Hawaii Robotics Teams Take Technology, Critical-Thinking Skills To National Stage

Record six Hawaii teams to compete in FIRST Robotics Competition Championship

April 15, 2008 -- HONOLULU – Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle will be in attendance at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta as an unprecedented six high school teams from Hawaii compete in the FIRST Robotics Competition Championship, April 17-19.

Hawaii Regional Robotics Competition: Video still by Ryan Ozawa (CC)

The teams from Honoka‘a, McKinley, Radford, Waiākea and Waialua High schools, as well as Sacred Hearts Academy will be among 343 teams from across the United States, Brazil, Canada, Mexico and Israel that will compete in what is called the “Super Bowl of Smarts.” Concurrently, a team from ‘Iolani School will compete in the FIRST LEGO League Power Puzzle World Championship.

Fresh from competing in the 2008 NASA/BAE Systems FIRST in Hawaii Regional Robotics Competition held at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa’s Stan Sheriff Center last month, the Hawaii teams will once again test their academic knowledge, innovation, critical thinking, problem-solving, communication skills and teamwork as they maneuver their robots on the competition field at the national level.

The FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition challenges teams of young people and their mentors to solve a common engineering problem in a six-week timeframe using a standard "kit of parts" and a common set of rules. Teams build robots from the parts and enter them in competitions designed by FIRST founder Dean Kamen and a committee of engineers and other professionals.

Robotics is a critical component of the Lingle-Aiona Administration's Hawaii Innovation Initiative because it engages students in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education. The competition also provides students with teamwork and problem-solving skills that will better prepare them to enter the workforce.

In the past year, the number of Hawaii high schools competing in FIRST Robotics has jumped from four teams to 25. For the first time, two schools each from Maui and Kaua‘i fielded teams in the competition, while three new rookie teams from the Big Island and 13 from O‘ahu were represented in the Hawaii Regional.

“These students are gaining valuable skills and experiences that will enhance their ability to be innovative in how they approach the challenges and opportunities in their own future and the future of our state,” said Governor Lingle. “I know each of these teams will excel at the championship in Atlanta and will represent their schools, communities and Hawaii with aloha and gracious professionalism.”

The six teams from Hawaii took different paths to advance to the Championship, but they hold in common a strong enthusiasm for learning from the robotics experience and are motivated to use the tools they gain to continue their education and build their future.

Three teams – Radford High School, Honoka‘a High School and Waialua High School – earned spots after competing in the Hawaii Regional. Three other teams – Waiākea High School, McKinley High School and Sacred Hearts Academy – qualified at previous regional competitions on the mainland.

Honoka‘a High School (Dragons) – Honoka‘a was named the Hawaii Regional Rookie All-Star Team from a field of 21 highly talented first-time competitors.

McKinley High School (Team Kika Mana) – This veteran team, now in its ninth year of competing, was part of the three-team alliance that captured first place in the 2008 Oregon Regional in March. In the Hawaii Regional, McKinley was part of the second-place alliance that also included Sacred Hearts Academy and Waialua High School. The team also earned the Gracious Professionalism Award, which celebrates outstanding sportsmanship and gracious professionalism in the heat of competition, both on and off the playing field. Other awards McKinley has garnered over the years include the 2007 Championship Website Award; 2005 San Jose Regional Chairman’s Award and 2003 Washington Regional Champions.

Radford High School (Rambotix) – Competing for the first time, Radford won the Hawaii Regional Champion as part of a three-team alliance that included teams from California and Florida.

Sacred Hearts Academy (Lancer Robotics) – In March, this all-girls team won the Wisconsin Regional Rookie All-Star Award, qualifying them to advance to the Championship. Two weeks later, the Sacred Hearts Lancers advanced to the Hawaii Regional finals together with McKinley and Waialua. They also captured the Rookie Inspiration Award for community outreach and recruiting students to engineering.

Waiākea High School (Kekoa O Ha‘aheo – Warrior Pride) – In only its second year of competing, Waiākea has already made a name for itself. The team placed second in the 2008 Silicon Valley Regional in San Jose, California, and received the Engineering Inspiration Award for outstanding success in advancing respect and appreciation for engineering within a team’s school and community. During the Hawaii Regional, Waiākea advanced to the semifinals and was recognized with the Team Spirit Award. In 2007, Waiākea was named the Rookie All-Star team at the San Jose Regional, and also competed in last year’s Championship.

Waialua High School (Hawaiian Kids) – Waialua earned the prestigious Hawaii Regional Chairman’s Award, which honors the team that best represents a model for other teams to emulate and best embodies the purpose and goals of FIRST, including inspiring greater levels of respect and honor for science and technology. It was the second time Waialua took home the highest award, having won the San Jose Chairman’s Award in 2003. Waialua also won the 2008 Hawaii Regional and Virginia Regional Entrepreneurship Awards, which recognizes the team that, since inception, has developed the framework for a comprehensive business plan to scope, manage, and achieve team objectives. In its eight years of competing in FIRST Robotics, Waialua has won two regional championships (2001 California Regional and 2002 San Jose Regional) and captured numerous other awards. This will be Waialua’s fifth appearance in the FIRST Robotics Competition Championship.

LEGO League Power Puzzle World Championship
Also representing Hawaii at the Georgia Dome will be the ‘Iolani Roboraiders, which will compete at the FIRST LEGO League Power Puzzle World Championship in Atlanta. The team is made up of students in fifth through eighth grade, between the ages of 9 and 14. The only team from Hawaii competing in this year’s FIRST LEGO League Championships, ‘Iolani will go up against 84 teams from 27 countries including the United States, Australia, Brazil, China, Egypt, India, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and Turkey.

This year’s LEGO challenge required students to understand the elements of energy use, including energy-efficiency through conservation and alternative energy. Students created models and made presentations and answered questions in front of a review panel.

Watch the action live:
Live NASA webcast: http://robotics.nasa.gov/events/2008_frcwebcasts.php
NASA Digital TV: http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html
Governor’s Website: www.hawaii.gov/gov

For more information, visit www.robotics.hawaii.gov or www.usfirst.org.

Source: Hawaii Governor

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