MEDIA RELEASE

About 150 students from Hawaii Preparatory Academy and Kealakehe Intermediate School will perform in the 17th annual Ukulele Festival at Hawaii Preparatory Academy on Saturday, March 6.

The festival begins at 7 p.m. at Gates Performing Arts Center, located on the school¹s Upper Campus. This family event is free and open to the public.

This year¹s festival, themed “Lights! Camera! Action!” will feature popular movie, video, and television theme music and a few surprises. Highlights include Hawaii Five-0, Eye of the Tiger, Foot Loose, Mama Mia, and Seasons of Love.

The students are directed by Gloria Juan-Tapaatoutai, Georgia Polakova, Dagan Bernstein, and Lynn Kakugawa.

For more information, call 881-4099.

'Into The Woods' cast, Kealakehe Intermediate School, 2009 (Hawaii 24/7 photo by Karin Stanton)

Karin Stanton | Hawaii 24/7 Contributing Editor

You have one last last chance to go “Into the Woods, Jr.” with the Kealakehe Intermediate School performing group.

The students’ final show is 7 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 21 at Kealakehe Intermediate School in the cafeteria.

The production is taken from the Broadway play – with a huge nod to James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim – and produced, directed and otherwise presented by Jefferson Gourley and William Tompkins II.

The $5 admission fee goes benefits the school’s performance group.

Cast members from 'Into The Woods" 2009 at Kealakehe Intermediate School. Jack's mom (Leah Mozzer), Jack (Dylan Gomes) and the Milky White Cow (William Tompkins II). (Hawaii 24/7 photo by Karin Stanton)

Myron B. Thompson Academy Underwater ROV "Delta Sharks" team members include: Darryl Watanabe (team mentor) Quintin Watanabe, Clara Sheffield, Joshua Shigemitsu, Samuel Watanabe, Mark Sheffield, and Jared Swanson. (Photo courtesy of the Governor's Office)

MEDIA RELEASE

Hawaii robotics students showcased their science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) skills last week when they traveled to the Massachusetts Maritime Academy to compete in the International MATE (Marine Advanced Technology Education) Center Underwater Robotics competition.

The competition brought together teams from across the United States, as well as China, Russia and Scotland.

Hawaii teams represented the state with distinction, earning:

Ranger Class:

4th place overall: Myron B. Thompson Academy PCS (Mauna Kea Educational Academy) 

16th place overall: Moanalua High School

24th place overall: Kealakehe Intermediate School

Explorer Class:

9th place overall: Kapiolani Community College

In addition, Moanalua High School was awarded the Martin Bowen Memorial Inspiration for Future Engineers Award – in honor of Martin Bowen, an underwater vehicle engineer and ROV pilot.  

This award is presented to a team or individual who demonstrates passion, creativity, and ingenuity along with a sense of humor, professionalism and kindness toward fellow competitors.

Next year, the International MATE Underwater Robotics competition will be held in Hilo.

Robotics is a critical component of the Lingle-Aiona Administration’s Hawaii Innovation Initiative because it engages students in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education. The competition also fosters students’ teamwork, communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills that will better prepare them to enter the work force.

Underwater ROV (remote operated vehicle) is one of six major robotics programs in which Hawaii’s student have the opportunity to participate. Underwater ROV, along with FIRST Robotics, FIRST LEGO League, Botball, VEX and Micro Robotics make up the Hawaii Robotics Organizing Committee (ROC).