Two Hawaii students are among 30 international finalists selected to compete at the Toyota Dream Car Art World Contest.

Teah Arlene Laupapa, 12, of Kapolei Middle School, and Emma Hiilani Thain, 11, a home-schooled student from Koloa, Kauai, were among 30 selected from a total of 628 international finalists and 660,000 entrants worldwide.

Both won $100 cash plus an all-expenses-paid, four-day trip to Japan with their parents to attend a final awards ceremony.

Starting Tuesday, they will visit Nagoya, meet Toyota Motor Corp. executives and tour the Toyota Facility in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture, followed by a farewell party in Tokyo.

Laupapa and Thain are two of three representatives from the United States this year. The third is Lauren Park from Irvine, Calif.

Thain used colored markers to create an imaginative "Construct-O-Mobile," a vehicle equipped with long arms that builds houses with speed and ease.

"I was inspired by the homes my parents design and build, and also by past winners’ amazing artwork," wrote Thain in an email. "I thought a car that could give people homes would be really incredible."

Thain’s parents own Pu’uwai Design & Construction, which designs custom homes on Kauai.

Laupapa, who has been drawing since kindergarten, offered a sketch using markers, colored pencils and a little paint. "Introducing the Pocket Car" showcases a yellow car that can shrink small enough to fit inside a pocket.

The concept for her drawing came from personal experience — as she observed her parents circling around, looking for parking.

"If you shrink it, you can also just fill (the gas tank) with one drop of gasoline," she said.

While she’s competed in other contests, Laupapa’s Kapolei Middle School art teacher Daryle Mishina was the one who encouraged her to enter the Toyota contest.

The trip will be Laupapa’s first to Japan. "Japan is one of my favorite countries — one I’ve longed to visit," she said.

Thain is also excited about visiting a different country.

"From what I have heard, Japan is really awesome," she said.

The state judging for the Toyota Hawaii’s Dream Car Art Contest was in April. Laupapa won the People’s Choice award (with an additional $100 prize) and second place in the ages 12 to 15 category. Thain was awarded third place in the ages 8 to 11 category.

On the Net

Vine videos of the artwork: » vine.co/v/Mj1wLX0z2uq, for Laupapa

» vine.co/v/Mw96X6LnQdl, for Thain