Kapa‘a MS students show well at O‘ahu industrial arts fair

KAPA‘A — Kekoa Kahaunaele said his second place mechanical drawing project took a whole quarter to design and complete.

Kahaunaele was one of eight students from Kapa‘a Middle School to earn awards at the recent 52nd Hawai‘i Technology Education Fair on O‘ahu.

“We got five awards in Mechanical Drawing and three awards in Woodwork,” said instructor Ryan Terao.

Chas Okamoto topped the Mechanical Drawing sweep with a blue ribbon followed by Kahaunaele with second place, Elliott Leon with third place. Zach Rodriguez and Justin Uegawa completed the Kapa‘a sweep in the MD class with honorable mentions.

Weston Moniz headed the Woodwork Awards with a second place ribbon for his wooden box. He was followed by Kelsey Malia Manuel who used curly koa wood to fashion her wooden clock featuring an island cutout of Kaua‘i that earned third place.

Jason Rabot rounded out the winners for Woodwork with his wooden clock that was embedded at the head of a flame created out of a piece of wood. Rabot was awarded an honorable mention for his efforts.

In addition to their recent accomplishments, Terao said several of the students will be part of the Adopt-a-School program which will take place Monday at the convention hall.

Additionally, the students will be recognized for their accomplishments at the Kapa‘a Middle School Praise Night which takes place next Tuesday night at the school.

That event features a chili dinner starting at 5:30 p.m. followed by student performances before the formal awards and recognition program which will highlight art contest winners, literature awards, science fair, technology, Math Counts, the PTSA Reflections, Heritage Music Festival participants and the Principal’s List and Honor Roll students.