Keiki artists encouraged to enter annual Hawaiʻi Regional Scholastic Art Awards

Lexus Hawaiʻi and the Hawaiʻi State Foundation on Culture and the Arts present the 2026-2027 Hawaiʻi Regional Scholastic Art Awards. Between Oct. 1 and Dec. 12, students from public, private, charter, and home school institutions between grades 7 through 12 are invited to submit artwork that demonstrate craftsmanship, creativity, and purpose.

This year’s theme, “Electrification,” encourages students to creatively represent the energy and innovation that reflects the ideas, people, and communities that power change and shape the future.

The Hawaiʻi Regional Scholastic Art Awards are part of the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers’ Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, the nation’s longest-running, most prestigious recognition program for creative teens. Regional entries are considered for Gold Key, Silver Key, and Honorable Mention awards.

Gold and Silver Key awardees will have their art displayed in the turnaround gallery located in the Lē‘ahi Gallery of Capitol Modern: the Hawaiʻi State Art Museum as part of the 64th Annual Hawaiʻi Regional Scholastic Art Awards Exhibition in Spring 2027, and will be automatically considered for national awards, including Gold Medal, Silver Medal, and scholarship awards. In addition, selections of award-winning work will be showcased at regional, national, and traveling exhibitions, as well as in the annual art catalog.

“Every year, this program reminds us how much art matters to our communities,” said Kamakani Konia, SFCA Art in Public Places Program Director and State Art Museum Director. “We’re grateful for community partners like Lexus Hawaiʻi, whose continued support helps keiki across the state find their voice and share it with the world.”

The partnership reflects Lexus Hawaiʻi’s role as a longtime community partner dedicated to supporting the arts and investing in the creativity of Hawaiʻi’s keiki.

Each year, an average of eight to nine entrants from the Hawaiʻi region go on to compete at the national level. National Medalists and their educators are honored with a star-studded ceremony at Carnegie Hall in New York City. Recent guests include Oprah Winfrey, Kelly Clarkson, Mayim Bialik, and Jamie Lee Curtis. Notable alumni of the program include John Lithgow, Stephen King, and Andy Warhol.

For this year’s Hawaiʻi Regional Scholastic Art Awards, 10 students statewide will also receive Lexus Hawaiʻi’s Takumi Award, which includes a $200 cash prize, statewide recognition, and feature opportunities. The award is named after Lexus’ Takumi philosophy, honoring master artisans who perfect their craft and are guided by patience, mastery, and purpose in every detail.

“Lexus Hawaiʻi is proud to stand behind Hawaiʻi’s young artists, year after year,” said Lance Ichimura, Senior Vice President of Lexus Hawaiʻi. “As a community partner, supporting the arts is one of the most meaningful ways we can invest in the next generation and in the future of our state.”

One nationally recognized Gold or Silver Key-winning student will also receive Lexus Hawaiʻi’s Visionary Award, which includes a $4,000 scholarship, plus a $4,000 grant for the student’s school in support of its art program. Award submissions will be reviewed by a group of local artists, creative professionals, and cultural administrators.

“We’re continually grateful for community partners like Lexus Hawaiʻi, whose generosity helps ensure that Hawaiʻi’s creative minds continue to flourish for generations to come,” said Konia.

To enter or learn more about the 2026-2027 Hawaiʻi Regional Scholastic Art Awards, visit https://www.artandwriting.org/regions/HI001A.