Hoʻomaikaʻi to all 2024 HSSEF Participants!

2024 HSSEF Grand Award Winners

SENIOR DIVISION (Gr. 9-12)
1st Place: Elle Sugimoto, ʻIolani School, Grade 11
2nd Place: Maddux Springer, ʻIolani School, Grade 12
3rd Place: Kian Sanchez, University Laboratory School, Grade 11

JUNIOR DIVISION (Gr. 6-8)
1st Place: Naomi Haisler, Washington Middle School, Grade 8
2nd Place: Keiko Kent & Christopher Bostic, Kailua Intermediate School, Grade 7
3rd Place: Alexander Godsey, Punahou School, Grade 8

2024 ISEF Finalists (State Delegation)

Chisato Tarui, ʻIolani School, Grade 11
Faith Brooks, Kamehameha Schools Kapalama, Grade 12
Jaymie Frith, ʻIolani School, Grade 12
Kruze Lani, Molokaʻi High School, Grade 9
Maddux Springer, ʻIolani School, Grade 12
Nana Hara, ʻIolani School, Grade 11
Sarina Lam, Hilo High School, Grade 9

2023 ISEF Grand Award Winners

2ND PLACE IN CELLULAR & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
Ming-Hao Lee, ‘Iolani School
Possible Use of MicroRNA-488 as a Biomarker for Bad Prognosis in Type 2 Diabetes
$2000 Award

3RD PLACE IN ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING
Kian Sanchez, University Laboratory School
Testing the Effectiveness of Sabellastarte spectabilis as a Potential Bioremediator
$1000 Award

4TH PLACE IN BIOMEDICAL & HEALTH SCIENCES
Amara Martin, Kamehameha Schools Kapalama
Identifying and Mitigating Renal Toxicity of Lithium on Bipolar Disorder Using HEK293 Cells
$500 Award

4TH PLACE IN BIOMEDICAL & HEALTH SCIENCES
Christian Roy, Kamehameha Schools Kapalama
Cytotoxicity of Mamaki (Pipturus albidus) on LNCaP Cells
$500 Award

4TH PLACE IN EARTH & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
Madison Murata, Kamehameha Schools Kapalama
Studies on Gracilaria salicornia: Zinc Oxide (ZnO) Sunscreen Exposure and Use as Agricultural Fertilizer
$500 Award

4TH PLACE IN ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY: STATISTICS & DYNAMICS
Paul Varricatt, Waiakea High School
Modification of Induction Motor Designs for Higher Efficiency and Starting Torque
$500 Award

4TH PLACE IN TRANSLATIONAL MEDICAL SCIENCE
Rachel Tao, Waiakea High School
Identifying the Molecular Mechanisms of a Safer Neuroblastoma Cure Using the Native Hawaiian ‘Awapuhi (Zingiber zerumbet) Herb
$500 Award

2023 ISEF Special Award Winners

AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION, 3RD PLACE - $500
Michelle Choi, Iolani School
Determining Whether the Onset Age of Bilingualism Enhances Cognitive Control

ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIP
Madison Murata, Kamehameha Schools Kapalama
Studies on Gracilaria salicornia: Zinc Oxide (ZnO) Sunscreen Exposure and Use as Agricultural Fertilize

ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIP
Brie-Ann Fukutomi and Penelope Tupou, Baldwin High School
The Effects of Coastal Erosion

DRUG, CHEMICAL & ASSOCIATED TECHNOLOGIES ASSOCIATION (DCAT), 1ST PLACE - $5000
Amara Martin, Kamehameha Schools Kapalama
Identifying and Mitigating Renal Toxicity of Lithium on Bipolar Disorder Using HEK293 Cells

NATIONAL OCEANIC ATMOSPHERIC ASSOCIATION (NOAA), TAKING THE PULSE OF PLANET AWARD - $1500
Madison Murata, Kamehameha Schools Kapalama
Studies on Gracilaria salicornia: Zinc Oxide (ZnO) Sunscreen Exposure and Use as Agricultural Fertilizer

2023 HSSEF Grand Award Winners

SENIOR DIVISION (Gr. 9-12)
1st Place: Amara Martin, Kamehameha Schools Kapalama, Grade 11
2nd Place: Rachel Tao, Waiakea High School, Grade 12
3rd Place: Madison Murata, Kamehameha Schools Kapalama, Grade 11

