Grand Prize and Other Winners of Teen Summer Reading Finale-Oahu Announced | Arts & Culture

Four Oahu teens are the “Top Four” winners of the 2012 Hawaii State Public Library System and Hawaii Pizza Hut Teen Summer Reading Program-Oahu Finale event conducted this morning (7/28) at Kahala Mall Center Court Stage: Megan Tanabe, Grade 8, the Liliha Public Library finalist, won the Grand Prize of a Kindle Fire tablet; Susan Shiroma, Grade 10, Aina Haina Public Library finalist, won a NOOK Color e-Reader; Joseph Almuena, Grade 10, Kalihi-Palama Public Library finalist, won a Nintendo 3DS; and Tyler Kamei, Grade 7, the Aiea Public Library finalist, won a Westinghouse 22” LED television.     

They were among a large group of finalists, each a lucky drawing winner of the 24 Oahu branch public libraries.  One-by-one, finalists selected a numbered pizza box that had a prize listed inside.  Other prizes included a Nikon Cool Pix digital camera, Phillips 9” portable DVD player, Blue-Ray DVD player, iHome iPod/iPhone alarm clock, and a wide array of gift cards from various stores.  All prizes are donated by Hawaii Pizza Hut, corporate sponsor of the Teen Summer Reading Program for the past 20 years.

Stacie Kanno, Public Libraries Branch Director, delivered the opening remarks to a large audience that included the teens with their parents, family members and relatives, and interested shoppers.  Lina Girl, popular co-host of the “KCCN FM 100 Morning Drive Show,” emceed the event.  Ukulele sensations Nick Acosta, Nelly Toyama-Baduria of Roy Sakuma Productions, Inc., and Daniel Baduria, presented a special musical performance to kick off the annual summer reading program finale.

Participation and the number of books read increased this year for the Teen Summer Reading Program.  More than 3,200 teens statewide participated in the annual HSPLS Teen Summer Reading Program which encourages reading and strengthens reading habits.  Collectively, these teens read nearly 25,000 books.   

“Own the Night” is this year’s theme which motivated teens to enjoy the wonders of night – dreams, mysteries, suspense and campfire stories, nocturnal animals, jobs and careers involving night-shifts, astronomy and star-gazing!   Students entering grade 7 through 2012 high school graduates were invited to sign up for the five-week Teen Summer Reading Program.                 

The three HSPLS Summer Reading Programs are sponsored by the Friends of the Library of Hawaii and their year-round sponsors, and offered to children (including infants), teens, and adults, respectively.  Overall, there was a 10 percent increase in participation for these programs combined, with more than 28,000 readers of all ages who read more than 300,000 books in five weeks.                

The 2012 Hawaii State Public Library System and Hawaii Pizza Hut Teen Summer Reading Program-Oahu Finale Winners are:

Teen Name – Grade Level – Host Oahu Public Library

Tyler Kamei, Gr. 7, Aiea

Susan Shiroma, Gr. 10, Aina Haina

David Tupper, Gr. 8, Ewa Beach

Sarah Yip, Gr. 8, Hawaii Kai

Dustin Borromeo, 2012 graduate, Hawaii State Library

Morgan Cameron, Gr. 11, Kahuku

Grace Laudick, Gr. 8, Kailua

Lia Monica Reyes, Gr. 10, Kaimuki

Joseph Almuena, Gr. 10, Kalihi-Palama

Camille Yim, Gr. 8, Kaneohe  

Lahaina Hipolito, Gr. 7, Kapolei

Etalynia Jahier, Gr. 11, Library for the Blind & Physically Handicapped

Megan Tanabe, Gr. 8, Liliha

Julia Holt, Gr. 8, Manoa

Rihui Yuan, Gr. 11, McCully-Moiliili

Arielle Wilson, Gr. 9, Mililani

Cassidy Delos Santos, Gr. 8, Pearl City

HaRim Koo, Gr. 10, Salt Lake-Moanalua

Keliam Brunn, Gr. 7, Wahiawa

Isaiah Hewitt, Gr. 7, Waialua

Chanralyn Croker, Gr. 10, Waianae

Iwalani Miehlstein, Gr. 7, Waikiki-Kapahulu

Angela Naleieha, Gr. 12, Waimanalo

Angelynne Utleg, Gr. 12, Waipahu