Poets Without Borders is no longer meeting... please check this page or GIAC news for information about new poetry happenings.

Statewide Poetry Contest

List of all winners

The Winning Entry:

	GIAC 1st Statewide Poetry Contest winner Wendy Graetz Hoglen Photo by Dawn F. Kawahara

my kind of kindness

by Wendy Graetz Hoglen

my kind of kindness isn’t random or without design
it isn’t apathetic, indifferent, or supine

my kind of kindness is energized and prancing
light on its feet and highly focused–think Baryshnikov when he’s dancing

my kind of kindness isn’t prestidigitation
no sleight of hand, no smoke, no mirrors; it needs no explanation

my kind of kindness is ambitious and tenacious
with the drive and brains of Martha Stewart, perhaps a smidge more gracious

my kind of kindness isn’t counterfeit or an act
it isn’t artificial and it’s clearly not abstract
 
my kind of kindness is deliberate and direct
like an arrow shot by Legolas, its aim is to connect
 
my kind of kindness is intelligent and astute
it’s flexible but strong, calm and resolute
 
my kind of kindness isn’t crass, it’s not capricious
it claims no special interests, it’s not fickle nor is it specious
 
my kind of kindness is no simple “yea” or “nay”
it sees that works of heart and mind involve some shades of gray
 
my kind of kindness comes through a range of families
it understands that roots take hold under many sorts of trees
 
my kind of kindness doesn’t feel the tug of war
it boasts no faith. it bears no flag. it berths esprit du corps
 
my kind of kindness makes ends meet and makes amends
it makes the process matter... it makes the means transcend the ends
 
my kind of kindness doesn’t bludgeon, doesn’t bleed
it knows at times to follow so at times it’s free to lead
 
my kind of kindness is poetic and yet prosaic
it finds within such paradox the peace of our mosaic
 
my kind of kindness would restore both rhyme and reason
common sense, opposing views, are not the signs of treason
 
my kind of kindness doesn’t have an ax to grind
its mandate is: be kind to all because it takes all kinds

About the Poetry Contest

	Teral Katahara, 2nd place winner with her book of original poems, GIAC 1st Statewide Poetry Contest Photo by Dawn F. Kawahara

Garden Island Arts Council celebrates National Poetry Monthwith 8th annual ‘Poetry Fest’ & 1st Statewide Poetry Contest

Lihu`e, Kaua`i—The contest poems centered on the theme of "Random Acts of Kindness," or the lack, thereof, expressed through personal images, events and observations that stimulated the writing of original poems. Two recent GIAC poetry events were held as the Kaua`i celebration of National Poetry Month.

Once again at this year’s Garden Island Arts Council’s 8th annual Poetry Fest, the poems were as varied in content, feeling, and style as the individual poets who gathered to present were different in origins and backgrounds, careers and lives. But all came together cohesively.

Seven poets presented at the first of the events, a reading and awards ceremony that took place at Kilohana/Gaylord’s living room, Lihu`e, Sun. afternoon, Apr. 24, courtesy of Fred Atkins of Kilohana Partners: Steve Backinoff, Keahi Felix, Wendy Hoglen, Teral Katahara, Sandra

Michaella Mintcheff, 3rd place, GIAC 1st Statewide Poetry Contest Photo by Dawn F. Kawahara

Krawciw, Catherine Lo, and Michaella Mintcheff.

Winners of the GIAC’s 1st Statewide Poetry Contest who received certificates and cash awards are: first--$50, Wendy Hoglen (Kalaheo), for "my kind of kindness;" second--$30, Teral Katahara (Lihu`e), for "Visiting MANZANAR;" third--$25, Michaella Mintcheff (Lihu`e), for "from the Kindness Chronicles: Flight to Freedom." Four Honorable Mention award certificates and $10 gifts courtesy of Borders Books & Music-Kaua`i were presented to: Colleen Bista (Pearl City, O`ahu); Sharon Rowe (Honolulu, O`ahu); Sandra Krawciw (Kailua, O`ahu); and Steve Backinoff (Kilauea). The People’s Poet Award went to Keahi Felix (Waimea), for her Apr. 24 presentation. The Poetry Fest Coordinator’s Lei Award went to Catherine Lo for her involvement and support during each of the eight years of the Poetry Fest.

		Steve Backinoff, Honorable Mention, GIAC 1st Statewide Poetry Contest Photo by Dawn F. Kawahara

Judge of the contest was Anita Jepson-Gilbert, a poet and writer who resides and teaches English as a Second Language in the Denver, Colorado, area. Jepson Gilbert is the author of Maria of the Stars of Nazca (Maria y las Estrellas de Nazca), a narrative poem printed with its Spanish translation (TAE Nazca Resources, 2004, www.nazcaresources.com). Initial screeners for the contest poems were volunteers Amber Nunn, art educator, and Kevin Nunn, teacher, writer and artist, of Wailua.

Sandra Krawciw, Honorable Mention, GIAC 1st Statewide Poetry Contest Photo by Dawn F. Kawahara

The second event, an informal open reading held at the Talk Story Bookstore and Caf? in Hanapepe, Sat. evening, Apr. 30, involved nine poets and a singer: once again, Backinoff, Felix, Katahara, and Lo, along with Dawn Kawahara, Petra Sundheim, Susan Ullis, Anuenue Washburn, Loyd Whitman, and Robby Labovitz offering original song accompanied by `ukulele. The poem presentations were followed by an East Indian plate dinner prepared by Talk Story’s Ed Justus and Cynthia Powell.

