Three Kauaʻi students were announced winners of the “Whatchu Eatin’” photovoice contest that was a statewide youth-led initiative designed to collect information about food experiences of Hawaiʻi’s youth and presented by the Hawaiʻi Youth Food Council.

“We wanted to hear from kids about what they were eating while schools were closed,” said Daniela Spoto, director of anti-hunger initiative at Hawaiʻi Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice during the announcement made Thursday, July 2. “So many kids rely on school meals throughout the school year, and we were curious about how school closures would affect that. More than a hundred photo entries were received from across the state from which a winner and two Honorable Mentions from each county would emerge.

In order to compete, students had to submit a photo relating to their food experience and write a description of the photo’s significance. Judging was based on the creativity of the photo and its relevance to the theme.

Photo entries displayed a wide range of food experiences among Hawaiʻi’s youth, including growing food in gardens, learning to cook for the first time, and exploring cultural heritage through food.