Staff of Castle & Cooke Hawaii and members of the Waialua Robotics program team up to beautify their community in the Weed Circle project.

WAIALUA, HI – On October 23, Castle & Cooke’s Dole Plantation donated $5,000 to Waialua High & Intermediate’s nationally-recognized, award-winning robotics program. The national powerhouse team is preparing for another competitive season and will start building its robot in January 2008.

Building a robot is a complicated task involving several different fields including computer science, mechanical engineering and electronics. There are numerous theoretical concepts and mathematical equations to understand and apply as well as precise and careful construction. However, the Waialua High Robotics Team #359 knows
what it takes to be successful in national competitions. It’s a simple, successful formula of teamwork, commitment and responsibility.

“That’s our team motto, what we live by,” said Glenn Lee, advisor and science teacher at Waialua High and Intermediate School. “The FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) competition is not just about building a robot; it’s about peer learning, taking leadership and bringing out the best in one another.”

While his words are straightforward, Lee’s comments are delivered with the same kind of passion and dedication he instills in his students. Each year, participating robotics teams face a new challenge – a robot that throws balls into baskets or one that places tubes on an 18-foot rack. Whatever the challenge, students have only six weeks to build a robot from a standard set of parts.

“From concept to working design to construction and shipping, students work seven days a week, six to seven hours outside the school day,” said Lee. “Students take on various roles and responsibilities and really create the plan. I serve more as an advisor with other teachers and volunteers.”

Since 1999, when Waialua first entered the competition, the team has medaled every year finishing first or second in regional contests. School and community pride has swelled with each successive win resulting in benefits not only for the team members, but also the school. Through significant grants and donations, the auto/industrial arts center has some of the best equipment available costing from $25,000 to $50,000. The media center contains state-of-the-art computer equipment for drafting, graphics, video and other technology. And, after school math and science programs have been developed at all three schools in the Waialua area.

Lee estimates the program raises $100,000 a year in order to fund travel, equipment, robotics parts and shipping costs. Much of those monies are raised through grants, approximately 65%; however, the rest is through donations. Several companies in the area, including Castle & Cooke’s Dole Plantation, generously support the program.

“We are proud to be a part of this incredible program,” commented Susan Harada, Vice President for Retail Operations for Castle & Cooke Hawaii. “The benefits for students, and our community are invaluable – from providing students with the skills and knowledge for future careers to creating community pride and spirit.”

Harada said Castle & Cooke continues to invest in the program because the students involved are Hawaii’s future leaders and will help to address local and national issues such as sustainability, economic diversification and new technologies. The support of Waialua robotics is one of the many educational contributions the company makes to enhance learning opportunities and activities for students.

The Waialua robotics program also relies on several volunteers and financial support from local businesses and community members. In addition to Lee’s expertise, the team works with volunteer computer programmers, machinists, engineers and former Waialua robotics students currently attending the University of Hawaii.

In 2005, Lee was named Hawaii Science Teacher of the Year in recognition of his dedication to the program and his work at the school. He’s quick to point out that the success of the program is a community effort and truly showcases student talent in Waialua. Lee readily shares his expertise and experience with other Hawaii teams participating, many of which will compete against his team in March 2008.

For the first time, Hawaii will be a site for a FIRST Robotics regional competition. Last year, Governor Linda Lingle traveled to the kick-off event in New Hampshire as a guest of FIRST founder Dean Kamen, inventor of the Segway. Gov. Lingle convinced FIRST’s lead sponsor, NASA, to commit to $1 million over the next three years to fund up to 20 Hawaii robotics teams as well as host a regional competition in Honolulu.