Teen Artists Show Compassion

Six students from Kaiser and Kalani high schools took top honors at Aloha Harvest’s third annual Compassion Arts Competition for their works in sculpture, photography and poetry.

Aloha Harvest, a Kaimuki-based nonprofit, sponsored the art contest as a way to bring awareness to its mission of providing food to those in need. The 11 winning pieces were displayed at The ARTS at Marks Garage this fall, selected from entries by more than 100 students from 16 schools that participated in the competition.

Kaiser High’s Ethan Frank took first place in the Digital Photo category with an image of a houseless man lying on a bench, titled, “Is it Too Hard to Help Another Person?” Fellow Cougar Talia McNamara took first in the Poetry division for her entry, “The Gift.”

Kalani High School swept the Sculpture category, with Jacob Ball, Traci Urata and Dezzi Synan taking first, second and third place, respectively. Ball’s sculpture, “Human,” depicts a homeless man reaching out toward an oblivious businessman, while Urata’s “Hope” is a damaged heart. Synan’s “(Not) a Reflection” rounds out the trio of winners.