JUNIOR DIVISION (Gr. 6-8)
1st Place: Humi Yoshizawa, Jarrett Middle School, Grade 8
2nd Place: Nicolas Nishimura, Waipahu Intermediate School, Grade 8
3rd Place: Andrew Woolverton, Hilo Intermediate School, Grade 8

2023 ISEF Finalists (State Delegation)

Alanna Sun, Waiakea High School, Grade 12
Aysa Jones / Kanoaomauloakai Da Silva / Sebastian Rojas, Kailua High School, Grade 11
Christian Roy, Kamehameha Schools Kapalama, Grade 11
Ellsha Johnston, ʻIolani School, Grade 12
Madison Murata, Kamehameha Schools Kapalama, Grade 11
Michelle Choi, ʻIolani School, Grade 12
Paul Varricatt, Waiakea High School, Grade 12

2022 HSSEF Grand Award Winners

SENIOR DIVISION (Gr. 9-12)
1st Place: Alanna Sun, Waiakea High School, Grade 11
2nd Place: Kellen Apuna, Kamehameha Schools Kapalama, Grade 12
3rd Place: Yumi Mizobuchi, Iolani School, Grade 11

JUNIOR DIVISION (Gr. 6-8)
1st Place: Darwynn Ayling, Kailua Intermediate School, Grade 8
2nd Place: Brielle Rola & Chloe Liu & Mio Sutherland, Kaimuki Middle School, Grade 8
3rd Place: Mason Anderson, Kaneohe Elementary School, Grade 6

2022 ISEF Finalists (State Delegation)

Alanna Sun, Waiakea High School, Grade 11
Avnish Gupta, Iolani School, Grade 11
Ayana Sakamoto, Roosevelt High School, Grade 12
Ethan Abraham, Kamehameha Schools Kapalama, Grade 10
Kellen Apuna, Kamehameha Schools Kapalama, Grade 12
Landon Choy, Kamehameha Schools Kapalama, Grade 11
Yumi Mizobuchi, Iolani School, Grade 11

2022 ISEF Grand Award Winners

4TH PLACE IN ANIMAL SCIENCE
Kellen Apuna, Kamehameha Schools Kapalama
Population Status and Monitoring of the Red-Crowned Parrot (Amazona viridgenalis) on O’ahu, Hawai’i
$500 Award

2022 ISEF Special Award Winners

AIR FORCE RESEARCH LABORATORY AWARD - $750
Landon Choy, Kamehameha Schools Kapalama
Harnessing the Energy in Waves To Generate Electricity

AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION, 2ND PLACE - $1000
Carolyn Kea Clebsch, Kealakehe High School
BREATH Analysis: Improving Community Readiness Outcomes for Native Hawaiian Students in K-12 Education

ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIP
Ethan Abraham, Kamehameha Schools Kapalama
Effectiveness of a Fire-Fighting Foam as an Eco-Friendly Replacement

ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIP
Landon Choy, Kamehameha Schools Kapalama
Harnessing the Energy in Waves To Generate Electricity

ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIP
Avi Gupta, Iolani School
The Creation of a Convolutional Neural Network To Classify Chronic Ulcer Infectivity

ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIP
Atena Mori, Iolani School
Protective Effect of Bromelain and Pineapple Extracts on UV-Induced Damage in Human Skin Cell

CHINA ASSOCIATION FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (CAST) AWARD - $1200
Jingjing Wang, Iolani School
LuxI/LuxR-Type Quorum Sensing System in K61, Dickeya Species Novel: Growth and AHL Production in MgSO4-Rich Brine

CHINA ASSOCIATION FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (CAST) AWARD - $1200
Anica Ancheta, Baldwin High School
Habitable Zones of Galaxies: Finding Metal-Rich Zones in Various Galaxies and Their Relation to Color

ORACLE ACADEMY AWARD - $5000
Roen Wainscoat, Kalaheo High School
Building Silent Activation and Improved Location Accuracy Into the Current 911 System

2021 HSSEF Grand Award Winners

SENIOR DIVISION (Gr. 9-12)
1st Place: Jiacheng Dang, Iolani School, Grade 12
2nd Place: Connor Lee, Iolani School, Grade 11
3rd Place: Kelly Mukai, Iolani School, Grade 12

