The annual Maunakea Coin Contest is open to all Big Island students in grades K to 12, including homeschooled children. Students are asked to make a drawing for a design that can go on a bronze collector’s coin, available at the First Light Bookstore at the Visitor Information Station on Maunakea, while aluminum versions will be available at Maunakea Astronomy Outreach Committee events throughout the year. The designs submitted for each year’s contest represent Maunakea and include different aspects of this majestic mountain: its natural resources, astronomy, and culture.
The 2024 Maunakea Coin Contest is open on December 11, 2023. The deadline to enter is February 10, 2024. Entries must use the 2024 Maunakea Coin Contest 2024 Design Sheet.
How it works:
Entries will be divided into grades K-4, 5-8, and 9-12 categories. Category judges will select a First, Second, and Third place winner for each of the three grade categories. A Grand Judge will pick the top 3 overall winners, and the Top Winner will be announced at the annual AstroDay event in Hilo. The Top Winner will see his or her design on the 2024 coin! A bronze version of the coin will be available for sale, and aluminum coins will be distributed at outreach events in the coming year.
The nine category winners and the best overall 3 entries will receive prizes from KTA Super Stores, the ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawai‘i, the Galaxy Garden/Paleaku Gardens Peace Sanctuary, East Hawai‘i Cultural Center, and the Maunakea Observatories.
When creating a coin design, students can get information about Maunakea by consulting the Maunakea Heritage and Natural Resources guide from the Center for Maunakea Stewardship, University of Hawai‘i at Hilo.
Download the Design Sheet (PDF)
Download the Contest Rules (PDF)
Download the hi-res Poster (JPEG)
Have a question? Email [email protected]!
Mauna Kea Coin Contest is sponsored by the Maunakea Astronomy Outreach Committee (MKAOC), KTA Super Stores, ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawai‘i, The Galaxy Garden/Paleaku Gardens Peace Sanctuary, East Hawai‘i Cultural Center, the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo, and the UH Institute for Astronomy. If you are interested in becoming a Coin Contest sponsor, please contact us at [email protected] and let us know how you would like to contribute.