Students across Hawaiʻi test skills at annual engineering showdown

Middle school students from across Hawaiʻi gathered for the 2026 Middle School Engineering Showdown at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa College of Engineering, where they tackled hands-on design challenges, collaborated with peers, and showcased their creativity and problem-solving skills. With teams participating both in person and virtually, the event created an energetic environment that encouraged students to test ideas, refine solutions, and learn through experience.

Top performers were recognized across a wide range of competitions. First-place finishers included Koans 3 in the Crazy Catapults challenge, Cheng Liang He (Koans 1) for highest efficiency ratio in the Popsicle Bridge Building Contest, Lilliana Matsuoka (Koans 1) for best oral presentation, and Alyhs Smith (Voyager 20) in the Aerospace Reaction Time / Spaghetti Towers event. Additional winners included Kai Ichiyama in Circuit Puzzles, Jarren Masumoto (Omelette Cookers, Ewa Makai) in Egg Drop, Kenji Conselva (WIS Jr. Marauders) in the Brushbot Relay Buddies event, and Mia Perez (Bobs the Builders, Ewa Makai) in the Play-Doh Tower competition, among many others who earned top honors throughout the day’s activities.

Throughout the event, engineering clubs, student organizations, and project teams hosted interactive activities and lab tours that gave students a firsthand look at engineering in action. The annual Showdown continues to serve as an early introduction to engineering for local students, connecting classroom learning with real-world applications while encouraging interest in STEM education across Hawaiʻi.