HONOLULU – Lexus Hawaiʻi and the Hawaiʻi State Foundation on Culture and the Arts (SFCA) proudly present the 2025-2026 Hawaiʻi Regional Scholastic Art Awards. Between October 1 and December 12, students from public, private, charter and home school institutions between grades 7 through 12 are invited to submit artwork that demonstrate craftsmanship, creativity, and purpose.
The Hawaiʻi Regional Scholastic Art Awards are part of the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers’ Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, the nation’s longest-running, most prestigious recognition program for creative teens. Regional entries are considered for Gold Key, Silver Key, and Honorable Mention awards.
Gold Key awardees will have their art displayed in the turnaround gallery located in the Lē‘ahi Gallery of Capitol Modern: the Hawaiʻi State Art Museum as part of the 63rd Annual Hawaiʻi Regional Scholastic Art Awards Exhibition in Spring 2026, and will be automatically considered for national awards, including Gold Medal, Silver Medal, and scholarship awards. In addition, selections of award-winning work will be showcased at regional, national, and traveling exhibitions, as well as in the annual art catalog.
“The Scholastic Art Awards empower young artists across the state to dream boldly, create with purpose, and share their voice through art,” said Kamakani Konia, SFCA Art in Public Places Program Director and State Art Museum Director. “We are thrilled to, once again, offer keiki the opportunity to compete on a national stage among talented peers from across the country.”
Each year, an average of eight to nine entrants from the Hawaiʻi region go on to compete at the national level. National Medalists and their educators are honored with a star-studded ceremony at Carnegie Hall in New York City. Recent guests include Oprah Winfrey, Kelly Clarkson, Mayim Bialik, and Jamie Lee Curtis. Notable alumni of the program include John Lithgow, Stephen King, and Andy Warhol.
For this year’s Hawaiʻi Regional Scholastic Art Awards, twenty students statewide will also receive Lexus Hawaiʻi’s Takumi Award, which includes a $200 cash prize, statewide recognition, and feature opportunities. The award is named after Lexus’ Takumi philosophy, honoring master artisans who perfect their craft and are guided by patience, mastery, and purpose in every detail.
“This is more than a sponsorship for Lexus Hawaiʻi — it’s an investment in the next generation of creators and storytellers in our local communities,” said Lance Ichimura, Senior Vice President of Hawaiʻi Distribution at Servco Pacific Inc. “Service is part of Servco’s DNA. Through this partnership with SFCA, we are excited to give back to the community that has supported us for over 100 years and celebrate the connection we share with education and the arts.”
Up to two nationally recognized Gold or Silver Key-winning students will also receive Lexus Hawaiʻi’s Visionary Award, which includes a $4,000 scholarship, plus a $4,000 grant for the student’s school in support of its art program. Award submissions will be reviewed by a group of local artists, creative professionals, and cultural administrators.
“We appreciate the generosity and engagement from community partners like Lexus Hawaiʻi, whose commitment helps ensure that local creative minds continue to flourish for generations to come,” said Konia.
To enter or learn more about the 2025-2026 Hawaiʻi Regional Scholastic Art Awards, please visit https://www.artandwriting.org/regions/HI001A.
About Hawaiʻi State Foundation on Culture and the Arts
The Hawaiʻi State Foundation on Culture and the Arts (SFCA), a government agency administratively attached to the Department of Accounting and General Services (Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 9), was established by the Hawaiʻi State Legislature in 1965, to promote, perpetuate, preserve and encourage culture and the arts, history and the humanities as central to the quality of life of the people of Hawaiʻi. SFCA funding is provided by the state of Hawaiʻi and the National Endowment for the Arts.
About Lexus Hawaiʻi
Lexus Hawaiʻi is a distribution subsidiary of Servco Pacific Inc., Hawaiʻiʻs largest privately held company founded in 1919. Lexus Hawaiʻi has been Hawaiʻi’s distributor for Lexus vehicles since 1990 with two dealership locations statewide – Servco Lexus Honolulu and Servco Lexus Maui. For more information about Lexus Hawaiʻi, visit www.servcolexus.com.