LIHU‘E — Waimea Canyon Middle School and Kapa‘a High School emerged with a strong showing at the Kaua‘i Area Complex Regional Science Fair, Thursday. Under the guidance of science teachers Lisa Nishizuka, Justin Yamagata and Sue Togioka, WCMS emerged with
LIHU‘E — Waimea Canyon Middle School and Kapa‘a High School emerged with a strong showing at the Kaua‘i Area Complex Regional Science Fair, Thursday.
Under the guidance of science teachers Lisa Nishizuka, Justin Yamagata and Sue Togioka, WCMS emerged with five of the 10 awards presented in the Junior Research Division, including the first place project.
Kapa‘a High School, under the guidance of John Cox, finished with four awards including first through third places in the Senior Research Division.
Kaua‘i High School, with Kevin Johnson at the helm, garnered four awards, and Waimea High School, under Ryan Kakuda, finished with two awards, a fifth place and an Honorable Mention.
“Each year, our secondary schools hold a school-level science fair, and based on criteria set by the school, the best of the best advance to the District Level Fair,” said Cindy Goldstein of Pioneer Hi-Bred, emcee for the event as well as one of the project judges. “Today we celebrate the achievements of every student who has a project on display, here.”
Following WCMS’s five awards, including first through third, fifth and an honorable mention, Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School placed in three honorable mention projects, Kapa‘a Middle School placed in an honorable mention and the Kawaikini Charter School placing fourth.
“This is simply amazing,” said Justin Yamagata, one of three science teachers that guided the team of 10 students that earned qualifications to advance to the regional competition. “We participated last year, and this is only our second year, so this shows how much our students have learned.”
The team of Alex Hashimoto and Alexys Bermudez garnered blue ribbons for their “Wind Energy” project.
“This year the judges of the Middle School/Junior Division were most impressed with the projects that have the potential of addressing some of the environmental and economic issues we are facing here on Kaua‘i,” Goldstein said. “These top projects showed keen understanding and usage of scientific method, and these students are to be commended for their poise and confidence in explaining their projects to the judges.”
WCMS student Bryson Cayaban and Wendi Tokuuke copped a red ribbon for “Solar Powered Water Distillation,” Joseph Tangalin snared third place with “Methods of Electrical Connection,” and the team of Lani Green and Shalyn Jim took an honorable mention with “Solar Panel Angles.”
Ku‘uipo Rapozo of the Kawaikini NCPCS copped fourth place with her “The Lo‘i Project.”
Grant Mitchell of Kapa‘a Middle School earned an honorable mention for “Aerodynamic Drage: It’s All in the Design.”
CKMS winners include Jared Okayama for “Heat Conduction,” Brandi Kam for “The Rise of the … Muffins,” and the team of Tia Morishige, Tirah Yamamoto and Kylee Iseri for “What’s in Your Water?”
“The students are to be recognized for their creativity in choosing a project focus, their organizational skills in designing a scientific experiment, their perseverance in sticking with numerous trials to be sure their conclusions are supported and for their communication skills in explaining their projects to the judges,” Goldstein said, getting agreement from Kaua‘i Area Complex Superintendent Bill Arakaki who added his appreciation to parents and teachers for their support.
“The students are all the winners because they learn the process,” Arakaki said. “They take this with them as they work through life.”
Kapa‘a High School was led by the team of Nicole Isoda and Keri Ann Yatogo who captured first place with “The Power of Spectral Emissions.”
Kara Dastrup followed with a red ribbon for “Ocean Acidity: A Second Year Study,” and Dylan Cockerham snagged third place for “The Sky is Falling.”
The team of Michelle Je Cruz and Christina-Maile Pico took honorable mention for “What Lives on Your Toothbrush?”
Megan Walsh’s “5 Second Rule” topped the Kaua‘i High School awards that was followed by honorable mentions from Curtis Morton-Furneaux’s “Solar Cooker,” Kelli Oride’s “Acid Rain in Paradise.”
The team of Justin Fujikawa, Roy Yamashita and Joe Duronslet rounded out the Red Raider awards with “Water Wheel Efficiency,” an honorable mention project.
Kyle Fleming’s “Housing Insulation” topped the Menehune awards with Anelica Tran’s “Solar Cell Efficiency” getting an honorable mention.
Goldstein said projects in first through fifth places in both division are invited to participate in the Hawai‘i State Science Fair which will be held Apr. 6-8 on O‘ahu.
Monetary donations from the science fair business partners and organizations are used to fund, not only the regional competition, but helps with the cost of Kaua‘i District winners traveling to Honolulu for the state competition, Goldstein said.
Topping the list of sponsors are Alexander and Baldwin, Kaua‘i Coffee Company, General Dynamics, Pioneer Hi-Bred, the Hawai‘i Academy of Science, the Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative and the Kaua‘i Veterans Center.
Barbara Baker of the Kaua‘i Area Complex office coordinated the event.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com
