Since 2019, LWV of Hawai`i County has sponsored an award at the Hawai`i History Day Hawai`i District Fair, an activity of the Hawai`i Council for the Humanities, held this year at UH Hilo on February 25th, 2023. 75 projects were presented by 110 students, supported by 9 teachers, from 8 participating schools: Hawaiʻi Academy of Arts & Science PCS, Hawaiʻi Preparatory Academy, Hilo Intermediate School, Innovations - PCS, Ka Umeke Kaeo - PCS, Myron B. Thompson Academy, Waiakea HS, Waiakea Intermediate School.

LWVHC's award, now in its fourth year, recognizes an outstanding student project that demonstrates civic engagement, advocacy, and/or voter education on strengthening democracy and transparency.

This year’s awardees are Mari Nitta Kleinman and Tehlia-lyn Miguel-Anderson of Hilo Intermediate School, under instructor Pualeilani Fernandez, for their project, “National Women’s Suffrage Association.” Mari and Tehlia-lyn, their parents, and Ms. Fernandez will be invited the League’s summer meeting to present on their project.

Co-President Chuck Greenfield and Michele Mitsumori staffed a voter registration table and registered four voters, including pre-registering two students. They also spoke with social studies teachers of various schools about holding voter pre-registration drives, possibly student-led, at their schools next year.

Videos of previous years’ awardees can be found at LWVHC’s YouTube channel.