LIHUE — The Kauai Regional Science and Engineering Fair held on March 16, 2024, showcased remarkable student projects, with 10 advancing to the state fair in Oahu. Despite challenging weather conditions, including strong winds and heavy rain, approximately 180 students from sixth to twelfth grades participated, ultimately presenting around 37 projects to a panel of judges from the community.
Dan Matthews, the coordinator of the Kauai Regional Science and Engineering Fair, highlighted the competitive spirit of the event. “This resulted in more than 150 research projects. Schools on Kauai ran competitions to determine the best of the best, and only 37 made it to this Regional Fair,” he stated. Following rigorous judging, a total of ten projects, along with four alternates, emerged as representatives for the state competition.
Junior Division Highlights
The Junior Division featured outstanding projects, with the top entry set to represent Kauai in the National Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge, a premier science competition for middle school students. The first-place project, titled “How Effective is a Homemade Hydrometer,” was presented by Nathaniel Knickel from Island School.
Other notable Junior Division projects included “Stretchin’-N-Movin’” by Anthony Riola and Teiva Hesapene from St. Theresa School, which secured second place. The third-place project, “The Power of Plastic,” was submitted by James Burkhart, also from St. Theresa School. This project received the 2024 Lemelson Early Inventors Award and was recognized for its innovative approach to environmental challenges.
Additionally, Makayla Oliver from Hanalei Elementary School earned fourth place with her project “Fantastic Flour,” while Sophia San Agustin, another student from St. Theresa School, took fifth place for her project “WHITE noise-BLACKout.”
Senior Division Achievements
In the Senior Division, Kauai High School student Drezdin Taylor received accolades for his project “Analyzing the Mycorrhizae of Non-Native and Native Hawaiian Trees.” This project not only won first place but also garnered several special awards. Nadine Nakamura, the House Speaker, praised the project, noting that it demonstrated extensive research and contributed valuable insights into tree fungi.
Another standout in the Senior Division was Adelaide Mottley from Kauai High School, whose project “Using Fractal Geometry to Identify Super Reefs” impressed judges with its relevance and potential impact on local ecosystems. The judges commended her methods and analysis, calling them among the best at the fair.
Other notable projects included “CRB-Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle” by students Kasarah Navor and Joy Lin, and “Can Water Kefir Scobies Survive Without Cane Sugar?” by Cora Rosenthal from Island School. Tanner Miller, also from Island School, placed fifth with his project on the impact of sunscreen ingredients on algae.
Earlier in the evening, Matthews announced that both Jayna Sams from Waimea High School and Tanner Miller would represent Hawaii at the National STEM Festival in November 2024. Their projects were selected as finalists for a prestigious research competition in Washington, D.C.
“Science moves forward because people are willing to ask questions and challenge what they think they know,” Nakamura remarked. “Today, we saw the next generation doing exactly that. I hope everyone leaves inspired to keep exploring, keep asking ‘why,’ and keep imagining what is possible.”
