Congratulations to the following student winners of the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary's 2012 Humpback Whale Month Ocean Contest.

Students from kindergarten to eighth grade around the globe were invited to express their insights, observations and understanding of the marine environment through original artwork, poems and short stories. There were about 300 entries.

All entrants became members of the Ocean Guardian Kids Club and received an ocean education packet.

Here are the art winners by category. To see all of the entries, go to hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov.

Drawing of a mother whale and baby by Connor Reid, Gabriola Elementary, British Columbia, 1st place winner in the K to Grade 2 art category.

• Art – Kindergarten to Grade 2
• 1st: Connor Reid, Gabriola Elementary, British Columbia
• 2nd: Joshua Dabashi, Island School, Kaua‘i
• 3rd: Skyy Sekimoto, Nuuanu Elementary, O‘ahu
• 4th: Franchesca Marie Matahum, St Anthony School, O‘ahu
• 5th: Kyle Ching, Iolani School, O‘ahu

Drawing by Lauren Ishikawa of Iolani School, 1st place winner in the Grade 3 to 4 art category.

• Art - Grade 3 to Grade 4
• 1st: Lauren Ishikawa, Iolani School, O‘ahu
• 2nd: Eunbi Choi, Saipan International, Saipan
• 3rd: Kayley Dombriones, Hanalei Elementary, Kaua‘i
• 4th: Chloe Okimura, Iolani School, O‘ahu
• 5th: Zoe Omura, Iolani School, O‘ahu

Drawing by Klaryssa Kado of Kapolei Middle. 1st place winners of Grade 5 to 8 art category.

Drawing by Sienna Namohala at Kapolei Middle School. Also 1st place in the grade 5 to 8 category.

• Art - Grade 5 to Grade 8
• 1st: Sienna Namohala, Kapolei Middle, O‘ahu AND Klaryssa Kado, Kapolei Middle, O‘ahu
• 2nd: Malie Fox, St John Vianney, O‘ahu
• 3rd: Yoa RaSung, Iolani School, O‘ahu
• 4th: Kyra Tan, Iolani School, O‘ahu
• 5th: Jake Flores, Kipp Coastal Village Middle, Texas

Here's a link to the winning poems and essays, with a poem by Kawika Akina below.

5th Place, Grade 5 to 8
Kawika Akina
Kahuku Elementary School, O'ahu

Humpback Whales
They are as long as a bus
They have ears like us
They have bumps all over
They don't need a makeover
Humpbacks love singing
They also love eating
They go 25 knots per hour
And they don't need a shower
They have a tail or fluke
And they will not puke
They eat small fish and krill
But they do not need a grill
A whale isn't a fool
It is just plain cool.