For the second year in a row, the HBA Eagle Eye staff took home the Best-in-State title at the 2016 Hawaii High School Journalism Awards competition. The Eagle Eye also received 19 awards across a range of categories.

On Wednesday, April 20, student journalists from 18 public and private high schools gathered at the Pagoda Hotel to find out the results of the annual journalism awards competition. Organized by the Hawaii Publishers Association and sponsored by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser and Midweek, the competition has schools competing in 21 categories ranging from news writing to digital illustration. Schools submit one entry for as many categories as they wish. Like last year, the Eagle Eye competed in all 21 categories. The judging panel this year included industry professionals from publications such as the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, Midweek, Honolulu Magazine, and Civil Beat.

The Eagle Eye won 10 awards in the private school division and nine Best-in-State awards. Eagle Eye staffer and senior Gavin Arucan received three Best-in-State awards for his submissions in the digital illustration, editorial cartoon, and comic strip categories.

Mililani High School, 2014 Best-in-State winner and 2015 runner-up, placed second overall in the state with Sacred Hearts Academy taking third.

Summary of Awards

Best in Private School Division: Sports Writing, Portrait Photography, Layout and Design, Digital Illustration, Hand Drawn Illustration, Infographic, Editorial Cartoon, Comic Strip, Single Issue, Blog

Best in State: Sports Writing, Portrait Photography, Layout and Design, Digital Illustration, Hand Drawn Illustration, Editorial Cartoon, Comic Strip, Single Issue, Blog

Best Overall:

1st place — Hawaii Baptist Academy

2nd place — Mililani High School

3rd place — Sacred Hearts

Most Valuable Eagle Eye Staffer: Kylie Yamauchi (‘16)

The Eagle Eye Staff (Semester 1)

Gavin Arucan (‘16)

Makenzie Cammack (‘17)

Joshua Fujita (‘18)

Kayci Kumashiro (‘17)

Joel Lau (‘18)

Joshua Laxamana (‘16)

Annemarie Lee (‘16)

Jasci Ligsay (‘18)

Shannon Mau (‘16)

Ryan Su (‘17)

Karly Tom (‘17)

Davin Uyeda (‘17)

Brett Watanabe (‘16)

Isabel Wiemken (‘16)

Alexander Wong (‘16)

Brant Yamamoto (‘18)

Kylie Yamauchi (Editor-in-Chief) (‘16)

Megan Yamauchi (‘18)

The Eagle Eye Staff (Semester 2)

Gavin Arucan (‘16)

Ryan Higashi (‘17)

Coltin-Kai Kaupiko (‘19)

Marissa Kwon (‘16)

Jessie Lin (‘18)

Ku’ulei Rodby (‘16)

Ryan Su (‘17)

Karly Tom (‘17)

Jett Uehara (‘18)

Kylie Yamauchi (Editor-in-Chief) (‘16)

Alexa Yoo (‘17)

Judithanne Young (‘17)