The Hawaiʻi VEX Robotics State Championships, sponsored by Hawaiian Electric, held in February and March qualified 32 out of 77 Hawaiʻi VEX robotics teams to advance to the 2022 VEX Robotics World Championship in Dallas this May.
During the in-person world championship, Hawaiʻi elementary, middle and high school robotics teams will showcase their game strategy, design and teamwork skills for an opportunity to be crowned champions.
Schools across the state with teams heading to the championship include:
Hawaiʻi Island
- Waiakea Intermediate School
Oʻahu
- Hāleʻiwa Elementary School (2 teams)
- Highlands Intermediate School (2 teams)
- Island Robotics from Waipahu (2 teams)
- Kaʻōhao Public Charter School (2 teams)
- Kapolei Middle School (2 teams)
- Mānoa Elementary School (4 teams)
- Mililani Mauka Elementary School
- Mililani Mechs Robotics
- Musubi Robotics (Waiʻanae)
- Nānākuli Intermediate School
- Pearl City High School (3 teams)
- Sacred Hearts Academy
- Saint Louis School (3 teams)
- Waialua High & Intermediate School (3 teams)
- Waiʻanae Intermediate School.
Maui
- Pukalani STEM Imagineers Robotics (2 teams)
During the state championships, Hawaiian Electric, Kamehameha Schools – Kapālama, Saint Louis School, University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, Gayle Kamei and Jon Kitagawa of Waiakea Intermediate School, Matt Eftink of St. Joseph High School, and Master Chief Richard Enright of Nānākuli High & Intermediate School were named “Partners of the Year” for their long-standing support and partnership with Hawaiʻi VEX Robotics.
Teacher of the Year honor was awarded to Joan Okai of Highlands Intermediate School. Okai, who retired in December 2021, continues to mentor the Highlands robotics team.
VEX Robotics is an educational robotics program that inspires students to excel in STEM pin pursuing STEM careers. Tournaments are held year-round at the regional, state and national levels, and culminate in the VEX Robotics World Championship. There are approximately 20,000 teams from 45 countries participating in VEX tournaments.
Photo credit: Hawaiʻi Space Grant Consortium