Members of the audience and the poets involved at both readings experienced each poem delivered aloud by its originator. "This mode of listening calls for active listening, as in the bardic tradition from which poems and verse, and drama, originally sprang," said Dawn Kawahara, author and former Poet-In-The-Schools who coordinated the GIAC Poetry Fes. "When a poem slips into your ear using sound values expressed by the poet’s own voice, the word images become alive and dynamic. It’s quite different from seeing and reading that same poem set down in black and white as text on a page."

		Poets who presented at the Kilohana living room Poetry Fest 2005 reading in April: (l-r) Catherine Lo, Keahi Felix, Sandra Krawciw, Steve Backinoff, Wendy Graetz Hoglen, Teral Katahara, Michaella Mintcheff. Photo by Dawn F. Kawahara

Twenty poets from Kaua`i and O`ahu participated in the "Random Acts of Kindness" poetry contest, entering 35 poems. A list of poets and poems will be listed this month on the GIAC website at www.gardenislandarts.org. For information on GIAC active poetry and writing-for-publication groups, call (808)245-2733, or e-mail giac@hawaiilink.net.

ABOUT THE POETRY CONTEST THEME

by Dawn Fraser Kawahara, GIAC Poetry Fest Coordinator/Curator

		All smiles at the 8th Annual Poetry Fest Kilohana Living Room presentation and awards ceremony: (l-r) Dawn Kawahara, Poetry Fest coordinator & curator; Delano Kawahara; Amber Nunn & Kevin Nunn, who screened submitted poems before judging by Anita Jepson Gilbert.

Each year of the Poetry Fest we have chosen and announced a theme, or themes, to write poems to. The themes have been varied, ranging from cosmic and nature themes to those that deal with human relationships. Thematic expectaton fits with the Poetry Fest's ideal to stimulate the writing of new poems, instead of drawing upon previously written poems. Writing (but mostly "thinking") toward a specific theme focuses the view of life events during what I call the "fertile gestation period" when a person who writes awaits the first stirrings of a new poem which will, if nurtured, eventually insist on its own birth.

		Anita Jepson-Gilbert, Colorado poet and author of Maria and the Stars of Nazca/ Maria y las Estrellas de Nazca, an illustrated bi-lingual teaching book and CD (TAE Nazca Resources, Westminster, CO www.nazcaresources.com), took on the responsibility of judging original poems submitted to the GIAC's 1st Statewide Poetry Contest, part of the 8th Annual GIAC Poetry Fest 2005. Above, her book's cover shot of the author, who also teaches English as a Second Language.

In mulling over what theme to use for my final year as Poetry Fest coordinator, I chose "Random Acts of Kindness" at a time when the stress of natural disasters, wars, and environmental "emergencies" were hammering at my psyche and, I saw, those of my friends and associates via the news media, Internet, and e-mail grass roots transmissions. The choice was made because I feel that as poets, we need to speak out and name good and positive effects, as well as the reverse. In this way we can raise our own and other individuals' consciousness.

The story behind my own awareness of how that can work follows. . .

Random Acts of Kindness became a "buzz-phrase" some 10 years ago, after Hurricane Iniki. My husband Delano Kawahara, now retired from teaching Biology at Kapa`a High for 30 years, noticed teacher morale was less than positive for a number of reasons, and decided to encourage RAKs with the staff, including secretaries, counselors, and other support. People began leaving affirmations "from your secret friend" in boxes, or sometimes "an apple for the teacher" or a vase of posies sneaked onto a desk, unseen, or a snack. Or maybe they'd just extend themselves to pick up slack and do the unexpected in a committee project; or un-jam the Xerox machine paper clog and finish an aborted set of copies needed for a class--all without revealing the identity of the RAK performer.
Morale was definitely raised, friendship boosted, and the good effects flowed in a circle of positive energy, indirectly affecting the students. From our own experience, both "Dee" and myself know that the person who becomes conscious of performing acts of kindness reaps the benefit of feeling oh-so-good and positive. We also really notice when RAKs are performed for us--the small miracles of life that make any day sunny.

Although the idea of this theme poetry contest was to keep the poems focused on the positive, there is always the other "dark" and UNkind side, which was considered when poem submissions were screened for our Poetry Fest judge's final recommendations for the prizes--First, Second & Third (cash awards), and Honorable Mentions. The winners were announced by April 1, 2005.

ABOUT OUR POETRY FEST JUDGE for RAKs 2005. . .

The judge of the contest, Anita Jepson-Gilbert, is a poet, a children's author and an English as a Second Language teacher living in Colorado. She has won several prizes for her poems, locally and nationally, and works actively to promote poetry writing with the National Federation of Poetry Societies through the Columbine Poets of Colorado. Her poems have appeared in journals and anthologies over the past 20 years. Her bilingual (English/Spanish), illustrated children's book--a poem in itself--is entitled Maria and the Stars of Nazca (2004 TAE Nazca Resources, Westminster, CO, www.nazcaresources.com)

GIAC 1st Statewide Poetry Contest: Complete Listing of Poets, Poems & Prize Awards for 'Random Acts of Kindness'

Note: All original works included are Copyrighted to the individual poets. First rights of publication only to the Garden Island Arts Council

POET PRIZE AWARDS

1st Place Award -- Wendy Graetz Hoglen, Kalaheo, Kaua`i for "my kind of kindness"

2nd Place Award -- Teral Ellen Katahara, Lihu`e, Kaua`i for " Visiting MANZANAR, A World War II Japanese American Internment Camp in California"

3rd Place Award -- Michaella Mintcheff, Lihu`e, Kaua`i for "from The Kindness Chronicles: Flight To Freedom (June 1979—March 1980)"