9th Annual Onizuka Day of Exploration
The 9th Annual Onizuka Day of Exploration took place on April 5, 2025, at the University of Hawaiʻi – West Oʻahu in Kapolei. This free, family-friendly STEM event honored Hawaiʻi-born astronaut Ellison Onizuka and featured over 100 hands-on activities, workshops, and exhibits. Attendees enjoyed interactive experiences in robotics, coding, sustainability, Hawaiian culture, and career development. The day began with a Parade of Flags and an Opening Ceremony, followed by various age-appropriate activities, including creative crafts for elementary students, coding drones for middle schoolers, and career exploration panels for high school students. The event aimed to inspire learners of all ages to explore new horizons in science and technology.
Hawaii Space Grant Consortium hosted the annual Onizuka Day VEX IQ Invitational Scrimmage event for 20 elementary to middle school robotics teams. The schools that participated were Makakilo Elementary, Manoa Elementary, Hokulani Elementary, Nanaikapono Elementary, Aiea Intermediate, Stevenson Middle, Makaha Elementary, Gus Webling Elementary, August Ahrens Elementary, Kaimiloa Elementary, and Kaahumanu Elementary.
Competition results and team rankings from the event can be found here: https://www.robotevents.com/robot-competitions/vex-iq-competition/RE-VIQRC-25-9784.html#results-
Teams were also celebrated for their achievements with fun, space-themed trophies! For example, the Moon Award went to the team that "shook the tides" and were influential figures to other teams. The Jupiter Award, named after the largest planet in the solar system, was given to the team that showcased "Main Character energy" and great leadership skills. The Earth Award, went to the team that was "built different," and showed great resilience in the competition.
Photo album from the competition: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjC8djV
| Award | Team Qualities | Award Winner | Pictures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun Most Talented, Brilliant, Incredible, Amazing, Showstopping, Spectacular, Never the Same | For the team that shines brightly in everything they do, proficient in all aspects and exemplars of a high-performing team. | 10142A - Green Tigers Team A, Manoa Elementary School |  |
| Mercury Big Brain [Most Insightful] | For the team that showcase the best critical thinking skills and are quick thinkers | 28100A - Kaimiloa Robotics Team A, Kaimiloa Elementary School |  |
| Venus Most Rizz [Most Caring] | For the team that showcases great sportsmanship & compassion to others | 96814A - Kaahumanu Robotics, Queen Kaahumanu Elementary School |  |
| Earth Built Different [Most Resilient] | For the team that showcases great adaptability to situations, who can change on the fly | 96701B - Aiea Veterans, Aiea Intermediate School |  |
| Moon Shook the Tides [Most Impactful] | For the team that are influential figures and reflect good vibes to others | 10460P - Nā Pueo, Gustav H Webling Elementary School |  |
| Jupiter Main Character [Most Ambitious] | For the team that showcases great leadership skills and sets high goals for themselves | 259B - Makakilo Mighty Menehunes Team 2, Makakilo Elementary School |  |
| Saturn An Icon [Most Memorable] | For the team that has a lasting imprint and unique style among the others | 1148A - Stevenson Robotics, Robert Louis Stevenson Middle School |  |
| Uranus Outta Pocket [Most Innovated] | For the team that has unique problem-solving skills and are creative with their resources | 12110B - Manaiakalani, Hokulani Elementary School |  |
| Neptune On Point [Most Tactful] | For the team that is graceful under pressure, who keeps calm and carries on | 97563A - PonoBots, Nanaikapono Elementary School |  |
| Pluto Not Like the Others [Most Unique] | For the team that stood out among the rest | 25801M - Relay Racers, Makaha Elementary School |  |