LIHU‘E — Environment and sustainability appeared to rule the Kaua‘i Complex Area Regional Science Fair as demonstrated by its winning projects on Friday. For the first time, the district science fair was hosted at Kukui Grove Center, utilizing the retail
LIHU‘E — Environment and sustainability appeared to rule the Kaua‘i Complex Area Regional Science Fair as demonstrated by its winning projects on Friday.
For the first time, the district science fair was hosted at Kukui Grove Center, utilizing the retail space formerly occupied by Dollar Plus and the center stage where Aaron Martin, a science teacher from Kapa‘a Middle School, wowed the packed crowd.
Waimea Canyon Middle School dominated the Junior Division, capturing four of the five awards presented. Kaua‘i High School topped the Senior Division by taking the top three honors.
Cameron Williamson’s “Solar Power Slant” earned Kapa‘a Middle School fifth place honors in the Junior Division.
“Just Say ‘No’ to Fertilizer Runoff,” measuring the effectiveness of several materials in keeping contaminants out of the water table and runoff into oceans, earned top honors for Kawena Warren at Waimea Canyon Middle School.
Kayla Ishida earned a red ribbon for her “Working Toward Energy Self-Sufficiency,” the team of Alex Hashimoto, still savoring his individual win in the Mathcounts, and Alexys Bermudez teaming to capture third with “Wind Energy.” Julia Hirano’s “What Effect Does Acids in Drinks Have on Your Teeth?” was good for fourth place in the division.
Isaaca Hoglen was called away on a family emergency and could not enjoy the audience response when her “Desalination of Seawater: A Comparison of Processes” earned top honors in the Senior Division.
Ashley Bonilla, Alyssa Braun and Megan Fujimoto made up the team which earned the red ribbon for “Does Height Really Affect Voltage?”
Kaua‘i High School’s Megan Walsh rounded out the Red Raider ribbons in third place with “Improving the Acidity of Ultisoils Through Sequestered Carbon Soil Amendments.”
Bryson Cayaban’s “Solar Water Distiller” earned fourth place in the Senior Division for Waimea High School and Savannah Frisk of Kapa‘a High School captured fifth place with “Is It You? Proximity Effects of Elevator Occupants.”
Barbara Baker, the school science fair coordinator from the Department of Education, said all 10 winning entries will be moving on to the state science fair on O‘ahu in April.
Syngenta Hawai‘i, whose Kaua‘i affiliate fielded seven judges for the event, will be sponsoring travel for two students heading to the Hawai‘i State Science and Engineering Fair in April, states a release from McNeil Wilson Communications.
“Syngenta is honored to be able to help our island’s future scientists and engineers fulfill a great opportunity to compete in the 53rd annual Hawai‘i State Science and Engineering Fair in Honolulu,” said Laurie Goodwin, Hawai‘i Outreach Manager for Syngenta as well as one of the judges for the Kaua‘i district fair. “Syngenta is all about supporting science and our communities, so it was an honor to help judge some of the amazing projects the students have put forther. Based on entries, it’s quite obvious that Kaua‘i has a very talented pool of students who have bright futures ahead of them.”
After hearing about the financial shortfalls of the Hawai‘i Academy of Science, organizers of the state’s largest science fair for the past 53 years, Syngenta stepped up to ensure travel for some of Kaua‘i’s winners was covered.
William Arakaki, the Kaua‘i Complex Area superintendent, said the quality of projects and exhibits have risen considerably as students returning from the Hawai‘i state fair work toward elevating their projects the following year.
Jim Cox, a science teacher at Kapa‘a High School, agreed, noting Kawaikini Public Charter Middle School came in with one project last year that advanced to the state fair.
“It’s like the torch being handed down,” Cox said. “Last year, Kawaikini had one project. This year, the torch has been handed down and there are six projects.”
Baker said she would like to see financing come about so the top three winners of each division can advance to beyond the state competition to the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair which will be held in May in San Jose, Calif.
“We have projects that can compete on that level,” Baker said, noting Kapa‘a High School senior Kara Dastrup has been to the Intel event for three times since she started doing science projects in the seventh grade. “There are 1,500 entries at the International fair and students can learn a lot.”
Sponsors for this year’s Kaua‘i Complex Area Regional Science Fair includes Alexander & Baldwin Foundation, Pioneer Hi-Bred, Syngenta, Kaua‘i Economic Development Board, Kaua‘i Island Utilities Cooperative and Hawai‘i Academy of Science.
