Thirty-five high school students from seven Oʻahu schools put their coding skills to the test in the first-ever SWITCH x ICSpark Hackathon on March 15. The competition was organized by University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa students to inspire Hawaiʻi’s next generation of computing professionals. SWITCH (Supporting Wellness in Technology Computing Hawaiʻi) and ICSpark are registered independent organizations in UH Mānoa’s Department of Information and Computer Sciences in the College of Natural Sciences.
Over four hours, 11 teams developed software solutions addressing real-world challenges in Hawaiʻi, focusing on cultural, environmental and health-related issues. Participants tackled topics such as sustainable tourism, Hawaiian culture, carbon footprint, supporting local businesses, health literacy and mental health awareness through web and mobile applications.
“We wanted the problem statements to reflect real issues that impact our community,” said Jing Zheng, hackathon organizer and SWITCH president. “By focusing on challenges relevant to Hawaiʻi, we hoped to inspire students to think critically about the problems around them and use technology as a tool for meaningful change.”
Problem solving, creativity
Campbell High School’s Saber Codahz took first place, followed by Kalani Falcons 2 in second and Byte Us in third, both teams from Kalani High. The event welcomed both beginners and experienced coders, emphasizing problem solving and creativity.
“It was a great event, both because it was exclusively for high school students, and the length and scope of it wasn’t overwhelming,” said Michael Ida, Kalani High math and computer science teacher, and coach of the Kalani Falcons 2 team. “Students who hadn’t participated in a hackathon before, or even those with next to no coding experience, could feel comfortable participating. Our students, without exception, had a great time and were energized, seeing how the skills that they’re learning in my classes can be used to create something useful and of value to others.”
Organizers hope the hackathon will encourage more students to pursue careers in technology while fostering innovation to benefit local communities.
“We wanted to create an event where students could see the real impact technology can have on their communities while gaining hands-on experience,” said Briana Lee, hackathon organizer and ICSpark vice president. “Seeing their creativity and problem-solving skills come to life in just a few hours was truly inspiring.”
