Dream Ride: A budding artist is heading to Japan as a contest finalist
Emily Stone, 11, of Kaneohe has been selected as a finalist in the international Toyota Dream Car Art Contest.
Emily, a student at Kamehameha Schools, drew a picture of a bubble-like, futuristic gold car parked in an open savanna.
She said her first inspiration for the creation was a cheetah, and then she just let her imagination run wild.
Her artwork is titled “Kronen,” which is Norwegian for “crown,” a reference to variations of the word used in Toyota’s most popular cars including the Camry and Corolla and previously manufactured Corona.
Emily was awarded first place in the 10-to-12 age category of Toyota Hawaii’s Dream Car Art Contest. Her artwork was then submitted to the international contest where she received the best-finalist award in her age group.
She is one of 30 finalists selected from more than 620,000 entrants worldwide to participate in the final awards ceremony, to be held Tuesday in Toyota City in the Aichi prefecture of Japan.
Emily will be the only U.S. representative at the ceremony, where she and her family will meet Toyota Motor Corp. president Akio Toyoda and executive vice president Yukitoshi Funo.
Emily’s love of art — particularly the work of late artist-historian Herb Kane — inspired her to enter the contest.
She has been taking art classes since she was in preschool. She says her art teacher from fourth to sixth grade, Ms. Nakea, encouraged her to become the artist she is today.
“This will be my first trip to Japan,” Emily said. “I’m so excited to meet Mr. Toyoda and all the other winners from around the world. I’m shocked that I made it this far, but very happy and proud.”
Emily has advice for other children interested in art: “If you really enjoy doing something, practice. Then you’ll be able to get really good at the things you love.”
Toyota’s sixth annual Dream Car Art Contest was open to Hawaii students age 15 and under.
Student submissions of hand-drawn artwork based on the theme “Your Dream Car” were received between Dec. 1 and Jan. 31. Five finalists in each of the three age categories were selected in March and won $150.
Information on the next contest will be posted on ToyotaHawaii.com in the fall. — Nina Wu
Enjoy the culture and cuisine at milestone Okinawan Festival
The Okinawan Festival returns to Kapiolani Park for its 30th-anniversary celebration 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 1 and 2. The festival includes arts and crafts, fresh andagi for sale, entertainment and a country store.
The Sept. 1 entertainment lineup includes a special lion dance at 2:30 p.m., Kouta Itoh at 3 p.m. and Keiko Kina and family at 4 p.m.
Cultural demonstrations, such as flower arrangement and calligraphy, will be held in the cultural tent along with educational booths on Okinawan language and genealogy, and displays of ceramics, glassware and textiles.
Chicken nishime (Saturday only) and chocolate-dipped andagi (during the bon dance only) are the new offerings. Other favorites for sale include andadog (Okinawan version of the corn dog), soba, taco rice (taco ingredients layered on rice) and pigs’ feet soup.
Parking is available at Kapiolani Community College with shuttle service to the festival costing $2 round trip. Visit www.okinawanfestival.com for more details or call 676-5400. — Star-Advertiser staff
Marine center observes Labor Day with hands-on activities for kids
The Living Art Marine Center has a schedule of events — everything from fish feeding to squid dissection — planned for kids and parents looking for something to do Labor Day weekend.
Tours are 90 minutes, unless otherwise noted. The selection of tours follows:
» Fish Feeding Frenzy (1 p.m. Sept. 2): Learn what different marine animals eat and feed some of them yourself. Recommended for ages 5 and up with parent chaperone. (Cost: $7.50 for child, $5 for adults; ages 5 and older.)
» ‘Opae Ula — Hawaiian super shrimp (10 a.m. Sept. 3): Learn more about the shrimp and how it is an ideal pet, then make your own customized pet shrimp aquarium to take home. (Cost: $15 per shrimp aquarium, ages 5 and older.)
» Shell Jewelry Workshop (10 a.m. to noon Monday): Make your own necklace with beads and shells. (Cost: $10 per necklace, with additional fees for other pendants and shells; ages 5 and older.)
» Splash Tour (1 p.m. Sept. 3): A guided tour of the Marine Center’s exhibits and touch tide pool, includes gyotaku fish printing craft. (Cost: $6.50 per person, ages 2 and older.)
» Squid Dissection Workshop with Professor Tako (1 p.m. Sept. 3): Professor Tako teaches students about the various organs of the squid and their functions. (Cost: $15 child, $5 adult, ages 6 and older.)
The Living Art Marine Center is at 3239 Ualena St. No. 100. Reservations required for workshops. Call 841-8080 or visit livingartmarinecenter.com. — Star-Advertiser staff
