Haiku ART Contest for students

73rd Cherry Blossom Festival Haiku Art Contest

The 73rd Cherry Blossom Festival’s annual Haiku Art Contest, sponsored by the Japanese Women’s Society Foundation, invited Hawaii students from grades 3 thru 12 to showcase their creativity through haiku. Haiku is a Japanese style of short-form poetry consisting of three phrases with a 5, 7, 5 pattern. Each haiku had to be accompanied by a two-dimensional original artwork, such as a painting, drawing, print, or photo. Students were challenged to convey the theme of the 73rd Cherry Blossom Festival, Ai, and were asked to respond to the prompt “How do you show Ai for Hawaii?”.

A panel of three judges evaluated the submissions in three categories (grades 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12). One winner was selected from each category based on their best representation of the theme, meaning/message, artwork, imagery, and the overall aesthetic. The winner from each category will receive a $100 cash prize.

2025 Haiku ART Contest Winners

Honorable Mentions

Grades 3-5

Grade 6-8

Grade 9-12

Mahalo

Thank you to the many teachers who shared the art of haiku with their students, and thank to the participating students for sharing your creativity with us! This year we received  entries from students from the following schools.

Aina Haina Elementary School

Benjamin Parker Elementary School

Ewa Makai Middle School

Haha‘ione Elementary School

Hanalani Schools

Honolulu Waldorf School

‘Iolani School

Kailua Intermediate School

Kalani High School

Kaneohe Elementary School

Lahaina Intermediate School

Mauka Lani Elementary School

Moanalua Middle School

Myron B. Thompson Academy

Pauoa Elementary School

Pearl Harbor Elementary School

President Theodore Roosevelt High School

President William McKinley High School

Punahou School

Robert Louis Stevenson Middle School

Saint Louis School

Salt Lake Elementary School

Sanford B. Dole Middle School

Washington Middle School

Webling Elementary School