Governor Lingle and Lt. Governor Aiona joined hundreds of students and mentors at the Hawai`i State Robotics Exhibition to celebrate Hawai`i students' technical expertise and innovative talents.

The event brought together participants from Hawai`i's six major robotics programs - FIRST Robotics, FIRST LEGO League, Botball, Underwater Remote Operating Vehicle, VEX Robotics and Micro Robotics - to give students and educators a chance to learn more about starting or expanding robotics teams in their schools.

Exhibition is Kick-off for the Hawai`i Robotics Organizing Committee

Recognizing the importance of promoting robotics at an early age and sustaining students' interest in STEM education throughout their schooling, the six robotics programs have joined together to form the Hawai`i Robotics Organizing Committee. This is the first time all six of the robotics programs are coordinating efforts to promote robotics education in elementary, middle and high schools statewide.

"This ROC (Robotics Organizing Committee) is the foundation that will carry Hawai`i's innovation to the next level," said Mark Leon, director of NASA's Robotics Alliance Project.

To learn more about robotics and to find out how you can start a program at your school, please visit http://robotics.hawaii.gov/
Watch video of this exhibition and view a photo gallery.

"Robotics students flex their chips," Honolulu Star-Bulletin, July 3, 2008
"Robotic creations invade the State capitol," KHON-2, July 2, 2008
"Robot mania at the Capitol," KHNL-8, July 2, 2008
"High School Robotics at the State Capitol," KGMB-9, July 2, 2008

43 percent of Hawai`i's public, private and charter schools currently participate in a robotics program - a number the Governor and Lt. Governor are working on increasing.

To learn more about starting or expanding a robotics team at your school, please contact Corrie Heck, Chief Communications Officer and ROC Coordinator, by telephone at 586-0718 or by email at corrie.heck@hawaii.gov.

For more information about how you or your company can support these programs financially, please contact Mike May, ROC Co-Chair and president and CEO, Hawaiian Electric Company or Ka'iulani de Silva, Hawaiian Electric Company, by telephone at 543-7741.

For more information about a specific program, please contact:

FIRST Robotics Competition
Mr. Alex Ho
FIRST in Hawai`i Regional Director
Phone: 808-587-2760
Email: alex.ho@dbedt.hawaii.gov

Botball
Mr. Art Kimura
Hawai`i Space Grant Consortium
Phone: 808-934-7261
Email: art@higp.hawaii.edu

FIRST LEGO League
Mr. Aaron Dengler
Punahou School
Phone: 808-943-3236
Email: adengler@punahou.edu

Ms. Sara Tamayose
FIRST LEGO League coordinator
Phone: 808-833-0162
Email: stamayose@gmail.com

VEX Robotics
Dr. Song Choi
Assistant Dean, College of Engineering, University of Hawai`i - Manoa
VEX Robotics Interim Chair
Email: schoi@hawaii.edu

Underwater ROV
Mr. Mark Rongstad
University of Hawai`i
Phone: 808-956-8712
Email: mrongsta@hawaii.edu

Ms. Cindy Fong
Hilo Intermediate School
Big Island Underwater ROV Coordinator
Phone: 808-959-8531
Email: clfong@hawaii.edu

Micro Robotics
Mr. Dale Olive
Waiakea High School
Phone: 808-974-4888
Email: dale_olive@notes.k12.hi.us

Mr. Eric Hagiwara
Waiakea High School
Phone: 808-974-4888
Email: eric_hagiwara@notes.k12.hi.us