Kauai sending 6 teams to state Science Olympiad

Tuesday, January 23, 2018 12:05 am

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Dennis Fujimoto / The Garden Island

Audrey Warner of the Island School team checks out the helicopter while waiting on the start of Block One events earlier this month at the 10th Annual Kauai Regional Science Olympiad hosted by Kauai Community College.

Dennis Fujimoto The Garden Island

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PUHI — Following a week’s delay due to the false missile alert and heavy traffic due to an accident on Kauai Jan. 13, the final standings of the 10th Annual Kauai Regional Science Olympiad were announced after Island School and St. Catherine School were allowed to make up their events this past Saturday.

Island School captured top honors in both divisions B and C, said Ryan Girard, the Kauai director of the Hawaii State Science Olympiad, an event which showcases student talent in science, engineering and technology in all shapes and sizes.

Debra Badua, principal of Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School, was pleased with the school’s two teams’ performance at the Kauai regional event, where winners advance to the state competition March 3 at the Mililani High School on Oahu.

“This is the first time CKMS has participated in the Science Olympiad,” Badua said at the Kauai Complex Area Spelling Bee last week. “Our teams finished second and third in the division B arena. Our mousetrap vehicle came to within a centimeter of the marked line. That is pretty close. The students’ first try came way off, but they rewound it, and on the second try finished almost on top of the line. And, not only that, they followed the indicated path!”

St. Catherine School, whose team members were caught up in the traffic snarl resulting from a Wailua auto accident and compounded by the false missile alert, finished competition Saturday and ended in fourth place for division B competition.

Following Island School in the top spot of division C, Kauai High School and Waimea High School filled in second and third places, respectively.

“Because of the disruption, Kauai will be sending everyone on to the state tournament,” said Laurie Yoshida of the Family and Friends of Agriculture, which sponsored the Jan. 13 breakfast and lunch for competitors, coaches and event judges. “We can’t have everyone come back for the second time, so everyone is moving to the state event.”

Island School will be joined by Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School and St. Catherine in the B division, and joining the Voyagers in division C will be Kauai and Waimea high schools. Each team will be allowed a roster up to 15 students.