David Y. Ige

HONOLULU – High school teams from across the state today participated in the 13th annual LifeSmarts Hawaii competition, held at the University of Hawaii Manoa Campus Center Ballroom. The game-show style competition tested students on their knowledge of personal finance, health and safety, the environment, technology, and consumer rights and responsibilities.

The final four teams competing today included Maryknoll, Pearl City, Roosevelt and Waiakea High Schools.  After testing their skills through written tests, a “speed smarts” activity, and gameshow style buzzer rounds, the team from Roosevelt High School emerged as this year’s state champion. Members of the team are: Bryan Kitsu (team captain), Zeheng Huang, Hajin Jang, William Li, and Elvis Tran. The team was coached by Brian Lock.

The winner of today’s state competition will now represent Hawaii at the National LifeSmarts Competition in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from April 21 – 24, 2017.

“Participation in the LifeSmarts Hawaii program has increased over the years and it is very exciting to see these students take an interest in something that will provide them with valuable real-life skills,” said Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) Director Catherine Awakuni Colón.  “Congratulations to all of the teams that participated today. I wish Roosevelt all the best as they continue on to the national competition.”

“We commend all the student competitors, their parents and coaches for the time, energy and support they dedicated in preparation for today’s competition,” said Acting Securities Commissioner Henry Tanji.

LifeSmarts is an educational program that prepares students to enter the real world as smart consumers by teaching them the skills needed to succeed in today’s global marketplace. The program is run by the National Consumers League and locally by the DCCA Office of the Securities Commissioner, in partnership with the Hawaii Credit Union League.

Local sponsors for the Hawaii State Competition include:

• Better Business Bureau (BBB) Foundation of Hawaii, Inc.
• Coastal Construction Co., Inc.
• Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs – Office of the Director
• Experian
• Hawaii Construction Alliance

o   Hawaii Regional Council of Carpenters

o   International Union of Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers, Local 1

o   Laborers’ International Union of North America, Local 368

o   Operating Engineers Local Union No. 3

o   Operative Plasterers’ and Cement Masons’ Union, Local 630

• Hawaii Council on Economic Education(HCEE)
• Hawaii Credit Union League

o   Aloha Pacific Federal Credit Union

o   Big Island Federal Credit Union

o   CU Hawaii Federal Credit Union

o   Hawaii State Federal Credit Union

o   Hawaiian Electric Employees  Federal Credit Union

o   Matanuska Valley Federal Credit Union

o   Oahu Federal Credit Union

o   Pearl Hawaii Federal Credit Union

o   Schofield Federal Credit Union

• Hawaii Government Employees Association, Local 152
• Hawaii Prince Hotel
• HawaiiUSA Federal Credit Union Foundation
• HMSA
• OtterBox
• Pasha Group and Pasha Hawaii
• State of Hawaii, Department of the Attorney General, Crime Prevention and Justice Assistance Division, Community and Crime Prevention Branch
• United Public Workers AFSCME, Local 646
• University of Hawaii at Manoa Financial Literacy Program
• University of Hawaii at Manoa Shidler College of Business Pacific Asian Center for Entrepreneurship (PACE)

More information about the LifeSmarts Hawaii program can be found at www.LifeSmartsHawaii.com.

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Photos and b-roll available at https://www.dropbox.com/sh/le7n0a90rtx3qnl/AACOqRBctL7YYH06q4WsMUzaa?dl=0

 

Photo courtesy of Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA)

• Champion Team: Members of Roosevelt High School championship team each received an iPad, sponsored by the Hawaii Construction Alliance. Roosevelt team pictured with Tyler Dos Santos-Tam (in red), executive director of the Hawaii Construction Alliance. 
• Pete & Moani: Pete Cagianno and Moanike’ala Nabarro of KITV News served as emcees of today’s competition. 

 

Media Contact: 

William Nhieu

Communications Officer

Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs

(808) 587-7582

[email protected]

cca.hawaii.gov