The economic downturn is threatening a popular program that has inspired thousands of students across the Islands to write poetry.

After 10 years, the Star Poets contest could become another victim of falling sales as the sponsor of the contest, Starbucks (Coffee Partners Hawaii), pulls out. Contest organizers are looking for another corporate sponsor or a bunch of smaller backers to keep the program alive.

Jonathan Lautaha, a Kahuku High & Intermediate School senior, said the contest promotes competition and a desire to improve, so losing it might result in the loss of interest among students.

"I wouldn't say that it would completely shut down the interest in poetry, but I would say that it would take away a key factor or a key component in motivating students to write poetry because the contest by its nature motivates people to do better," he said.

Some 50 winners of the 2009 Star Poets contest will read their pieces at 1 p.m. today at the Paliku Theatre at Windward Community College. The event is free and open to the public.

Libby Young, a journalism professor at WCC, said Starbucks cut its support last year from $10,000 to $8,000 but has notified her that it can no longer commit to the program. This year, some of the better-off private schools returned their winnings to help keep the contest going, underscoring the value schools place on the contest, Young said.

Over the years, the program has expanded from just accepting poems to helping teachers set up curriculum to teach poetry writing. Starbucks Foundation even provided money to send poets to schools to help teach the teachers.

Winners receive $50, and schools receive $150 for each winner from that school.

The first year, 100 poems were submitted but when teachers became involved the number of students competing soared. About 4,000 poems were entered this year.

Young, who spearheads the contest, said teachers have praised the program for giving students a creative outlet. It enables local youths and immigrants to give voices to their experiences and culture, she said.

"Teachers in general are saying there's so much pressure on just test scores with No Child Left Behind that it doesn't leave them a lot of room for just nurturing creativity and imagination in kids," Young said.

Pat Palmer, an advanced- placement language and literature teacher at Kahuku, said the contest motivates the students to learn more about poetry to improve their writing.

Their work is published and available at Starbucks for anyone to read, plus they gain recognition for creativity just as some athletes are honored for their accomplishments, Palmer said.

"The way they have the reading at Windward Community College makes it a very graceful and classy event that gives writing in general emphasis and makes it seem credible and relevant," Palmer said.

Jill Wheatman, who was marketing manager for Starbucks Hawaii, said the program risks losing its momentum if a new sponsor doesn't step forward.

"I'm hoping we can work with other organizations and they can capitalize on what Starbucks started," she said.