Maui Matsuri Announces Contest Winners

Maui Matsuri. File image courtesy Maui Matsuri.

By Maui Now Staff

Maui Matsuri organizers announced their contest winners from the 15th annual festival held on May 16, at the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College.

The event celebrated Japanese culture with food, art, crafts and entertainment.

Various contests were included in the event.

Sam Sato Saimin 14th Annual Noodle Eating Contest Winners

Adult Division
First Place – Tyler Orikasa
Second Place – Keven Matillouro
Third Place – Barry Kurasaki

Children’s Division
First Place – Emma Raymond
Second Place – Isabella Omura
Third Place – Cidney Kowalik

10th Annual Iwamoto Natto Eating Contest Winners

Adult Division
First Place – Dean Tagaian
Second Place – Deacon MacMillan
Third Place – Rick Rulloda

Children’s Division
First Place Devynn Kochi
Second Place Isabella Omura
Third Place – Ryuuosuke Hattori

6th Annual Hanafuda/Sakura Tournament Winners,

Advanced Division – Linda Tengan
Beginner Division – Donavan Ikeuchi

Manga Art Contest Winners 

Third to Fifth Grade Division 
First Place – Nayela Roush
Second Place – Reisen Celario
Third Place – Jadelynn Fujii

Sixth to Eighth Grade Division
First – Amanda Heauser-Caires
Second Place – Courtney Sorensen
Third Place Kiana Tuttle

Ninth to 12 Grade Division
First Place Frances Camille Cabulisan
Second Place – Sabrina Futch
Third Place – Jovelle Cabulisan

Traditional Art Contest Winners

Third to Fifth Grade Division 
First Riley Regan
Second Place Wesley Feliciano
Third Place – Monserrath Lopez

Sixth to Eighth Grade Division
First Place – Sarah Fusato
Second Place – Erin Kobashigawa

Ninth to 12 Grade Division
First Place – Jovelle Cabulisan
Second Place – Samantha Le,
Third Place – Kristi Kobashigawa

Hallway Cosplay Contest Winners

Student Division
First Place – Makai Mossman (MS-34 “Alligator” – Gundam)
Second Place – Devynn Kochi (No Face – Spirited Away)
Third Place Helen Chong (Hatsune Miku – Vocaloid)

Adult Division
First Place – Rachel Inouye (Wilbuh – Furry Fandom)
Second Place – Kassandra Yokoyama (Megpoid Gumi – Vocaloid)
Third Place – Kai Altemueller (Kaneki Ken – Tokyo Ghoul)

Cosplay Showcase Winners
First Place – Lyndsay Quiocho (Hatake Kakashi [GB] – Naruto)
Second Place – Helen Chong (Hatsune Miku – Vocaloid)
Third Place – Kassandra Yokoyama (Megpoid Gumi – Vocaloid)

Video Game Tournament Winners
First Place – Gregory Ventura
Second Place – Kellen Kato
Third Place – Mason Rabanal

Both the manga and traditional art contests were supported by HouseMart Ben Franklin Crafts/Ace Hardware.

The cosplay contest was held and sponsored by Kawaii Kon. The cosplay competition involved contestants dressing up as anime or manga characters.

The hanafuda/sakura tournaments were sponsored by Hale Mahaolu.

The 2015 Maui Matsuri was presented by the Japanese Cultural Society of Maui.

Major supporters were the County of Maui and Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority.

Major sponsors were IBEW – Local Union 1186, Island Honda, Maui Taiko, and University of Hawaiʻi  Maui College.

Fill out a survey for this year’s Maui Matsuri online.

For sponsorship opportunities for the 16th Annual Maui Matsuri, call the Matsuri Hotline at (808) 283-9999.