Big Island Regional ROV 2008
April 26, 2008 • Kawamoto Pool, Hilo, Hawaii
The third annual Big Island Regional ROV (Remote Operated Vehicle) Underwater Robot Competition "Diving to the Deep: Uncovering the Mysteries of Mid-Ocean Ridges" was held at the Sparky Kawamoto pool with teams participating from Connections PCS, Hilo High, Hilo Intermediate, Kamehameha School-Hawaii, Kealakehe Intermediate, St Joseph, Waters of Life PCS, Waimea (Kauai) High School and one home-schooled team. The event was co-coordinated by Cindy Fong and Pascale Pinner of Hilo Intermediate School Science Department and behind-the-scenes coordinators Dean McMahel (KAPU Racing) and Mike Bechtel (formerly of HELCO).
Significant support provided by Hilo-Laupahoehoe-Waiakea DOE Complex, County of Hawaii - Department of Parks and Recreation, UH Institute for Astronomy, Keck Observatory, Hawaii Electric Light Company, Hawaii Space Grant Consortium, Cycle Counters, Inc, and our guiding light, the Marine Advanced Technology Education Center (MATE), based in Monterey, California.
IRTF Electronics Technician Darryl Watanabe assisted with sensor calibration. Cindy Fong addresses event judges, most of whom are from WM Keck Observatory Divers
Kealakehe Intermediate in the queue behind Hilo Intermediate School Pollywogs Judges scrutinize the Hilo High School ROV during the event safety inspection A pensive moment
Students at Waters of Life PCS talked of their ROV project to judges Even the little kids had fun: Kaumana and Haaheo Elementary students and their ROVs The exuberence of youth - Kaumana Elementary students Scout class ROV
Deployment Kemehameha School-Hawai'i team ROV inside the black smoker Master of Ceremony Kenyan Beals and his lovely assistant Penny Pung
Mentors built their own ROVs and competed against each other in head-to-head competition Congratulations to Kealakehe Intermediate School ROV team, teacher Lisa Diaz, mentors Second Place: Mauna Kea Ed Academy (Home school) team
Third Place: Waimea High School from the island of Kaua'i Fourth Place: Waters of Life Public Charter School in Puna Fifth Place : Hilo Intermediate School, Pollywog
Level
ROV Name
School
Mission
1
Mission
2
Technical
Report
Poster
Board
Engineering
Interview
Total
MS Io o Hohonu Kai Kealakehe Inter 100 130 63.250 42 92 327.250
HS Delta Sharks Home School 40 55 56.750 33 89 233.750
HS Akala Waimea High 80 0 15.200 34 91 220.200
MS Aqualung Waters of Life PCS 0 30 46.286 39 93 208.286
MS Pollywog Hilo Intermediate 0 0 53.125 38 93 184.125
MS Ni Hilo Intermediate 0 0 54.375 22 64 140.375
HS No Namer Connections PCS 0 0 10.500 26 93 129.500
HS Darth Squishy HIlo High 0 0 23.286 23 77 123.286
HS Beta Hilo High 0 0 22.375 23 77 122.375
HS Alpha Hilo High 0 0 22.250 23 77 122.250
HS Maximus Kamehameha-Hawaii 0 0 31.125 9 74 114.125
MS Old Greg Hilo Intermediate 0 0 12.400 15 0 027.400
Overall Team Awards
Judge's Choice Awards
Place School ROV
1st Kealakehe Intermediate 'Io o Hohonu Kai
2nd Mauna Kea Ed Academy Delta Sharks
3rd Waimea High (Kaua'i) Akala
4th Waters of Life PCS Aqualung
5th Hilo Intermediate Pollywog
6th Hilo Intermediate Ni
Presentation Waters of Life PCS
Presentation Kealakehe Intermediate
Team Spirit Kealakehe Intermediate
Energetic Spirit Hilo Intermediate - Ni
Guts & Glory Hilo Intermediate - Pollywog
Diversified Team Hilo High
Support provided by:
Competition

MATE (Marine Advanced Technology Education Ctr)
Hilo Intermediate School, Robotics & Builders Clubs
(Logistics, prize collection, organization)
Hilo-Laupahoehoe-Waiakea DOE Complex
WM Keck Observatory (judges: Allan Honey, Kellee Summers, Colette Tyau, Jim Bell, Jim Lyke, Andrew Cooper, Tom Nordin, Liz Chock; Divers: David Lynn, Mike Wagner, Steve Doyle, Tomas Krasuski)
Institute for Astronomy (financial, logistics, technical, banners, Gary Fujihara: photographer/videographer, Kenyan Beals: Emcee Extraordinaire, Darryl Watanabe: technical and equipment, Shane Jacobsen: Judge)
KAPU Racing (Technical, support, logistics, financial)
Cycle Counters, Inc (financial, technical support: Adam Greenblatt, Cindy Fong)
HELCO (Hawaii Electric Light Company: financial, logistics, judges Stan Oshiro, Susan Akim Seu, Michael Bechtel)
Hawaii Space Grant Consortium (financial, Art Kimura)
Hilo High Robotics Club (pool, great location!)
SOEST (School of Ocean, Earth Science & Technology): Mark Rognstad - moral support)
Waipahu High School (William Speed - moral support)
Pascale Pinner (Perpetual trophy, logistics, co-coordinator)
All Teams - Setup, Assistance and Cleanup!
Team Sponsors

Special thanks to all the teachers, advisors, mentors willing to take the time to provide this STEM opportunity for their students in and outside of the classroom We all know and recognize the tremendous amount of time, effort and support mixed with incredible amounts of frustration to get our youth to produce a quality product. Without you, this event would not be possible!

KAPU Racing (Dean McMahel)
HELCO (Mike Bechtel, Susan Akim Seu, Stan Oshiro)
Strategic Theories Unlimited, LLC (Stu Burley)
Advanced Car Audio, Hilo
Central Supply Plumbing, Inc
Ace Hardware
Igus
Donations

Rent-A-Center
KTA Super Stores
Hilo Ace Hardware
Jeans Warehouse
Walmart
Don's Grill
McDonald's
Advance Car Audio
Cafe 100
Garden Exchange
Kozmic Cones
Longs Prince Kuhio Plaza
Macy's
Tilt Family Entertainment Ctr
Regis Hairsylist
Hollywood Theaters
Hot Dog on a Stick
Registration Bags

MATE
MATE-BIRR Steering Committee
Hilo Intermediate School - Robotics Club
AstroDay Institute
Institute for Astronomy
Joint Astronomy Centre
Subaru Telescope
Penelope Pung
Dean McMahel