The Friends of Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge hold an art contest

People's Choice in the 1st annual Art Contest held by the Friends of Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge.  Artwork by Brett Higgins

The Friends of Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge (FOMA) held its first art contest during June this year with submissions received up until the end of the month.  Everyone (including those living outside the USA) was welcome to participate.  “The goal of the contest is to solicit creative artwork that captures the cultural, historical, biological, or a mix thereof, essence of Kuaihelani (Midway Atoll) to share with our FOMA followers as well as to create merchandise, such as shirts, hats, stickers, posters, and note cards.  Revenue generated from sales will be used to support conservation, outreach, historical research, and/or cultural support on behalf of Kuaihelani."

1st Place: Ian Gonzalez

Design entries had to be contestants' original, hand-drawn creations and not be traced or copied from photographs or other artists' works.  No photography or Artificial Intelligence (AI) computer-generated art was accepted.  Judging was on the basis of design, depiction of native species within the lands and waters of Midway Atoll, if wildlife are portrayed, artistic composition, and suitability for reproduction on merchandise.

A total of 31 artworks was submitted,  judged by FOMA President Wayne Sentman, FOMA Vice President Helen Dunlap, FOMA volunteer Keelee Martin, Hawaiian artist and author Patrick Ching and Assistant Professor of Hawaiian language J. Hauʻoli Lorenzo-Elarco  Additionally, followers of the Friends Facebook group could vote for their favourite from 10 short listed artworks in a “People’s Choice Award".

2nd Place: Yun-Xuan Lin

FOMA writes “We are excited to see all the beautifully created artwork in honour of Kuaihelani (Midway Atoll).  Congratulations again to the winners: 1st Place: Ian Gonzalez; 2nd Place: Yun-Xuan Lin and Peoples' Choice: Brett Higgins.” All received a cash prize.  Applicants are being gifted a one-year Friends of Midway Atoll membership, giving access to FOMA annual meetings and will receive its regular newsletters.

John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 19 August 2025