Maui Matsuri 2014 Contest Winners Announced

The winners for the manga art contest were: 3rd-5th grade – Erin Kobashigawa, first; Josh Krueger, second; and Jaime Tirona, third; 6th-8th grade – Allison Bacay, first; Frances Cabulisan, second; and Kiki Bekkum, third; 9th-12 grade – Sabrina Futch, first; Makai Mossman, second; and Helen Chong, third. Pictured: Sabrina Futch. Courtesy photo.

By Maui Now Staff

Organizers of the Maui Matsuri festival announced winners of various contests from the 14th annual event held on May 10 at the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College.

The event celebrated Japanese culture with food, art, crafts, entertainment, and a variety of contests including kendama and hanafuda tournaments, saimin and nato eating contests, and cosplay and traditional arts competitions.

Winners in each category include the following:

Inaugural Kendama Tournament sponsored by Kaleidoscope Maui:

Advanced Level 3: (1) Ken Vanhtha; (2) Earlie Marie Domingo

Intermediate Level 2: (1) Aaron Casallo; (2) Michael Casallo

Beginner Level 1: (1) Bryson Caolle; (2) Dasiah Campos

13th Annual Sam Sato Saimin Contest:

Adult Division: (1) Tyler Orikasa; (2) Barry Kurasaki; (3) Julius Orosco

Children’s Division: (1) Gabriel Salazar; (2) Shanyce McAvoy; (3) Kami Kutsunai

10th Annual Iwamoto Natto Eating Contest:

Adult Division: (1) Dean Tagalan; (2) Darrell Kurosawa; (3) Jonathan Forte

Children’s Division: (1) Devynn Kochi; (2) Gabriel Salazar; (3) Jena Suzuki

5th Annual Hanafuda/Sakura Tournament, sponsored by Hale Mahaolu:

Ramon Coratibo was named with winner in the advanced division.

Traditional Art Contest, supported by Fred and Ann Araki.:

9th-12th grade: (1) Aysha Nishibayashi-Rincon; (2) Alyssa Fusato; (3)Kristi Kobashigawa

6th-8th grade: (1) Sarah Fusato; (2) Frances Cabulisan

3rd-5th grade: (1) Emma Fusato; (2) Aliyah Englert; (3) Emalani Kekauoha-Schultz

The 5th annual hanafuda/sakura tournament, sponsored by Hale Mahaolu, was won by Ramon Coratibo (advanced division). Courtesy photo.

Manga Art Contest, supported by Fred and Ann Araki.:

9th-12 grade: (1) Sabrina Futch; (2) Makai Mossman; (3) Helen Chong

6th-8th grade: (1) Allison Bacay; (2) Frances Cabulisan; (3) Kiki Bekkum

3rd-5th grade: (1) Erin Kobashigawa; (2) Josh Krueger; (3) Jaime Tirona

Cosplay Contest sponsored by Kawaii Kon:

Student Division: (1) Rachael Inouye; (2) Jarod Julian; (3) Haley Shimada

Adult Division – Hallway Cosplay: (1) Damian Rosen; (2) Amy Mathis; (3) Jasmine Lake

Cosplay Showcase: (1) Tanisha Bowker; (2) Christian Harkin; (3) Devynn Kochi

Video Game Tournament sponsored by Kawaii Kon:

Tournament Winners: (1) Chase Hopkins; (2) Victor Le, second; (3) Greg Ventura

The 2014 Maui Matsuri was presented by the Japanese Cultural Society of Maui, with supporter from the County of Maui, the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority, IBEW – Local Union 1186, Island Honda, Maui Taiko, and University of Hawaiʻi Maui College.