LIHUE — Waianuhea Leimomimakamae Karratti of the Kawaikini New Century Public Charter School, and Sophie Grace Cornell of the Kilauea School will have to wait until February or March to find out if their art entries earn national recognition.
Jenni Scotti, a conservation specialist with the East and West Kauai Soil and Water Conservation Districts, said the pair earned statewide recognition for their conservation posters and were forwarded to the national competition for consideration of national recognition.
The announcement was made Thursday when the Kauai crew from the conservation districts recognized and honored the nine winners of the annual poster contest hosted by the National Association of Conservation Districts.
The announcements were made at Kukui Grove Center, where the Kauai entries are posted in four different areas for the public to view through the end of January.
Hosted and coordinated by the East and West Kauai Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Scotti said the national poster contest attracted more than 200 entries from five Kauai schools where the conservation district teams visited to offer education on this year’s theme of “Watersheds: Our Water, Our Home.”
Six schools participated in the contest that included top three winners in three age groups — K-1, 2-3, and 4-6 grades, the top winners of each age group being forwarded to the state competition.
Karratti and Cornell earned top honors in their respective age group, and their works will be forwarded on to the national competition.
Cornell topped the K-1 age group on Kauai with Kailee Padgett Joseph of the Kalaheo School earning second-place honors. Kiele Soltren of Kilauea School finished in third place.
Brysten J. Nagamine of the Eleele School finished tops in the 2-3 grade group, his entry also earning runner-up honors at the state competition. Judah Snyder of the Kauai Christian Academy earned second-place honors, and Ariana Cadavona of Eleele School is the third-place winner.
Karratti, a fourth-grade student at Kawaikini, topped the 4-6 category with Isabella Elena Martinez of Eleele School earning second place honors. Tyren Sasil, a fifth-grade student at Eleele School, finished third.
Scotti said the conservation district teams will be visiting schools starting in February to talk about the 2019 theme, “Life in the Soil: Dig Deeper.”
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.c
