Category: News

FTC “Freight Frenzy” Season Preview

Aaron
  1. “Freight Frenzy” Kickoff announcement
  2. Preview of Season Logistics
  3. $$$ Grants for Teams
  4. What are your plans for this season?
  5. You are invited: Be a Hawai’i FTC Planner

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“Freight Frenzy” Online KickoffFREIGHT FRENZY logo

The FIRST® Tech Challenge season will kick off September 18 with the new game “Freight Frenzy”. 

  • Links to the national and Hawai’i Kickoff events will be posted when available. 
  • Registration for the 2021-2022 season is now open in the FIRST Dashboard.
  • Game rules include half-field modification options for remote and hybrid formats as needed. 

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2021-2022 FIRST® Hawai’i FTC Preview
Here’s a look at what we’re planning for the 2021-2022 Hawai’i FTC season:

  • The Hawai’i season will consist of weekly remote qualifying events similar to last year
  • League Meets will be scheduled weekly from November to March providing flexibility for teams to participate on their preferred schedule.  
  • In-person events are NOT planned at this time based on the latest recommendations from the Hawai’i Department of Health and CDC.  
  • For the latest information about FTC Hawai’i events, team grants, and more

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$$$ Grants for Teams

  • $1,000 Bayer FIRST Team Grants. Oahu, Molokai, and Maui only. Sept 30 deadline.
  • $500 FIRST Tech Challenge Rookie Grant. Deadline 11/01/21
  • FIRST Equity and Access Grant for rookie and verteran teams. Deadline 8/16/21
  • $1,000 BAE Systems Team Grant for rookie and veteran teams. 
  • For the latest grant offers visit https://www.firstinspires.org/robotics/team-grants

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Tell us your plans for this season? 

We are committed to working with you to bring FIRST Tech Challenge to the students in your life. Although we’re doing our best to navigate current uncertainties, we cannot effectively plan ahead without feedback from you.  So, please email us and tell us if your team(s) will be participating this season, along with any suggestions for improving our program.  

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Become a Hawai’i FTC Planner 

We always do better with your help. Please join us for the Hawai’i FTC Planners meeting via Zoom, Saturday, August 14, 2021 at 4:00-5:00pm.  Email us for the Zoom link. 

We look forward to working with you to move FTC FORWARD.

Aloha,

Aaron, Blake, & Jenny

FTC Partners for
Hawaii FIRST Robotics,
a 501c3 non-profit organization 

FTC Championship Awards

Aaron

Aloha Teams,

Congratulations to all the Hawai`i teams who participated in the FIRST Tech Challenge Ultimate Goal Championship. With the League season now behind us and with scores tallied, the judges have rendered their decisions.  We know you are anxious to see the Championship results so we are releasing them below and on the Hawai`i FIRST Robotics website.  

Hawai`i FTC Awards Show, Coming Soon

Although having an in-person celebration wasn’t possible this season we are working to produce a Hawai`i FTC Awards Show (online) to be released on or before May 9. It’s our way of celebrating your achievements and acknowledging the countless hours of hard work that went into creating your amazing robotics. Help us pass the word to families and friends and encourage them to stream the video when available.  A link will be forthcoming.

Championship Award Volunteers

The Championship and these Awards would not have been possible without our volunteers. We are especially grateful to the Dean’s List Interviewers, Championship Judges, and to LeJardin Academy for providing the Championship Judging venue. We sincerely thank the following volunteers for their time, effort, dedication, and for making this season a success: Teri Nobriga, Jeff Kanada, John O’Hey, Tim Donlon, Brian Catlin, Tyson Kikugawa, Melissa Handy, Tracy Tonaki, Dale Zane, Marian Swider, and Danette Kobayashi.

Mahalo to our Sponsors

  • Hitachi Hawai`i
  • Booz Allen

 “Ultimate Goal” Awards

Dean’s List Finalists 
Kyla Lee9378 Magma Robotics, Kalani High School
Jake Yoshimoto11165 O-Bots (Independent)
Top Ranked Teams
Rank 111165 O-Bots – Honolulu, HI 
Rank 218120 HFR JS 3 – Honolulu, HI 
Rank 313088 Cyber Saints –  Kapaa, HI 
Rank 45159 X-bots – Honolulu, HI
Control Award sponsored by Arm, Inc. 18120 HFR JS 3 – Honolulu, HI 
Collins Aerospace Innovate Award 13088 Cyber Saints – Kapaa, HI 
Connect Award9378 Magma Robotics – Honolulu, HI 
Think Award 11165 O-Bots – Honolulu, HI 
Inspire Award 18120 HFR JS 3 – from Honolulu, HI

Mahalo for a great season!

