Creative keiki across the state are invited to enter their unique work of art in the 2025 Mayor’s Memorial Day Poster Contest.
The City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Parks and Recreation invites school-age keiki to create a drawing that they feel reflects the “Sew a Lei for Memorial Day” effort in which roughly 38,000 fresh lei are placed on the graves of those who died in the line of duty and rest in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Pūowaina (Punchbowl) for the annual Mayor’s Memorial Day Ceremony.
Image ideas include lei-making activities or ceremonial actions such as military salutes or other patriotic symbols. DPR encourages educators to use the poster contest as an educational and creative opportunity to highlight island keiki artists while expressing appreciation for those who lost their lives while on duty.
Winning artists and their posters will be recognized in an official ceremony with Mayor Rick Blangiardi during which certificates and prizes will be awarded.
DPR says winning entries will be selected based on their appeal, originality and effectiveness in conveying the message of lei-making or Memorial Day service activities.
Artwork guidelines:
- Use an 8.5” x 11” white or colored paper or poster board, landscape or portrait orientation, no frames or matting.
- Create your artwork using pen, ink, markers, crayons, pastels and/or paints. No computer-generated or enhanced artwork and no cutouts.
- One entry per student with student’s name, grade, school and/or island, plus teacher’s name, phone number and email listed on the back upper right corner of the artwork.
Entries can be mailed or hand-delivered to: Department of Parks and Recreation, Attn: Samantha Sun, 1000 Uluohia Street, Suite 309, Kapolei, HI 96707.
Mailed entries must be received by Feb. 24. Original copies will not be returned, so be sure to scan your artwork for your records. Contact Samantha Sun at 808-768-3032 or email ssun1@honolulu.gov for more information.
The 74th Mayor’s Memorial Day Ceremony is tentatively scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. on Memorial Day May 26 at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Pūowaina.
