​​​If there is one takeaway from the 2015 Student Art Exhibition, which showcases the work of student artists from across the state, it is this — local folks love the beach.

The theme of this year's program is "Celebrating Hawaii with My Family and Friends." And our grades K-6 keiki do that well. Swimming. Snorkeling. Surfing. Watching sunsets. Watching sunrises. Holding hands on the sand. Barbecuing by a pair of palm trees, a hammock stretched between. Watching the Hikianalia sail by. (Click the program image, right, to view winning works of art.)

While the 96 students selected for the juried exhibition showcased a few other highlights of Hawaii living — notably the view from atop Kuliouou, gazing at the Koolau against a bright night sky, or basking in the beauty of Hawaiian gardens — the beach won, hands down.

The program honoring the student work at the Hawaii Convention Center this weekend featured a special address from First Lady Dawn Ige, who praised the children for their creative efforts. The Department's curriculum leader, Leila Hayashida, reminded the kids to thank their art teachers for helping to cultivate that creative spark. And the Kaimuki High School's Performing Arts Center impressed with songs from their upcoming staging of Rodgers & Hammerstein's "Cinderella."

Mahalo to Sarah E. Bremser (professor of art and visual arts coordinator at Kapiolani Community College) and Victor Nobuo Kobayashi (professor emeritus of educational foundations at the University of Hawaii-Manoa) for judging.

About the Student Art Exhibition

The 2015 Student Art Exhibition is a program established by the Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts (HSFCA) to recognize and display student artwork. The program is funded through the Works of Art Special Fund and provides opportunities for students to participate in a juried art competition, much like the prestigious Artists of Hawaii annual exhibition hosted by the Honolulu Museum of Art. Permanent display facilities were designed and constructed for the Pa Kamalii Courtyard at the Hawaii Convention Center and a competitive annual exhibition was developed by HSFCA in cooperation with the Department of Education, Hawaii Association of Independent Schools, and the Hawaii Tourism Authority.

All public and private school students, grades K through 6, were encouraged to participate in the 2015 Student Art Exhibition. The theme, “Celebrating Hawaii with My Family and Friends,” is intended to inspire students to express how they feel, see, or interpret their lives in the islands. Once each school submits works for jurying a distinguished team of judges selects 96 artworks for exhibition.

The 2015 Student Art Exhibition will enable visitors to experience the common interests and cultural diversity of Hawai‘i through the art of its youth. The work will be on display at the center through April 2016.