An Alaska Airlines airplane bearing a Hawaii-inspired painting designed by a high school student touched down today in Honolulu. 

The design, dubbed the “Spirit of the Islands,” was created by 17-year-old Kaiser student Aaron Nee. Nee’s family members and several community leaders, including Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui and Hawaii Tourism Authority President and CEO Mike McCartney were at Honolulu International Airport to see the plane. 

Roughly 2,700 Hawaii students submitted design entries in the statewide “Paint-the-Plane” contest, which was sponsored by Alaska Airlines in partnership with the Hawaii Department of Education and Hawaii Association of Independent Schools. 

The 10-member judging panel included Hawaii artists, educators and other community members. After three finalists were selected, the public was invited to cast votes online. 

Nee’s design shows a voyaging canoe, a yellow hibiscus, the Hawaiian island chain and the phrase “Spirit of the Islands.”

Nee won a trip for four to any of Alaska Airlines destinations — he chose New York — along with a $5,000 scholarship. 

— Alia Wong