Area Designers Win Big For Drawings Of Their ‘Dream Cars’

The three state age-category winners in the Toyota Hawaii 2014 Dream Car Contest are (front, from left) Sheena Rae Reyes of Waimalu Elementary (ages 8-11), Kaneohe’s Emily Stone of Kamehameha Middle School (ages 12-15) and Ryan Kanda of Kainalu Elementary (under 8). They each won $100 and an iPad Mini and will have their car designs sent on for judging in the Toyota World Contest. Congratulating them at the April 19 ceremony are (back, from left) TV news anchor Tannya Joaquin, Toyota Hawaii senior vice president Glenn Inouye and Shriners Hospital’s Mahealani Richardson. Photo from Pang Communications.

Four student artists and one teacher from West Oahu are among the final few honored in the 2014 Toyota Hawaii Dream Car Art Contest, which announced the finalists for the World Contest last month.

The annual competition allows children to draw their dream car while letting their imaginations run wild. The car company stated that it wanted children to “understand the importance of having a dream … and encourage them to become interested in cars.”

Sheena Rae Reyes, 10, of Waimalu Elementary in Aiea took first place for ages 8 to 11, and three Kapolei Middle students – Karli Enos, Teah Laupapa and Rachelle Marie Lariba – all made the top three for their age groups. They won iPad Minis, $100, and will be judged in the World contest.

Laupapa’s entry also earned her an extra $100 as a top vote-getter on Facebook.

Holomua Elementary teacher Glenda Salvador, along with three others, were randomly selected to win a $250 gift card for school supplies from Toyota Hawaii.

World Contest winners will be announced in August. At stake is a trip to Toyota City, Japan, for the winner of the best design of them all.