Submitted by Hawaii State Public Library System:
Three Oahu teens are the "Top Three" winners of the 2015 Hawaii State Public Library System and Hawaii Pizza Hut Teen Summer Reading Program-Oahu Finale event conducted this morning (8/1) at Pearlridge Center-Uptown Center Court Stage. Amy Iwani, Grade 9, the Aiea Public Library finalist, won the Grand Prize of a 13.3" Chromebook computer; Lily-Amina Feliciano, Grade 11, Waipahu Public Library finalist, won a Beats by Dr. Dre Headphone; and Oscar Cardona, Jr., Grade 10, McCully-Moiliili Public Library finalist, won a 24" LED television.
They were among a large group of finalists, each a lucky drawing winner of the 24 Oahu branch public libraries.
One-by-one, finalists came up on stage to select a numbered pizza box that had a prize listed inside. Other prizes included a Kindle Fire HD7, GoPro Hero, Dell Venue 8 Pro Tablet, Asus Zen Pad C7.0 Tablet, iLiveBlue Bluetooth CD+DVD Boombox and a wide array of fabulous entertainment, electronic and apparel gift cards from various stores. Most of the prizes were donated by Hawaii Pizza Hut, corporate sponsor of the Teen Summer Reading Program for the past 23 years, and Pearlridge Center added a couple of gift certificates.
State Librarian Stacey Aldrich delivered the opening remarks to a large audience that included the teens with their parents, family members and relatives, and interested shoppers. Entertainer Lina Girl, a devoted library patron, emceed the popular event for the fifth consecutive year. During the intermission, Oahu winners of the 2015 HSPLS/Hawaii Pizza Hut "Get Caught Reading" Instagram Contest were recognized and awarded a $40 Apple iTunes gift card prize, courtesy of Hawaii Pizza Hut. Honoka & Azita, a dynamic duo of teen ukulele sensations, performed a lively set of four songs, including a high-energy and electrifying rendition of the "Hawaii Five-O" theme song. Five Star Wars characters including Storm Troopers and Sandman from the Pacific Outpost of the 501st Legion assisted in the program by guarding the prize boxes.
Every summer, more than 3,000 teens statewide participate in our annual HSPLS Teen Summer Reading Program and collectively read approximately 30,000 books. This year's seven-week program was conducted from May 31 through July 18 at Hawaii's public libraries, and the theme was "UnMask!" which motivated teens to "unmask" heroes of all kinds – from real heroes of the past to heroes of today, fictional heroes in literature and film, superheroes in comics and movies, and the heroes they may find in themselves.
The three HSPLS Summer Reading Programs are sponsored by the Friends of the Library of Hawaii and their year-round sponsors, and offered to children (including infants), teens, and adults, respectively.
The 2015 Hawaii State Public Library System and Hawaii Pizza Hut Teen Summer Reading Program-Oahu Finale Winners are:
Teen Name – Grade Level – Host Oahu Public Library
Amy Iwami, Gr. 9, Aiea
Connie Chang, Gr. 12, Aina Haina
Lori Ann Garcia, Gr. 9, Ewa Beach
Reiko Kuba, Gr. 8, Hawaii Kai
Min Qi Yue, Gr. 7, Hawaii State Library-Young Adult Section
Cullen Meyers, Gr. 9, Kahuku
Malina Manni, Gr. 9, Kailua
Chance Lee, Gr. 11, Kaimuki
Uilani Kailahi, Gr. 7, Kalihi-Palama
Tia Lovell, Gr. 12, Kaneohe
Sarah Guerrero, Gr. 10, Kapolei
Christopher Jackson, Gr. 11, Library for the Blind & Physically Handicapped
Pau-Lin Lam, Gr. 9, Liliha
Jamie Ha, Gr. 7, Manoa
Oscar Cardona, Jr., Gr. 10, McCully-Moiliili
Anuhea Gampong, Gr. 11, Mililani
Gavin Yamamoto, Gr. 7, Pearl City
Evan Kawaoka, Gr. 9, Salt Lake-Moanalua
Mary Anne Panganiban, Gr. 9, Wahiawa
Zane Balmoja, Gr. 9, Waialua
Alexis Cadirao, Gr. 9, Waianae
Herman Hamada III, Gr. 9, Waikiki-Kapahulu
Kaley Nellans, Gr. 8, Waimanalo
Lily-Amina Feliciano, Gr. 11, Waipahu
Photo courtesy of the Hawaii State Public Library System
The 2015 Hawaii State Public Library System and Hawaii Pizza Hut Teen Summer Reading
Program-Oahu Finale Winners with (2nd row, L-R) Hawaii Pizza Hut Marketing Director Leah Allen,
State Librarian Stacey Aldrich, and (top row) Star Wars' characters from the Pacific Outpost
of the 501st Legion at Pearlridge Center.