grade, Waipahu Elementary School
3rd place: Talan Akina-Chong, 4th grade, Lihikai Elementary School (Maui)

5th – 8th grade division
1st place: Cyryelle Valdez, 7th grade, Kapolei Middle School
2nd place: Malisa Lo, 8th grade, Kapolei Middle School
3rd place: Alani Calderon, 8th grade, Kapolei Middle School

9th – 12th grade division
1st place: Tyrell Futialo, 10th grade, Farrington High School
2nd place: Maria Janelle Bautista, 11th grade, Farrington High School
3rd place: Erika Shigeyama, 9th grade, Campbell High School

All of the winners received a certificate signed by Mayor Kirk Caldwell, prizes from sponsors, and will have their artwork displayed in Honolulu Hale and Kapolei Hale for the entire month of May.

1st place winners’ artwork appears on posters publicizing the lei making and gathering efforts for the Memorial Day Ceremony on Monday, May 29, 2017 at the National Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl.

Prior to the Memorial Day Ceremony, an estimated 38,000 lei will be donated and placed on grave sites within the memorial cemetery.