MEDIA RELEASE

(Hilo, HI) – Hawaii Electric Light Company (HELCO) congratulates the participants and winners of the Hawaii FIRST LEGO League (FLL) tournament held on November 13 in Hilo. Sixteen teams from Hawaii Island elementary and intermediate schools participated in the tournament sponsored by HELCO.

The FIRST LEGO League introduces young people, ages 9 to 14, to the fun and excitement of science and technology while building self-confidence, knowledge and life skills. Alongside adult mentors, FLL teams solve problems using engineering concepts, presentation techniques, and robots. HELCO employees also volunteered their time to assist with the tournament.

“We are committed to ensuring that Hawaii Island remains a healthy, economically vital place that offers a quality of life second to none. There is no better place to start than with our workforce of the future,” said Jay Ignacio, HELCO President. “By supporting science, technology, engineering, and math initiatives, we develop a workforce that will transform our energy future.”

The tournament was one of 11 district tournaments held statewide over a three-week period in November. Team awards were presented in the following categories:
Teamwork: Waimea Middle School
Robot Design: Kealakehe Intermediate School
Project: Kahakai Elementary School
Robot Performance: Keaau Elementary School

Based on overall scores, five teams qualified to participate in the FLL Championship Tournament to be held on Oahu on December 11: Kahakai Elementary School, Keaau Elementary School, E.B. de Silva Elementary School, Waimea Middle School, and Hawaii Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Teams from four schools also participated in the Junior FIRST LEGO League (Jr.FLL) Exposition that was featured at the tournament: Keaukaha Robotics Program, E.B. de Silva Elementary School, Pahoa Elementary/4-H, and Kahakai Elementary School. Jr.FLL is a hands-on program designed to capture the inherent curiosity and creativity of young children, ages 6-9, and direct it toward discovering the possibilities of improving the world around them. Jr.FLL utilizes theme-based challenges to engage children in research, problem solving, and introductory engineering concepts.