The 2012 Mauna Kea Coin was designed by Serena Usuda, seventh grader at Waiakea Intermediate School as the grand prize winner. She connects Hawaiian culture and nature, with modern technology (telescopes) in her petroglyph-style artwork. Enjoy the world's first petroglyph telescopes!
The 2012 bronze coin is sold at Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station (VIS) First Light Book Store and its First Light E-Store.
The contest award ceremony was held at AstroDay's center stage in the Prince Kuhio Plaza shopping mall, Hilo, on Saturday, May 5th, 2012 from 11:00 am to 11:40 am. All winners including the category winners and the special award winners, their families and teachers were invited to the ceremony. The 2012 Mauna Kea Coin (aluminum coin) was distributed at AstroDay. Anyone who collected all astronomy stamps from obsevatory stations on a "passport" got a free aluminumcoin at the Mauna Kea Coin Contest booth.
Mahalo Students, Teachers, & Families
on the Big Island of Hawai`i!
We have received 1,006 entires:
606 for Grades K-4 category, 269 for Grades 5-8 category, 130 for Grades 9-12 category, and 1 unknown grade. (In 2011 we have received 721 entries in total.) Mahalo Hilo Intermediate School, E. B. de Silva Elementary School, Kea`au High School, and Waimea Middle School for entering 80 entries or more!!
See number of entries /
See teachers who sent entries of students
James K. Pihana (native Hawaiian cultural practitioner), Koa Rice (Hawaiian cultural practitioner), and Shawn Laatsch (planetarium manager at `Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawai`i) selected the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners of each category and special award winners. The nine category winners (3 winners × 3 categories) competed at the overall category. Chief judge Jon Lomberg, the world famous space artist at Galaxy Garden in Honaunau, selected the 1st (grand prize), 2nd, and 3rd place winners of the overall category.
See the category winners /
See the overall winners