February 2, 2012
Students share their aloha & respect for Mauna Kea
Released from `Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawai`i
Released from `Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawai`i
Hilo, Hawai`i - All Hawai`i Island K-12 students are invited to enter the 2012 Mauna Kea Coin Contest now to March 9, 2012 at the island's KTA Super Stores locations. Students are asked to include both Astronomy and Hawaiian cultural themes in their design for the Mauna Kea coin.
The Mauna Kea Coin Contest is initiated by Mauna Kea Astronomy Outreach Committee (MKAOC) and co-sponsored by KTA Super Stores, `Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawai`i, Onizuka Space Center, and Galaxy Garden/Paleaku Gardens Peace Sanctuary.
Entries will be divided into three categories: (1) Grades K – 4; (2) Grades 5 – 8; and (3) Grades 9 – 12. The top three entries in each category will compete for the grand prize which will be struck on a 1.5-inch coin.
Entries must be submitted at the KTA Super Stores courtesy desks at Keawe Street, Puainako, Waimea, Kailua Kona, and Keauhou by March 9. The first 500 entries will receive a 2011 Mauna Kea aluminum coin at the KTA courtesy desks.
Last year there were 721 entries in total, and some teachers and after school program staff sent entries consisting of the entire class. More than 100 entries were received from Waimea Middle School and Hilo Intermediate School.
The purpose of the contest is to enhance awareness of Mauna Kea. Based on an idea by Tiffany Rippa (spouse of a Gemini staff member) and Anil Dosaj (Submillimeter Array), the project has been spearheaded by the chair of Mauna Kea Coin Contest Committee, Kumiko S. Usuda. "In 2009, I was inspired by the Cosmic Poster Contest for K-12 students on Hawai`i Island. We were impressed by various, unique ideas of youngsters. Their creative artwork taught us how beautiful and how precious our island is. I was inspired to do a contest again for students to create another contest that would give them an additional opportunity to connect to the wonderful place we live," said Usuda.
The first coin contest was held January to March of 2011. "The Mauna Kea Coin Contest is a good opportunity for our future generation to express their idea of science and Hawaiian culture atop Mauna Kea," states Ali`i Kimo Pihana, Hawaiian cultural practitioner, and coin contest judge.
"It was wonderful to see how students incorporated different views of Mauna Kea from Hilo, Kea`au, Waimea, and elsewhere. It showed diversity in ways of experiencing the mountain. I also appreciate the messages of reaching for the stars, continuing one's education, caring for the land, and exploring the universe," said Shawn Laatsch, `Imiloa's planetarium manager, and chair of MKAOC.
The 2011 chief judge Jon Lomberg, space artist who designed the Galaxy Garden in Honaunau, selected Amy DeSa, seventh grader at Hilo Intermediate School, as the grand prize winner from the nine finalists. "Mauna Kea has many aspects – and her design shows them all, from the submerged portion to the universe above. It shows geology, biology, and astronomy, all part of the mountain," Lomberg said.
Visit the official site http://mkooc.org/Coin2012 for more information.
The 2011 Mauna Kea coin (antique bronze finish) designed by Amy DeSa. Photo by Tom Whitney.
