HAWAIʻI Magazine 2026 Photo Contest Official Rules & Terms and Conditions
Please read the following rules carefully before entering the HAWAIʻI Magazine Photo Contest.
Contest Structure
The HAWAIʻI Magazine Photo Contest consists of two phases:
Phase 1: Photo Submissions
Participants submit original photographs for consideration. Selected entries will advance to the voting phase.
Phase 2: Public Voting
Finalists will be presented for public voting. Participation in voting may include entry into a separate promotional giveaway for voters. Additional details will be provided at the time of launch.
Eligibility
The contest is open worldwide. Participants must be at least 18 years of age or have permission from a parent or legal guardian.
Employees of HAWAIʻI Magazine and its affiliates, as well as their immediate family members, may be excluded from participation.
Entry Limits
Participants may submit up to ten (10) total entries, with no more than two (2) entries per category.
Entries must be submitted in one of the following categories:
- Land
- Ocean
- People
- Wildlife
- Kīlauea
- Student Submissions
The Student Submissions category is open to currently enrolled students. HAWAIʻI Magazine reserves the right to request verification of student status for selected finalists or winners.
Entry Fee
An entry fee of $5 per submission is required. All entry fees are non-refundable.
Photo Requirements
All submitted images must:
- Be photographed in Hawaiʻi on or after January 1, 2025
- Meet a minimum resolution of 1800 x 1200 pixels
- Be submitted in one of the following formats: .jpg, .jpeg or .png
- Not be submitted in .tiff format
Contest Period
The submission phase begins upon announcement and closes at 11:59 p.m. HST on Sunday, May 3, 2026. Entries submitted after the deadline will not be considered.
Voting dates for Phase 2 will be announced separately.
Original Work & Permissions
All entries must be the original work of the participant. By entering, participants confirm they are the sole creator and copyright holder of each submitted image.
Participants are responsible for obtaining any necessary permissions or model releases from individuals appearing in their photos.
Images that are AI-generated or significantly altered may be disqualified at the discretion of HAWAIʻI Magazine.
Content Guidelines
Photos must not contain unlawful, harmful or inappropriate content. Images that violate or infringe upon another person’s rights, including privacy, publicity or intellectual property rights, will be disqualified.
Judging & Selection
HAWAIʻI Magazine staff will review all eligible submissions and select finalists.
Finalists will be presented for public voting, and winners will be determined based on audience voting results.
HAWAIʻI Magazine reserves the right to make final determinations regarding eligibility, finalists and winners. All decisions are final.
Voting Integrity
HAWAIʻI Magazine reserves the right to monitor voting activity and disqualify any entries associated with fraudulent, automated or abusive voting behavior.
Award Structure
The HAWAIʻI Magazine Photo Contest may include the following awards:
- Grand Prize Winner (overall top submission based on voting)
- Category Winners (top entries within each category based on voting)
- Category Runners-Up (second place in each category based on voting)
- Editor’s Choice Award (selected by the HAWAIʻI Magazine editorial and creative team)
HAWAIʻI Magazine reserves the right to determine the number of finalists and winners in each category at its discretion.
Recognition & Prizes
Photo Contest Recognition (Phase 1):
Selected winners will be featured by HAWAIʻI Magazine, including:
- Placement in the Summer Digital Issue and Fall/Winter Print Issue
- Feature on Hawaiimagazine.com
- Promotion across HAWAIʻI Magazine’s social media channels
Winners may also receive official HAWAIʻI Magazine Photo Awards recognition and digital badges.
Voting Promotion (Phase 2):
A separate giveaway may be offered to individuals who participate in the voting phase. Prizes may include travel and/or partner-provided items. The voting promotion is subject to its own official rules, which will be published at the time of launch.
Rights & Usage
By entering the contest, participants grant HAWAIʻI Magazine a non-exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual license to use, reproduce, publish and display submitted images in print, digital and promotional materials, with credit to the photographer where reasonably practicable.
General Conditions
HAWAIʻI Magazine reserves the right to disqualify any entry that does not comply with these rules or is deemed inappropriate.
By entering, participants agree to abide by these official rules and all decisions made by HAWAIʻI Magazine.
Participants also agree to release and hold harmless HAWAIʻI Magazine and its partners from any claims arising from participation in the contest or the use of submitted images.