JUNIOR DIVISION (Gr. 6-8)
1st Place: Holden Suzuki & Wilson Chau, Maui Waena Intermediate, Grade 8
2nd Place: William Meyermann, Island Pacific Academy, Grade 7
3rd Place: Julia Cicatko, Kahuku High & Intermediate School, Grade 8

2021 ISEF Finalists (State Delegation)

Connor Lee, Iolani School, Grade 11
Kelly Mukai, Iolani School, Grade 12
Stephanie Yoshida, Punahou School, Grade 12
Alanna Sun, Waiakea High School, Grade 10
Rachel Tao, Waiakea High School, Grade 10
Kellen Apuna, Kamehameha Schools Kapalama, Grade 11
Andrew Dawson & David Torres & Ethan Hui, Iolani School, Grade 12

2021 ISEF Grand Award Winners

3RD PLACE IN COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY AND BIOINFORMATICS
Blaise Swartwood, Mililani High School
High Accuracy Classification of Myopathy Electromyography Signals Using a ResNet50 Neural Network
$1,000 Award

3RD PLACE IN ROBOTICS AND INTELLIGENT MACHINES
Jiacheng “Tony” Dang, Iolani School
An AI-aided Solution to Open Angle Glaucoma Screening in Developing and Rural Countries
$1,000 Award

3RD PLACE IN ANIMAL SCIENCES
Kellen Apuna, Kamehameha Schools Kapalama
An Inventory of Forest Birds Along the ‘Aiea Loop Trail, O’ahu Hawaii
$1,000 Award

4TH PLACE IN MATERIAL SCIENCES
Kelly Mukai, Iolani School
Engineering an Invasive Algae and Taro Based Bioplastic
$500 Award

4TH PLACE IN MICROBIOLOGY
Lela DeVine, Waiakea High School
Structural Deduction and Environmental Analysis of Novel Tirofiban and Coumarin Derivatives Originating from the Endophytic Isolate FM1005 (Xylaria sp.)
$500 Award

2021 ISEF Special Award Winners

ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIP
Jeyan Francis Cornelio, Waipahu High School
Synthesizing c-Si3N4 from Extreme Temperature and Pressure Conditions

CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY (CIA) AWARD - $3000
Kelly Mukai, Iolani School
Engineering an Invasive Algae and Taro Based Bioplastic

2019 ISEF Grand Award Winners

2ND PLACE IN BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES
Nalani Miller, Kamehameha Schools Kapalama
Pytchosperma macarthurii (MacArthur Palm) Seeds Inhibit Growth of ex vivo Cancer Cells
$1,500 Award

2ND PLACE IN PHYSICS & ASTRONOMY
Stephanie Yoshida, Punahou School
Probing Stellar Remnant for Planet Candidate; Analysis of K2 Target 251248385
$1,500 Award

3RD PLACE IN EARTH & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
Jared Goodwin, Hilo High School
Mapping Arsenic Movement Due to Tsunami Effects: Developing a Comprehensive Hot Spot Map of Arsenic Contamination in Wailoa State Park in Hilo, Hawaii
$1,000 Award

3RD PLACE IN EMBEDDED SYSTEMS
Samuel Cadotte, Kalaheo High School
Development of an Autonomous Aerial Vehicle Using Computer Vision and Artificial Intelligence to Assist First Responders in Dangerous Situations
$1,000 Award

3RD PLACE IN ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING
Alexander Bell & Nicholas White & Evan Curry, Kealakehe High School
Finding the Optimal Way to Detect Rapid Ohia Death Utilizing Aerial Photography
$1,000 Award

3RD PLACE IN PLANT SCIENCES
Shwe Win, Hilo High School
Susceptibilities of Various Growth Stages of Metrosideros polymorpha to Ceratocystis lukuohia Infection
$1,000 Award

4TH PLACE IN ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING
Cindy Tsou, Mililani High School
Designing an Algae-Immobilized Membrane Bioreactor for Wastewater Bioremediation and High-Density Algae Production
$500 Award

2019 ISEF Special Award Winners

ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIP
Jared Goodwin, Hilo High School
Mapping Arsenic Movement Due to Tsunami Effects: Developing a Comprehensive Hot Spot Map of Arsenic Contamination in Wailoa State Park in Hilo, Hawaii

