Mililani 12-year-old A Finalist In Toyota Dream Car Contest

Maile Kaina (front, right) is joined by fellow winners and celebrity emcees: KHON weather anchor Justin Cruz, Shriners Hospital’s director of public relations Mahealani Richardson and Toyota Hawaii senior vice president Glenn Inouye. Photo from Pang Communications.

A Mililani preteen isn’t waiting for Toyota to design her dream car. She did it herself.

Maile Kaina, a 12-year-old Mililani Middle School student, took home third place and a People’s Choice award April 20 for her submission to the Toyota Hawaii Dream Car Art Contest.

Kaina’s was among more than 800 entries received, and one of only nine designs (three from each age category) selected to move on to the Toyota World Contest.

From Feb. 23 to March 15, Toyota Hawaii’s Facebook friends could view all eligible entries and vote for their favorites in each of the three age groups.

The Facebook contest received more than 8,200 votes and more than 1,700 unique visitors to the contest page. In addition to moving on to the world championship, Kaina won $100 cash.

The following entrants were awarded $100 cash and were automatically entered for final judging in the local competition for receiving the most votes in each category: (Age 7 and under) Ken Shiraishi, Honolulu; Alex Kainuma, Waipahu; Sienna Young, Honolulu. (Ages 8-11) Sophia Stark, Honolulu; Raphael Stark, Honolulu; Isabelle Toribio, Ewa Beach. (Ages 2-15) Min Hua Tsou, Kapolei; Leanza Maratita Toves, Kapolei; Maile Kaina, Mililani.

Judges in this year’s contest included DOE Art in Public Places artist in residence resource teacher Evan Tottori, Honolulu Museum of Art School assistant director Pearlyn Salvador, Hawaii News Now anchor Grace Lee, KHON2 weather anchor Justin Cruz, Shriners Hospitals for Children– Honolulu director of public relations Mahealani Richardson and Toyota Hawaii senior vice president Glenn Inouye.

The art contest was established in 2004 to teach children the importance of having a dream, while at the same time encouraging them to become interested in cars through drawing their dream vehicles.