HC&S Awards $13K in Grants to Maui Youth Centers

Photo credit: HC&S.

Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Company donated a total of $13,000 in cash prizes to nine Maui youth centers during its third annual HC&S/EMI Safety Selfie Photo Contest.

This year’s competition, continually themed “Play Hard. Play Safe.” challenged Maui’s youth centers and their members to find unique ways to use “selfies” to encourage Maui’s keiki to stay out of the ditches and off the cane roads, and instead seek other fun island activities.

All of the winners were announced at a celebratory ceremony held on November 25 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center.

The complete list of winners includes the following:

• Pāʻia Youth & Cultural Center – $3,700 (grand prize winner with two winning photographs)
• Hāna Youth Center – $2,500
• Kīhei Youth Center – $2,500
• Boys & Girls Club of Maui, Haʻikū – $1,000
• Boys & Girls Club of Maui, Paukūkalo – $750
• Boys & Girls Club of Maui, Lahaina – $750
• Boys & Girls Club of Maui, Makawao – $750
• Boys & Girls Club of Maui, Kahekili Terrace – $500
• Boys & Girls Club of Maui, Central – $500

In addition to the $13,000 in cash grants directed to support the work of Maui’s Youth Centers, HC&S and EMI management presented each of the youth center members with a 2016 calendar displaying all of the creative photos entered in the contest. Each center was given additional copies of the calendars to sell as a fundraising tool.

As part of the contest, each center was given $250 for participating, along with branded foam shakas as props for their photos. In the past, the centers have been provided with branded fans and trucker hats for their photos. Winning photos received the additional cash prizes listed above.

All of the 77 submitted photos were posted online at the HC&S website and the public was invited to choose their favorite photo. With over 3,000 votes cast, Kīhei Youth Center emerged as the winner of the Viewer’s Favorite award.

In addition, a panel of local judges was convened to select winning photos in numerous special categories, such as the “Best Photo Incorporating Maui Culture” and “Most Creative Representation of Safety Theme.”

Judges included: sportscaster – Kanoa Leahey; social media specialist – Brendan Smith; pro-surfer – Paige Alms; Maui Family Magazine Editor – Nicole Shipman; and Mayor Alan Arakawa.

Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Company is the state’s largest farm, with 36,000 acres under cultivation, and is Hawaiʻi’s sole producer of raw and specialty sugar.