ROBOTICS RALLY FOR FIRST HAWAI`I REGIONAL COMPETITION

May 14 - Lt. Governor Aiona joined Governor Lingle in welcoming world-renowned inventor and entrepreneur Dean Kamen to Hawai‘i for a rally as a kick-off for the 2008 FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition Hawai‘i Regional, which will be held from March 27-29, 2008.

"Robotics will help the Hawaii Innovation Initiative's goal of graduating more students with marketable skills in science, technology, engineering and math," said Lt. Governor Aiona. "This policy initiative also aims to give Hawaii students entering the workforce a crucial edge, especially when competing for jobs at companies where innovation is prized above all other skills."

During the rally, the Lt. Governor presented the Best Website Award to McKinley High School’s robotics team, which he accepted on their behalf in Atlanta. Robotics teams from McKinley and Waialua High Schools and Punahou School also demonstrated the capabilities of the robots they developed during this year’s FIRST Robotics Competition to students from other public and private schools who are interested in robotics.

Through a $1 million four-year grant the Governor secured from NASA, Hawai‘i will host for the first time a regional robotics competition in March 2008, enabling teams from across the state, the mainland and abroad to participate.

FIRST is a non-profit public charity that designs innovative programs which motivate young people to pursue educational and career opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and math, while building self-confidence, knowledge, and life skills.  FIRST was founded in 1989 by Dean Kamen to inspire young people's interest and participation in science and technology.  The Lingle-Aiona Administration is supporting robotics as part of the Hawai‘i Innovation Initiative to engage Hawai‘i students in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education.