MEDIA RELEASE

Farmers Insurance Hawaii is calling on aspiring songwriters statewide to help promote safe driving and pedestrian safety through a fun and entertaining public service campaign.

The public is invited to enter the Farmers Insurance Hawaii Traffic Safety Jingle Contest by writing lyrics to encourage safe driving to original music entitled “Drive Safe” composed by ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro.

One lucky winner will receive a 30-minute jam session with Jake Shimabukuro and a $500 Apple Gift Card.

The winning jingle will be used to promote safe driving and keeping Hawaii’s streets safe for pedestrians. Entrants are invited to send in their submissions by June 7, 2011.

“Keeping Hawaii’s streets safe for keiki and kupuna is something Farmers Insurance Hawaii takes very seriously,” said Michele Saito, president of Farmers Insurance Hawaii. “Through this contest, we are hoping to provide a unique, fun and memorable event that fosters awareness and encourages everyone in Hawaii to take an active part in watching out for pedestrians and obeying traffic laws.”

“Traffic safety is a serious matter, but reminding people to ‘drive safe’ in a fun, musical way can be quite effective,” Shimabukuro said. “I’m looking forward to hearing the creative lyrics that will be placed over the new song.”

Entrants will be provided with sheet music and an MP3 of Shimabukuro’s original composition, which they can use to creatively compose lyrics and an entertaining video performance.

The video should be family friendly, creative and encourage safe driving or pedestrian safety.

Submissions will be posted online at www.myfarmershawaii.com, where the public will have a chance to vote for their five favorite performances. All five finalists will be invited to perform for the grand prize June 15 at the Road Runner Music Hall at Dole Cannery, Oahu.

All entrants who meet the contest criteria will receive Jake Shimabukuro’s latest CD “Peace Love Ukulele.” Entrants must be legal Hawaii residents and are required to submit a consent form and be accompanied by a parent or an adult guardian if under the age of 18.

Farmers Insurance Hawaii Family of Companies is a member company of Farmers Insurance Group of Companies, the third largest personal lines insurance provider in the country.

Farmers Insurance Hawaii planted its roots in Hawaii in 1955 when Hawaii Insurance Consultants was founded to provide affordable insurance for Hawaii’s union and plantation workers.

Today, the Farmers Insurance Hawaii Family of Companies is a full-service insurance company, offering commercial and personal lines of insurance, and includes Farmers Insurance Hawaii, Hawaii Insurance Consultants, American Pacific Insurance Company, Human Resources Solutions, and 50th State Risk Management Services.

The company has 270 employees statewide and offices on Oahu, Maui, Hawaii, and Kauai.

For more information and official contest rules, visit www.myfarmershawaii.com