2019 HSSEF Award Winners

 List of all Grand Award Winners                                                                                                                          List of Award Winners by District                                                                                                                        List of Award Winners by Project                                                                                                                          List of Award Winners by School                                                                                                                      

2018 ISEF Grand Award Winners

3RD PLACE IN SYSTEMS SOFTWARE
Samuel Cadotte, Kalaheo High School
Using SONAR, LIDAR, and Computer Vision to Assist the Visually-Impaired
$1,000 Award

3RD PLACE IN ANIMAL SCIENCE
Sonja Giardina, Hilo High School
Effect of Fragmentation, Isolation, and Bleaching on Coral Reef Fish Assemblages
$1,000 Award

4TH PLACE IN BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE
Benjamin Weiss & Kaitlynn Weiss, Kalaheo High School
Improving Facial Expression Recognition in Parkinson's Disease Using Meditation
$500 Award

2018 ISEF Special Award Winners

NATIONAL ANTI-VIVISECTION SOCIETY SCHOLARSHIP
Erin Kajihiro, Moanalua High School
Development of Animal Component-Free Media for the Cryopreservation of Drosophila S2 Cells
$10,000 Award

ORACLE ACADEMY SCHOLARSHIP
Samuel Cadotte, Kalaheo High School
Using SONAR, LIDAR, and Computer Vision to Assist the Visually-Impaired
$5,000 Award

2017 ISEF Grand Award Winners

BEST IN CATEGORY CELLULAR AND MICROBIOLOGY
Davey Huang, Iolani
A Morphokinetic and Machine Learning Model for Aneuploidy Screening of Human Preimplantation Embryos
$5,000 Reward

1ST PLACE IN CELLULAR AND MICROBIOLOGY
Davey Huang, Iolani
A Morphokinetic and Machine Learning Model for Aneuploidy Screening of Human Preimplantation Embryos
$3,000 Reward

3RD PLACE IN ENGINEERING MECHANICS
Alex Yamada & Eric Schlitzkus, Pearl City
Cost-Effective Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) for Ecological Analysis
$1,000 Reward

3RD PLACE IN BIOMEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES
Emily Yang, Kalani High
The Effects of Amino Acids on Preimplantation Mouse Embryo Development
$1,000 Reward

4TH PLACE IN EARTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
Jared Goodwin, Hilo High
Arsenic Contamination through Tsunami Wave Movement in Hawaii: Investigating the Concentration of Heavy Metals in the Soil from the 1960 Hilo, Hawaii Tsunami
$500 Reward

2017 ISEF Special Award Winners

AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION
Ben Weiss, Kalaheo High
Suggested Memory Therapy: A Novel Treatment for Psychological Inflexibility
3rd Award - $500 Reward

AMERICAN GEOSCIENCES INSTITUTE
Jared Goodwin, Hilo High
Arsenic Contamination through Tsunami Wave Movement in Hawaii: Investigating the Concentration of Heavy Metals in the Soil from the 1960 Hilo, Hawaii Tsunami
3rd Award - $500 Reward

ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY
Evelyn Haase, Molokai High
Developing a pH Sensor Using a Raspberry Pi to Monitor Ocean Acidification, Year Two
Four Year Scholarship and Monetary Reward

PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE SOCIETY
Davey Huang, Iolani
A Morphokinetic and Machine Learning Model for Aneuploidy Screening of Human Preimplantation Embryos
2nd Award - $500 Reward

ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY OF THE PACIFIC AND THE AMERICAN ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY
Erica Sawczynec, Kihei Charter
Determining the Ages and Distances of Open Clusters
2nd Award - $500 Reward

CHINA ASSOCIATION FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Davey Huang, Iolani
A Morphokinetic and Machine Learning Model for Aneuploidy Screening of Human Preimplantation Embryos
1st Award - $1,200 Reward

NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION
Jared Goodwin, Hilo High
Arsenic Contamination through Tsunami Wave Movement in Hawaii: Investigating the Concentration of Heavy Metals in the Soil from the 1960 Hilo, Hawaii Tsunami
$500 Reward

AMERICAN STATISTICAL ASSOCIATION
Davey Huang, Iolani
A Morphokinetic and Machine Learning Model for Aneuploidy Screening of Human Preimplantation Embryos
1st Award - $1,500 Reward