When the annual State High School Journalism Awards Banquet concluded yesterday at the Pagoda Hotel Ballrooms, Kamoi walked away with 14 awards.  Twelve of those awards were in the Private School Division and two awards were in the Best of the State category.

“We would have loved to have won more Best in the State Awards, but the fact that we received so many accolades shows the quality and diversity of our student journalists,” Kamoi Adviser Lionel Barona said.

According to Barona, Kamoi entered only 18 of 21 categories which may have prevented them from placing in the top three of the Best Journalism Program, the competition’s most coveted award which Kamoi last won in 2006.  Kamoi finished in fourth place in the overall standings this year.

At the National High School Journalism held in Los Angeles, CA last week, senior co-editor Cassidy Keola received an Honorable Mention in the Sports Writing competition.  Keola also received the same award at last year’s competition.  “Cassidy always writes at a high level.  She pays attention to all details and has a natural understanding of sports,” Barona said.