PUHI — Amid the rain, wind and thunderstorms, the Science Olympiad celebrated its return to in-person activities on Saturday at Kaua‘i Community College with the Science Olympiad 2023.
“Remember when we did Science Olympiad and there was a missile alert?” asked Ryan Girard, the Kaua‘i regional director of Science Olympiad. “Although this was a smaller tournament than in the past, this is still the first in-person tournament since 2020.”
Throughout the morning, teams of students in middle and high schools battled through 13 events in arenas that included engineering, chemistry, meteorology, biology and environmental science, supervised and judged by professionals in their respective fields, including Kaua‘i Community College faculty members. Other groups sending professionals included the National Weather Service and Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative.
“Thanks to all who braved the weather to participate in and volunteer for the 14th Kaua‘i Regional Science Olympiad Tournament on the campus of the Kaua‘i Community College,” Girard said. “This was truly a labor of love, with 100 percent volunteer organization from the teachers, coaches, parents, judges, regional directors and the Hawai‘i State Science Olympiad Team.”
Additional help came from the Waimea High School National Honor Society, Corteva Agriscience and the Hawai‘i State Climate Mitigation and Adaptation Commission.
The Hawai‘i Crop Improvement Association sponsored the 20 medals that were distributed, as well as breakfast and lunch.
“Island School will be representing Kaua‘i in the middle school division at the state Science Olympiad Tournament that will be held at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa on April 1,” Girard said. “The Elementary Kaua‘i Regional Tournament that is open to grades three through six is scheduled to run April 6 at the Kaua‘i Community College.”
For more information, contact Ryan Girard at girard@hawaii.edu.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 808-245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
