Haiku ART Contest for students

74th Cherry Blossom Festival Haiku Art Contest

The 74th Cherry Blossom Festival’s annual Haiku Art Contest, sponsored by the Japanese Women’s Society Foundation, invited Hawaii students from grades 3 through 12 to showcase their creativity through haiku. Haiku is a Japanese style of short-form poetry consisting of three phrases with a 5, 7, 5 pattern. Each haiku must be accompanied by a two-dimensional original artwork, such as a painting, drawing, print, or photo. Students were challenged to convey the theme of the 74th Cherry Blossom Festival, Yasashisa, and were asked to respond to the prompt “How do you show Yasashisa (kindness)?”.

A panel of three judges evaluated the submissions in three categories (grades 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12), and one winner was selected from each category based on their best representation of the theme, meaning/message, artwork, imagery, and the overall aesthetic. The winner from each category will receive a $100 cash prize.

2026 Winners

Grade 3-5

Lōkahi Elaban

Pukalani Elementary School

Grade 5

Grades 6 – 8

Paityn Manoa

Kailua Intermediate School

Grade 8

Grades 9 - 12

Kiana Alcain

Kalani High School

Grade 9

Honorable Mentions

Grades 3-5

**Jianne Carlos**
Honowai Elementary School
Grade 4

**Alex Le**
Makalapa Elementary School
Grade 5

**David Zhou**
Pauoa Elementary School
Grade 5

Grade 6-8

**Mika Urashima**
Kailua Intermediate School
Grade 7

**Alice Kang**
Moanalua Elementary School
Grade 6

**Dann Rinton**
Kanoelani Elementary School
Grade 6

**Nathalia Domingo**
Kailua Intermediate School
Grade 7

Grade 9-12

**Eun (Jackie) Ha**
Iolani School
Grade 11

**Miya Brantingham**
Iolani School
Grade 11

**Madelyn Okuda**
Iolani School
Grade 11

**Leighton Silverio**
Iolani School
Grade 11

Mahalo

Thank you to the many teachers who shared the art of haiku with their students, and thank you to the participating students for sharing your creativity with us! This year we received over 250 entries from students from the following schools.

‘Aiea Intermediate School

‘Aina Haina Elementary School

Honowai Elementary School

Ho‘okele Elementary School

‘Iolani School

Iroquois Point Elementary School

Island Pacific Academy

Ka‘elepulu Elementary School

Kailua Intermediate School

Kalani High School

Kalihi Uka Elementary School

Kamilo‘iki Elementary School

Kanoelani Elementary School

Kea‘au Elementary School

Kekaha Elementary School

Konawaena Elementary School

Lunalilo Elementary School

Ma‘ili Elementary School

Makalapa Elementary School

Moanalua Elementary School

Noelani Elementary School

Palisades Elementary School

Pauoa Elementary School

Pearl City Highlands Elementary School

Pearl Ridge Elementary School

Pukalani Elementary School

Rin School

St. Mark Lutheran School

Waiakea Elementary School

Waikele Elementary School