Hawai’i Celebrates a Decade of Tech Innovation with Annual Code Challenge Winners

The 10th Annual Hawai’i Annual Code Challenge (HACC) has concluded, celebrating a decade of fostering innovation and nurturing the state’s next generation of technology leaders. The event, held at the University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu, brought together high school students, college teams, and IT professionals to develop creative solutions for real-world challenges faced by state agencies and the community.

Key Takeaways

• The HACC has spent ten years inspiring participants to use their technical skills to modernize government and strengthen Hawaiʻi’s tech ecosystem.
• This year’s competition featured nine finalist teams presenting projects that addressed pressing needs in workforce development, project oversight, and higher education support.
• The event awarded a total of $18,000 in prizes, recognizing outstanding technical creativity and a strong understanding of how technology can improve public services.

A Milestone Year for Civic Tech

The 2025 HACC marked a significant milestone, continuing its mission to inspire participants to apply their technical skills in service of modernizing government and strengthening Hawaiʻi’s local tech ecosystem. Organized by the Office of Enterprise Technology Services (ETS) in partnership with the University of Hawaiʻi, the challenge has consistently encouraged participants to develop innovative solutions for the state.

Inspiring Future Leaders

Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke opened the event, commending the participants for their dedication to using technology to address issues impacting the people of Hawaiʻi. She highlighted the HACC’s decade-long success in demonstrating how innovation and creativity can contribute to a stronger future for the state.

State Chief Information Officer Christine Sakuda emphasized the importance of collaboration between government, education, and the community. She underscored the HACC’s role as a vital platform for cultivating local talent and generating fresh ideas to enhance public services.

Driving Government Modernization

The four challenge areas focused on critical state needs, including workforce development, project oversight, and support for higher education. The presented solutions showcased not only technical ingenuity but also a deep understanding of how technology can enhance public services and improve daily life for Hawaiʻi residents. As the HACC celebrates its 10th anniversary, it remains a key initiative in advancing the state’s goals of expanding the IT workforce, promoting civic-minded innovation, and investing in the future of technology leaders across the islands.

Sources

• Governor Josh Green, M.D. | Celebrating a Decade of Innovation: Winners Announced for the 10th Annual Hawai‘i
  Annual Code Challenge, Governor Josh Green, M.D. (.gov).