Honolulu, HI – The Hawaiʻi Agricultural Foundation’s (HAF) 2019 Localicious Hawaiʻi Art and Poetry Contest presented by Hawaiʻi Gas is now open for all keiki to send in their submissions. From today until November 30, 2018, students in grades K-8 are invited to submit their entry of an original artwork or poem about their “Favorite Dish Made with a Locally Grown, Caught or Raised Product”. The contest inspires children to express themselves creatively, learn about locally produced ingredients in their favorite foods and how food goes from farm to fork.
Art and poetry pieces are judged as two separate contests and kids have a chance to win the grand prize for one overall winner each for art and poetry––a $100 gift card, their winning entry prominently featured in the 2020 Localicious Hawaiʻi calendar and enjoy an exclusive class party featuring one of Hawaiʻi’s top chefs. Other prize categories for each contest include a $75 and $50 gift card for first and second place winners in three categories––Grades K-2, Grades 3-5 and Grades 6-8.
This year’s 2018 overall art winner Stesha-Lei Topinio was joined by chef Matt Young from Hula Grill at her class party at Kaʻiulani Elementary, Oʻahu. On Kauaʻi, 2018 overall poetry winner Jaiden Sams enjoyed a class party with chef Clinton Nuyda from Eating House 1849 Koloa.
“We’re excited to have this fun opportunity for our keiki to get creative and learn about where the food on their plate comes from,” says Iris Mizuguchi, HAF director of education programs. “Engaging with them artistically is another avenue to raising awareness of the importance local farming and ag plays in our daily lives and local food systems.”
Launched in 2014, the contest continues to engage students with an interactive opportunity to learn about local farming and agriculture. The contest is part of HAF’s Localicious Hawaiʻi initiative to raise awareness of restaurants that use locally grown, raised or caught product to create their signature Localicious dish. For every Localicious sold, $1 goes to HAF’s ag education programs at Hawaiʻi public schools. To date, the program has generated more than $65,000 in donations and benefited over 80 public schools and more than 270 classrooms.
Click here to download the contest entry form.
Click here to view / download 2018 winning entries.
About Hawai‘i Agricultural Foundation
The Hawai‘i Agricultural Foundation is a non-profit charitable organization created to promote agriculture and farming. Established in 2007, HAF’s mission is to support and sustain Hawai‘i’s agriculture industry by addressing the critical needs and services of farmers and the agriculture industry in Hawai‘i, and by better connecting the farmers with the community and vice-versa.