Now in its second year, the 2026 National Civics Bee Hawaiʻi, hosted by Chamber of Commerce Hawaiʻi, encourages 6th to 8th grade students to contribute to the communities they live in.
To enter, interested students must submit an essay exploring a civic issue that’s important to them and their community, including proposing a thoughtful solution. The deadline to submit for 2026 has been extended to Tuesday, Feb. 17. Click here for more information.
“What makes the Bee especially impactful is that students must ground their ideas in civic virtues — humility, integrity, moderation, respect and responsibility — as well as founding principles such as natural and inalienable rights, equality, consent of the governed, rule of law, separation of powers, and private property,” said the chamber's Associate Director of Education Sophia Wibholm in response to emailed questions from Aloha State Daily. “This ensures their solutions are not only innovative but rooted in the core values that guide our system of government.
“In doing so, the initiative provides teachers with a meaningful, standards-aligned civic education tool while empowering students to recognize that their voices matter and can help shape the future of their communities in thoughtful and effective ways.”
Wibholm noted that last year’s topics ranged “from improving the cleanliness of public beach bathrooms to strengthening elderly care services and increasing access to swim education.”
There is also an incentive for teachers: the educator with the highest number of verified student submissions will receive a $100 Target gift card.
Essays will be judged by a rubric and the top 20 students will later go head-to-head in a quiz-style competition at the National Civics Bee Hawaiʻi State Finals on April 18 at Kaimukī High School. Register for the local tournament, sponsored by Honolulu Star-Advertiser, here.
The winner will move onto Washington, D.C., to participate in the National Civics Bee national championship in fall 2026. Last year, Moanalua Middle School's Ryker Perales became Hawaiʻi's first state champion.
“I am most excited to see even more students submit essays this year, as well as more audience members attend,” Wibholm said. “One of my favorite parts of the Bee is hearing students confidently present their speeches about a problem they care deeply about and the thoughtful solutions they’ve developed.”
Wibholm added: “Led by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, I truly believe the National Civics Bee is such a smart and creative way to address the lack of civic knowledge in our country. Instead of simply talking about the problem, the U.S. Chamber built something engaging and positive that invites students to step into it.
"By reaching students during their formative years — when we are shaping future leaders — the Bee makes learning about government interactive, relevant and personal. It encourages students to look at real issues in their own communities and think critically about solutions grounded in our founding principles," she continued. "What I especially appreciate is that the impact goes beyond the classroom. As students prepare their essays, families and community members naturally become part of the discussion, creating shared learning and helping all of us grow as more informed and proactive citizens.”
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Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros can be reached at kelsey@alohastatedaily.com.
