January 25, 2013
"Mauna Kea Coin Design Challenge 2013"
Released from ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawai‘i
All Hawai"i Island K-12 students are invited to enter the 2013 Mauna Kea Coin Contest now to March 15, 2013 at the island's KTA Super Stores locations. Students are asked to include both Astronomy and Hawaiian cultural themes in their design for the coin.
Read the whole article at "Imiloa News site
May 1, 2013
"2013 Mauna Kea Collectors Coin Available at AstroDay.
AstroDay, Saturday May 4, 2013"
Released from ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawai‘i
The 2013 Mauna Kea Coin design was awarded to Kain Kamalani Kawailima a senior at Ke Ana La‘ahana Public Charter School.
The winning design depicts Maunakea and its telescopes, with Maunaloa behind it. In the sky are the Sun, Moon, stars, and sea-faring birds. Together, these elements weave together an image of the interconnectedness of all things between sea and sky. Kain, explaining his symbolism states, "The woven lauhala (pandanus leaves) represent change, the three ti leaves represent stages of life, the kōnane (Hawaiian checker board game) stands for challenge, arrow-like designs depict birds in flight, and canoe paddles represent the rays of the sun."
The 2013 coin will be distributed at AstroDay in the Prince Kuhio Plaza shopping mall in Hilo, Saturday, May 4 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Those who collect all the stamps from the observatory stations on the Mauna Kea coin "passport," will receive a free aluminum coin. The passport will be available at the Mauna Kea Coin Contest booth close to the center stage. The antique bronze finish coin will be available for sale at Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station and its e-store, and ‘Imiloa Bank of Hawaii Museum Store.
The contest was open to K-12 students on Hawai‘i Island from January 26 to March 15, 2013. Each design was required to include both astronomy and Hawaiian cultural themes related to Maunakea. There were 803 entries in total from Hawai‘i Island representing 29 schools. Judges Kimo Keli‘i Pihana, Hawaiian cultural practitioner, and Shawn Laatsch, ‘Imiloa planetarium manager, selected the top three designs in grades K-4, 5-8, and 9-12 categories, respectively. Chief Judge Dr. Jean-Charles Cuillandre from the Canada France Hawaii Telescope (CFHT) selected the final design from the nine category winners.
Pihana, impressed by all of the entries stated, "Mahalo nui loa Haumāna – Thank you very much too all the students, parents, and teachers who participated in the Coin Contest! I enjoyed seeing your many great designs showcasing Hawaiian history and Maunakea science of astronomy. Good job to all who participated in this year's coin contest!"
The entries were kept anonymous during the entire judging process so judges could focus on the merits of each design. All ages competed for the top design and this year a senior at an immersion school took the award. During the previous contests in 2011 and 2012, 7th graders were awarded the top design.
The contest award ceremony will be held at AstroDay's center stage at Prince Kuhio Plaza from 10:20am to 10:50am. All the winning designs will be displayed at the coin contest booth at AstroDay, May 4th, and on the Mauna Kea Coin Contest 2013 official site:http://www.mkaoc.org/coin/2013/index.html.
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, and Onizuka Space Center. The purpose of the contest is to enhance awareness of Maunakea.
Figure 1. The 2013 Mauna Kea Coin designed by to Kain Kamalani Kawailima a senior at Ke Ana La‘ahana Public Charter School.
