Celebrating a Decade of Innovation: Winners Announced for the 10th Annual Hawai‘i Annual Code Challenge

Hawai'i's next generation of technology leaders took center stage as winners were announced for the 10th Annual Hawai'i Annual Code Challenge (HACC), marking a milestone year for one of the state's most impactful civic technology events. Held on November 22 at the University of Hawai'i-West O'ahu, the 2025 competition brought together high school students, college teams and IT professionals to design innovative solutions addressing real-world challenges faced by state agencies and the community.

Organized by the Office of Enterprise Technology Services (ETS) in partnership with the University of Hawai'i, the HACC has spent the past decade inspiring participants to apply their technical skills in service of modernizing government and strengthening Hawai'i's local tech ecosystem. This year, nine finalist teams were selected to present their projects before a panel of judges, competing for a total of $18,000 in awards.

The four challenge areas reflected pressing needs in workforce development, project oversight and higher education support. Their solutions demonstrated not only technical creativity, but also a strong understanding of how technology can improve public services and everyday experiences in Hawai'i.

Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke opened the event with encouraging remarks, commending participants for using technology to address issues that directly impact the people of Hawai'i. She noted that over the past 10 years, the HACC has consistently shown how innovation and creativity can help build a stronger future for the state.

State Chief Information Officer Christine Sakuda echoed that sentiment, emphasizing the value of collaboration between government, education and the broader community. She highlighted the HACC as a powerful platform for nurturing local talent and generating fresh ideas that can transform how government serves the public.

As the HACC celebrates its 10th anniversary, the program continues to advance the state's goals of expanding the local IT workforce, encouraging civic-minded innovation and investing in the next generation of technology leaders across the islands.