HAIKU - Fourth-grader Julie Anne Ohashi-Sides' essay about her grandparents and their general store won the grand champion title in the Haiku History Contest for 4th- and 5th-graders at Haiku School.
The winners were recognized at last month's Ha'iku Ho'olaule'a and Flower Festival.
The contest was part of the elementary school's effort to encourage students to learn about the history of their region. Fourth- and 5th-graders were given the option of writing essays about anything related to the area.
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JULIE ANNE OHASHI-SIDES
Haiku fourth-grader
Julie Anne's teacher is Jennifer Smith. Other winners (and their teachers), in order of finish, were:
* Grade 4 - Miksa Karcheski (teacher Smith), Matthew Peacock (Theresa Haberstroh), Thomas "Tiago" Ramirez (Haberstroh) and Maelina Karalius (Smith).
* Grade 5 - Ofa-Helotu Koka (Lisa Daly), Christina Hunt (Daly), Evangeline Bailey (Daria Boone) and Kelson Lau (Daly).
The essays became part of the school's display at the Ho'olaule'a, which is a major fundraiser for campus programs. They are now in the school library and can be read by visitors.
Also during the Ho'olaule'a, a plaque that replicates the cover of Louis Baldovi's memoir, "Holoholo to Wen I Wuz: Kolohe Days in Haiku, Maui - 1930s-1950s," was unveiled in the school library.
The plaque is in the recently dedicated Louis Baldovi Room.
Baldovi was a Korean War Veteran, high school principal and author. The memoir is about growing up in Kuiaha.
The nonprofit Haiku Living Legacy Project published the memoir posthumously last year.
Proceeds from sales of the book went toward restoration of the room and installation of maple-wood shelving, and will add to the room's historical and cultural collection about the Haiku region.
The book is available at haikulivinglegacy.com.
