Kaiser Permanente Hawai‘i selected three art pieces by University of Hawai‘i–West O‘ahu Academy for Creative Media (ACM) students and will showcase their artwork as part of its Kīpukaoha Community Art Contest.
The contest offered UH West O‘ahu ACM student artists a chance to display their work in Kaiser Permanente’s Kīpukaoha Community Art Gallery, a curated space in the waiting area of Urgent Care and Behavioral Health at its West O‘ahu Medical Office in Kapolei.
The winning artists — selected out of 16 total students — and their artwork are:
- First place: Tre Zamora, “Ancestral Pathways”
- Second place: Ava Marie Peters, “Our Connection”
- Third place: Jonathan Sivalop, “Rooted in the ‘Āina”
UH West O‘ahu Academy for Creative Media Director Sharla Hanaoka said that for the three students, being selected as finalists is meaningful because their work will live in a “real community space, contributing to an environment centered on care, healing, and connection.”
Hanaoka continued, “For our Creative Media students, this kind of opportunity affirms that their creative voices matter — that art and storytelling can shape a sense of place, honor cultural identity, and positively impact the everyday experiences of others.”
The theme for this year’s Kīpukaoha Community Art Contest was “Pili ‘Ohana,” which emphasizes family-centered healing in Hawaiian culture, exploring generational knowledge transfer and community connections in health and wellness.
All submissions were reviewed by a panel of professionals from Kaiser Permanente and UH West O‘ahu. Finalists were chosen based on their ability to reflect the Hawaiian culture and community of West O‘ahu; demonstrate creativity, originality, and technical proficiency; and align with Kaiser Permanente’s values of health, wellness, diversity, and inclusion.
The three finalists were announced in May and their winning pieces will be ready and on display in the gallery in the new year.
“This initiative offers emerging artists the unique opportunity to showcase their creativity while contributing to a deeper sense of place and cultural identity within our medical office,” according to a contest description by Kaiser Permanente. “By incorporating art that reflects the rich heritage and vibrant communities of Hawai‘i, we aim to foster an environment that not only promotes healing and well-being but also resonates with the spirit of aloha. We believe that art has the transformative power to enhance patient experiences, cultivate a sense of connection, and honor the beauty of local talent and traditions.”