23rd Annual JASH Japan Wizards Statewide Academic Team Competition, presented by Hawaiian Airlines
Congratulations to the 99 students who represented 18 high schools from Oahu, Hawaiʻi and Maui at the 23rd Annual JASH Japan Wizards Statewide Academic Team Competition (JWC), presented by Hawaiian Airlines, on Saturday, February 21, 2026 at UH Mānoa Campus Center! Teams were comprised of three students each, with a total of 33 teams competing. The student-teams were tested on their knowledge of various Japan-related topics such as contemporary Japan, culture and traditions, geography, history, politics, U.S./Hawaii-Japan ties, language, and more. The theme for the 2026 competition was Let’s Celebrate! Discovering Japan’s Festivals.
Students were divided into two levels: Level A or Level B, depending on their current Japanese language level. Level A students are enrolled in Japanese I or II, and Level B students are enrolled in Japanese III or IV.
WE ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE OVERALL FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD PLACE WINNERS BY LEVEL:
Level A
1st place, Tateuchi Memorial Award and ICU Special Award winner (For highest number of points in the overall competition): Kapolei High School
2nd place: Hawaii Baptist Academy
3rd place: Mililani High School
Level B
1st place: King Kekaulike High School
2nd place: Mid-Pacific Institute
3rd place: Henry J. Kaiser High School
Each year, JASH awards trips to Japan to the top scoring public and private school teams in each level. Please note that the school whose team won a trip to Japan through competition scores in 2025 JWC were eligible to win a trip this year via competition scores. We are pleased to announce the JWC Japan trip winners as follows:
(L-R) Hawaii Baptist Academy Level A Team and Kapolei High School Level A Team, Japan trip winners for Level A
Level A: Hawaii Baptist Academy (private) and Kapolei High School (public)
Level B: Mid-Pacific Institute (private) and King Kekaulike High School (public)
(L-R) Mid-Pacific Institute Level B Team and King Kekaulike High School Level B Team, Japan trip winners for Level B
In addition, JASH Board Director and Youth Education Committee Chair Jean E. Rolles sponsored a fifth award for a trip to Japan in honor of her friend and fellow JASH Board Director, Dr. Michael Leineweber, who passed away in 2014. Dr. Leineweber was a loyal supporter of JASH who strongly believed in the educational programs that JASH conducts, especially those programs that encouraged exchanges between people from Japan and Hawaii. In his memory, Ms. Rolles sponsored a team chosen through a random drawing during the JWC awards ceremony. To qualify for this drawing, the team must have scored at least 120 points at the competition, video component points included. The four teams who had already won Japan trips were not eligible for this drawing.
Waiakea High School Level A team with Ms. Jean Rolles
The winner of the Dr. Michael Leineweber Award was: Waiakea High School Level A.
These five teams of three students and their advisors will travel to Japan to experience firsthand what they studied in the classroom and through independent research.
This year, students were invited to create a video exploring the theme “Let’s Celebrate! Discovering Japan’s Festivals,” highlighting what makes Japanese festivals unique, how they reflect Japan’s culture and traditions, and which festival they would most like to experience. JASH received a total of 24 video entries, and 6 of those were selected as finalists. Of these final 6, four were given top awards in the following categories:
Most Representative of the Theme/Topic: University Laboratory School Level A
https://youtu.be/vKOJHIiDfe0?si=8-l8gqDSuvRmHa1W
Most Inspirational: Hanalani Schools Level A
https://youtu.be/KaQRNET-sLQ?si=S63_m0NwB1g45OT2
Most Educational: Hilo High School Level A
https://youtu.be/2bEYTOm0NlE?si=1ZUpPUkuRvLqh06B
Best Produced: Kalani High School Level B
https://youtu.be/pNDPCPlVQMw?si=lDF0lXENozt4dxtc
In addition to the awards given to the top scoring teams, JASH also gave away prizes to 6 lucky students who completed our College Fair Trivia Quiz. We also ran a social media campaign for an iPad Mini giveaway, generously donated by Temple University, Japan Campus. In order to enter, students had to follow us on social media and tag us using #2026JWC. They could also enter a bonus entry if they shared a photo or video of them practicing for the JWC. Congratulations to Chase Nakamura, from Mid-Pacific Institute!
Student Chase Nakamura, winner of the iPad Mini Giveaway, sponsored by Temple University, Japan Campus
Between competition rounds, students were kept busy with numerous activity stations in the Activity Center. These included fukuwarai, hanafuda, kendama, ohajiki, origami, and other fun Japanese activities.
Students were also provided opportunities to explore higher education options in Japan and Hawaii at our College Fair between competition rounds. The following JASH corporate member and supporting institutions participated in the College Fair: College of Social Sciences, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa; East-West Center; Fukuoka Foreign Language College; Hawaii Tokai International College; International Christian University; Japan Exchange and Teaching Program; License Academy; Meikai University; Rikkyo University; and Temple University, Japan Campus.
Thank you to our title sponsor Hawaiian Airlines and other major supporters–Atsuhiko and Ina Goodwin Tateuchi Foundation; College of Social Sciences, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa; Freeman Foundation; Halekulani; Hawaii Hotel Industry Foundation; International Christian University; Ms. Jean Rolles; JTB Hawaii; License Academy; Lighthouse Hawaii; and Temple University, Japan Campus–who through the JWC, encourage high school students to study about Japan and the many fascinating topics associated with it.
We were also honored to have Ms. Esther Suh, Sales and Community Marketing Manager, from Hawaiian Airlines join the Awards Ceremony and present Japan trip awards to the winning teams. As our title sponsor, Hawaiian Airlines generously provides round trip tickets to Japan for the four winning teams as well as inter-island tickets to neighbor island school teams to participate in the JWC. Neighbor island school students and advisors had the chance to thank them in-person at the Awards Ceremony.
JASH would also like to thank Dr. Denise Konan, Dean, and Mr. Spencer Kimura, Director of International Programs, College of Social Sciences, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa for the generous use of the UH Mānoa facilities and their support of the Japan Wizards Competition.
Some of our AWESOME JWC Volunteers
Finally, our gratitude goes to the 60+ volunteers who helped the JWC run smoothly and volunteered their Saturday a few weeks ago for a training session. Volunteers were from organizations that included the Japan Exchange and Teaching Alumni Association of Hawaii, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, and JCI Honolulu, just to name a few. Without their tremendous support, the JWC would not have been possible. Thank you and we look forward to seeing everyone again at next year’s JWC!
To learn more about the Japan Wizards Competition and how to get involved, please visit our webpage here.
