West Students Selected As Finalists In Dream Car Art Contest

Students from throughout the state, including several from West Oahu, placed as finalists in Toyota Hawaii's Dream Car Art Contest. Pictured (from left) are Michelle Lee, Emily Stone, Daven Nakagawa, KHON2's Olena Heu, Sheyden Yoshimura, Jordan Lam, Kylah Reed, Zoe Hirashima, Keenan O'Kelley, Raychelle Tavai, Kelly Guo, Suky Zhao, Emily Otoshi, Toyota Hawaii's Glenn Inouye and Kristen Pang. Photo courtesy Pang Communications.

Toyota Hawaii announced the 15 student finalists in its Dream Car Art Contest during an awards ceremony March 10 at Servco Auto Honolulu and Maui Toyota in Kahului. A number of the finalists are from the West Oahu area.

Finalists’ artwork will go on to the international competition.

According to Toyota Hawaii, if any Hawaii entries are chosen as finalists in the international competition, those students will receive a trip to Japan for the final round in August.

There were three categories: under 10 years old, ages 10-12 and ages 13-15.

Michelle Lee, 9, of Manana Elementary was a finalist in the under 10 division; Daven Nakagawa, 12, of Aiea Intermediate and Waipahu resident Sheyden Yoshimura, 11, of Momilani Elementary were finalists in the ages 10-12 division; and Kelly Guo (13), Keenan O’Kelley (13) and Kylah Reed (13) of Kapolei Middle School are finalists in the ages 13-15 division. These students received award certificates and checks for $150.

The Dream Car Art Contest was open to all Hawaii students ages 15 and under, and students had to submit hand-drawn entries based on the theme “Your Dream Car.”

During the contest period between Dec. 1 of last year and Jan. 31, there were nearly 300 entries submitted.

This is the first year Toyota Hawaii has participated in the international contest, which provides opportunities for students to have fun using their imaginations to create their dream cars.