Four Oahu teens are the "Top Four" winners of the 2013 Hawaii State Public Library System and Hawaii Pizza Hut Teen Summer Reading Program-Oahu Finale event conducted this morning (7/27) at Kahala Mall Center Court Stage. Lilinoe Kuoha, Grade 12, the Waianae Public Library finalist, won the Grand Prize of a Notebook computer; Jessica Seuh, Grade 7, Aiea Public Library finalist, won a 32" LCD television; Clarissa Skipworth, Grade 8 (homeschooled), Salt Lake-Moanalua Public Library finalist, won a Nintendo 3D; and Ashley Kunihiro, Grade 8, the Pearl City Public Library finalist, won an iPod Nano.
They were among a large group of finalists, each a lucky drawing winner of the 24 Oahu branch public libraries.
One-by-one, finalists selected a numbered pizza box that had a prize listed inside. Other prizes included Nook HD Tablets, G-Boom Bluetooth Wireless Boombox, 8" Android Tablet, 9" portable DVD player, player and a wide array of fabulous entertainment, electronic and apparel gift cards from various stores. All prizes are donated by Hawaii Pizza Hut, corporate sponsor of the Teen Summer Reading Program for the past 21 years.
State Librarian Richard Burns delivered the opening remarks to a large audience that included the teens with their parents, family members and relatives, and interested shoppers. Lina Girl, co-host of the "KCCN FM 100 Morning Drive Show," emceed the popular event for the second year-in-a-row. Award-winning teen sensation Haley Michelle Kagimoto, First Place winner of "Brown Bags to Stardom" and "Hawaii Stars" competitions, and Second Place winner of the "National Grammy's Songwriting Competition" (teen division), presented a special musical performance to kick off the annual summer reading program-Oahu finale.
This year, nearly 3,200 teens statewide participated in the annual HSPLS Teen Summer Reading Program which encourages reading and strengthens reading habits. Collectively, these teens read nearly 24,000 books.
"Beneath the Surface" is this year's theme which motivated teens to explore what's beneath the surface of the earth, the ocean, history, mainstream popular culture, and even what's under their own skin. Students entering grade 7 through 2013 high school graduates were invited to sign up for the five-week Teen Summer Reading Program.
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. More than 27,500 readers of all ages read more than 305,000 books in five weeks.
The 2013 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
Jessica Seuh, Gr. 7, Aiea
Mika Walker, Gr. 11, Aina Haina
Kahana Thomas, Gr. 7, Ewa Beach
Catherine Chang, Gr. 7, Hawaii Kai
Irene Chen, Gr. 10, Hawaii State Library
Kiana Smith, Gr. 9, Kahuku
Amanda-Joy Lee, Gr. 7, Kailua
Kelsey Ann Kimura, Gr. 9, Kaimuki
Demitries Dulay, Gr. 9, Kalihi-Palama
Chloe Cummins, Gr. 7, Kaneohe
Kailee Jackson, Gr. 7, Kapolei
Kythan Nakatsu, 2013 graduate, Library for the Blind & Physically Handicapped
Winny Chen, Gr. 11, Liliha
Winnie Lau, Gr. 7, Manoa
Jaimee Sisiam, Gr. 11, McCully-Moiliili
Kaydee Anne Ramos, Gr. 10, Mililani
Ashley Kunihiro, Gr. 8, Pearl City
Clarissa Skipworth, Gr. 8, Salt Lake-Moanalua
Roxy Edra, Gr. 8, Wahiawa
Isabel Reasoner, Gr. 7, Waialua
Lilinoe Kuoha, Gr. 12, Waianae
Amaya Soto, Gr. 10, Waikiki-Kapahulu
Justus Rogers-Makainai, Gr. 7, Waimanalo
Vincent Nosis, Gr. 8, Waipahu
PHOTO CAPTION: The 2013 Hawaii State Public Library System and Hawaii Pizza Hut Teen Summer Reading Program-Oahu Finale Winners with (L-R) State Librarian Richard Burns (far left), Haley Michelle Kagimoto (row 1, 2nd from left), and emcee Lina Girl Langi (top row, far right) at Kahala Mall.