Aaron, Blake, Jenny

FTC Program Delivery Partners

Hawai`i FIRST Robotics 

Booz Allen and Hawai`i FIRST Robotics Are Creating an Island-Based Tech Talent Pipeline

Aaron

Hawai`i, best known as one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations, has a problem retaining talent in technical fields: Many young people have been leaving the islands due to a combination of the high cost of living and a lack of economic opportunities, both real and perceived. The COVID-19 pandemic has further accelerated efforts to improve economic resilience by diversifying the local economy.  

Hawai`i FIRST Robotics and Booz Allen are working to be part of the solution by introducing students from ages 6 to 18 to STEM projects, aiming to keep tech talent in Hawai`i and grow the state’s innovation ecosystem. Read more …

Hawaii FIRST Robotics Announces FLL Explore Awards

Marc Asano
  • FLL_Explore_Expo_2021_2
  • FLL_Explore_Expo_2021_1

This year teams across Hawaii participated in a largely virtual season. The 2020-21 FLL Explore theme, PLAYMAKERS, challenged teams to think of new ways to play and move, while applying FIRST Core Values to create a team model. Hawaii FIRST Robotics held a FLL Explore PLAYMAKERS Expo, and here are the FLL Explore Expo Awards for the 2020-2021 season!

Challenge Solution Award: HMS Dolphins (Team 1675)

Core Values Award: The Troublemakers (Team 23632)

Team Model Award: Ripstick Replayers (Team 21597)

Team Model Award: HCAP Revolutionary Warriors (Team 19432)

Congratulations to all the coaches and students who participated during this challenging season! See you next year!

Hawaii FIRST Robotics Announces FLL CHallenge Awards

Marc Asano

This year teams across Hawaii participated in a largely virtual season. The 2020-21 FLL Challenge theme, RePLAY, challenged teams to think of new ways to play and move. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, 18 teams signed up to participate this year. Each team used the FIRST Core Values to design a robot to complete missions, and develop an innovation project that identified and solved a problem for the community. Each team presented its project to judges and competed in the robot game.

On March 6, 2021, Hawaii FIRST Robotics held a virtual awards ceremony to announce this year’s awardees.

Coach’s Award: Spencer Williams, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol: Bill and the Ciphers, Independent Team (Team 39908)

Robot Performance: Tech Squad, Independent Team (Team 51535)

Robot Design : Robo-Rangers, Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii (Team 51507)

Innovation Project: Honubots, Kailua Elementary School (Team 16871)

Core Values: P.L.A.E., Holomua Elementary School (Team 2365)

Champion’s Runner-Up: Fast Fooders, Independent Team (Team 51563)

Champion’s 1st Place: HMS Robotics, Hongwanji Mission School (Team 6898)

HMS Robotics will represent the Hawaii Region at the FIRST World Festival in July.

Congratulations to all the coaches and students who participated during this challenging season! See you next year!

2020-2021 FLL Challenge Virtual Awards Ceremony

Grant Opportunity for FIRST LEGO League Explore and Challenge teams (Now closed)

Marc Asano

(Now Closed)

Aloha!  We have an amazing grant opportunity to share with you. All new and returning Hawai`i FIRST LEGO League Explore and Challenge teams are eligible for a generous grant from Hawaiian Electric (O’ahu, Maui County, and Hawai’i Island) as well as Hawai`i FIRST Robotics (Kauai). We have the following grants available to reimburse teams in part for registration, equipment, and kits:

     FLL Explore Teams (grades 2-4, formerly known as FLL Jr.)
          Returning Teams $100
          New Teams $300

     FLL Challenge Teams (grades 4-8, formerly known as FLL)
          Returning Teams $300
          New Teams $500

Fill out the Google Form below to apply for the grant. If you have trouble viewing the application form, you may access the application through this link: https://forms.gle/yeJic9vDS2qZALJH7

Funding is limited so please submit your applications as soon as possible!  Deadline – November 6, 2020 @ 11:59 pm HST or until funds run out.

Aloha teams,

Mari

Booz Allen Hamilton and Hawaiʻi FIRST® Robotics are thrilled to support the following teams in their efforts to increase Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in their team, their community and beyond. We wish them all the best in the new FIRST® season and look forward to hearing about their journeys. Congratulations to these teams:

  • FIRST LEGO League Junior Team #7789, Kipapa Cougar Cubs II, Kipapa Elementary School
  • FIRST Tech Challenge Team #11165 O-Bots
  • FIRST Robotics Competition Team #3008, Team Magma, Kalani High School
Hawaii FIRST Robotics and Booz | Allen | Hamilton