The island’s best science students were commended and recognized by the state Department of Education yesterday for their annual science projects. The winners in Kaua’i school district’s “Celebration of Learning” exhibit held in the old J.C. Penny’s building at Kukui
The island’s best science students were commended and recognized by the state Department of Education yesterday for their annual science projects.
The winners in Kaua’i school district’s “Celebration of Learning” exhibit held in the old J.C. Penny’s building at Kukui Grove, now have a chance to compete at an international science fair in Washington D.C. in May and in the state’s science fair in Honolulu on April 1.
The Kaua’i competition showcased the talent and skills of Kaua’i’s budding scientists, according to Ray Dela Pena, a science teacher at Kapa’a High School. “The projects allowed them to develop their analytical abilities and much more. We are proud of them,” he said.
The event boasted 56 projects from the three public high schools and three intermediate schools, and St. Catherine’s and the Kilauea Academy of Technology. The subject of the projectswas pollution, bacteria control, control of mosquitoes, holograms and marine life.
From Waimea Canyon School, Kelsey Coleman Stark said her project could spur her on to seek a career in science and maybe find a cure for cancer.
Coleman said she conducted her research on lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that may help prevent prostate cancer, other cancers and heart disease.
Her experiments on guava showed the redder the pigmentation, the greater cancer-fighting capacities the fruit has.
“People should eat more tomatoes or watermelons to help reduce the risk of cancer,” she suggested. “I wanted to do something that will do benefit the whole world,” said Coleman-Stark.
Other students discovered the waters off west Kaua’i are heavily polluted from agricultural runoff. In some cases, fecal coliform bacteria, related to human waste was found in waters.
Another student discovered mosquitoes are not drawn to different colors, but instead to the sweat and perspiration of people.
In an experiment prodded by concern over poor grades at a Kaua’i school over the past two years, the project showed that more female students than male students on Kaua’i got failing grades. The project also concluded that students who got “As” were self-motivated.
Another student tried to find out whether lemons, because of acidic qualities, or potatoes generated enough electricity to power a flashlight bulb.
Other students found that grubs, which look like worms, are the best bait to catch tilapia, an Australian fish introduced to Hawai’i by the Spanish.
School superintendent Daniel Hamada praised the students for their ingenuity and the parents for their support. “This is a great opportunity showcase the talent we have,” he said.
Awards from the Office of Naval Research in Washington D.C. went to:
– Sara Nonaka, a Waimea High School student, for her project on the physical properties of the waters of the Hanapepe River.
– Whitney Haraguchi, a Kapa’a High School student, for her project on copper toxicity in lowland taro.
-Ariel Lothlorien, a Kilauea Academy of Technology student, for his project on holograms.
High school students who received honorable mention were:
– Michael Ishibashi, David Honma, Eric Oroc and Mark Kennett of Waimea High School.
– Leilani Bailey, Norah Britton and Stephen Peeren from Kaua’i High School.
– Tara Bonilla, Kade Hashimoto and Clesson Higashi from Kapa’a High School.
Also winning recognition were: Whitney Haraguchi, Kapa’a High School; Luke Evslin, Grant Teichman and Kalani Lopoz from Kaua’i High School; Jeremy Albano, Carrie Esaki and Sam Moats-Messing from Kapa’a High School and Paula-Ann Carvalho and Rick Rodrick from Kapa’a High School.
Albano, Esaki, Messing, Carvalho and Rodrick will be competing in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in Louisville, Ky. in May. They will compete with against students from 40 nations and those from the other 49 states for awards totaling more than $1 million.
For the Kaua’i competition, middle school students who received honorable mention were: Ariel Lothlorien from the Kilauea Academy of Technology; Camden Lorenz and Chasity Toledo from Kapa’a Middle School; Ryan Guzman from Waimea Canyon School; Daryl Martin of Waimea Canyon School and Michelle Sone and Carrie Inouye from Chiefess Kamakahelei School.
Recognition also was given to: Jenna Smalling from Kapa’a Middle School; Noel Torres from Waimea Canyon; Kira Furugen and Donica Abalos from Kapa’a Middle School and Leslyn Ibara and Coleman-Stark from Waimea Canyon School.
Awards also were presented to Jay Hada from St. Catherine’s’ School and Kira Furugen from Kapa’a Middle School.
The awards were offered by the Association for Women Geoscientists, Conservation International, Eastman Kodak Company, the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library Association, Intel Corporation, the Water Environment Federation and ITT Industries, Discovery Communications and Science Service.
