Hokulani Holt-Padilla, cultural programs director for the Maui Arts & Cultural Center, has been named one of the judges in Alaska Airlines "Paint the Plane" contest.
The contest, held in partnership with the state Department of Education and the Hawaii Association of Independent Schools, invites school-aged children in Hawaii to create artwork honoring the unique culture of the Aloha State that may adorn a Boeing 737-800.
The 10-member judging panel is made up of Hawaii government, business, arts, education, tourism and community members. In addition to Holt-Padilla, judges include chef and restauranteur Sam Choy, singer/songwriter Henry Kapono and Mike McCartney, president and chief executive officer of the Hawai'i Tourism Authority.
They will select the top three designs and honorable mentions. Hawaii residents will then vote on the top-three designs and provide Alaska Airlines with their recommendation in an online public vote slated for Dec. 11 to 18.
Students in kindergarten through 12th grade from public, private and home schools in Hawaii have until Nov. 30 to submit designs.
The plane is scheduled to be revealed at a public event in Hawaii in the spring of 2013.
The student with the winning submission will get his or her design painted on an Alaska Airlines aircraft, a trip for four to any of the carrier's destinations and a $5,000 scholarship. Second- and third-place winners will receive a trip for four to any Alaska Airlines destination, and 12 honorable mentions will be awarded a $1,000 scholarship each, except for the grade of the grand prize winner.
Complete contest details, entry forms and judges' biographies are available at the website www.alaskaair.com/hawaii.
