As the Hawai i Annual Code Challenge (HACC) reveals its 2024 winners, young people in Hawai‘i are not just riding waves but also making technical waves. After a fierce competition, nine teams—a mix of high school students, college students, and young professionals—won the top prizes, totaling $18,000.
About 120 friends, family, and supporters watched as 17 finalist teams took on six different challenges on November 16 at the University of Hawai i West O’ahu. Their solutions focused on improving various state and community services, such as improving the state’s open data portal to address energy efficiency or even creating a game to identify the bird species of Hawai i. There were 158 participants in total, who formed 41 teams, and 27 project submissions were made, with 17 of those teams reaching the finals.
Christine M. Sakuda, Chief Information Officer of Hawai’s, praised the solutions’ worth by saying, “I am so proud of the teams ability to solve these challenges, under the hackathon time constraint, in innovative ways.”As stated in the official press release on the Office of the Governor website, she also highlighted the enjoyment that participants had using their technology, problem-solving, and presentation talents to create the finest ideas.
On the Office of the Governor website, University of Hawai’s President David Lassner discussed the HACC’s many advantages beyond technology, writing, “The HACC is a way we bring together those who want to develop technology solutions with public service providers who have challenges to address.”highlighting the event’s contribution to improving a variety of professional abilities like resilience, teamwork, and communication. With the HACC also aiming to strengthen the IT talent pipeline and expand the tech sector inside the state, the hackathon particularly aims to connect Hawai’s technology minds with the state’s aspirations to move towards a more innovative and open government.
Microsoft Azure Director of State & Local Government West Rick Joyer said on the Office of the Governor website, “Microsoft is incredibly proud to support the Hawaii Annual Code Challenge, this event is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the exceptional problem-solving skills and innovative talent of local students and residents across the State of Hawai i.” The participation of tech giants highlights the impact of HACC on aspiring developers.
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