Alaska Airlines Design Finalists Include Maui’s Own

Design by Izabella Hamilton, a 12th grader from Seabury Hall. Photo courtesy of Alaska Airlines.

By Sonia Isotov

Alaska Airlines today announced the top three designs in their “Paint the Plane” contest, including one from Izabella Hamilton, a 12th grader at Seabury Hall.

The airline is inviting Hawaii residents to vote for their favorite new design to be painted on their aircraft. The public can visit www.alaskaair.com/hawaii until Dec. 18 to cast their vote, which will help Alaska Airlines determine the winner of the statewide contest.

A panel of 10 judges representing Hawaii’s government, community, arts, education and tourism leaders selected the three top designs from more than 2,700 submissions in the statewide contest sponsored by the airline, the Hawaii Department of Education and the Hawaii Association of Independent Schools.

Design by Aaron Nee, an 11th grader at Kaiser High School. Photo courtesy of Alaska Airlines.

“Ultimately, our panel of judges determined that these three designs best represent the ‘Spirit of the Islands.’ We’re eager to get the public’s input as we decide on the final design that will be painted on a 737 jet,” said Mark Bocchi, managing director of sales and community marketing for Alaska Airlines, in a written statement.

The two other design options were submitted by Sophia Cleek, a sixth grader at Kapolei Middle School, and Aaron Nee, an 11th grader at Kaiser High School. Sophia’s design depicts a voyaging canoe sailing around the islands, among various ocean wildlife. Izabela’s design incorporates a male and female hula dancer against a backdrop of ocean waves and windswept mountain cliffs. Aaron’s design displays a voyaging canoe, the hibiscus (the state’s flower) and the Hawaiian island chain, with the phrase, “Spirit of the Islands” prominently shown.

Design by Sophia Cleek, a sixth grader at Kapolei Middle School. Photo courtesy of Alaska Airlines.

The winner of the contest and honorable mentions will be announced on Jan. 10, 2013. Alaska Airlines will unveil the “Spirit of the Islands” plane at a public event 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.