PBS Hawaii will air a live broadcast of the 2014 aio Hawaii State Spelling Bee on Saturday, March 22 at 7:00 pm. The program will also be live streamed on PBHawaii.org. PBS Hawaii President and CEO Leslie Wilcox will host, and for the first time, Hawaii Literacy Executive Director Suzanne Skjold will be pronouncer.
These 14 student finalists representing Grades 4-8 will vie for the state championship:
1. Christianne Abella of Konawaena Middle School, Grade 8
2. Fred Adella of Waimea Canyon Middle School, Grade 6
3. Kelly Brown of Ewa Makai Middle School, Grade 8
4. John Griffin of Our Savior Lutheran School, Grade 6
5. Susan Hasegawa of Iolani School, Grade 8
6. Katherine Hui of Iolani School, Grade 8
7. Reanna Inafuku of Hawaii Baptist Academy, Grade 7
8. Hope Kudo of Kealakehe Intermediate School, Grade 8
9. Alisha Maake of Iroquois Point Elementary School, Grade 5
10. Leila Nelson of Kaapa Middle School, Grade 7
11. Nic Sarji of Aikahi Elementary School, Grade 5
12. Ameera Waterford of Emmanuel Lutheran School, Grade 6
13. Amalie Yach of Holy Family Catholic Academy, Grade 8
14. Paul Yamane of Kamalii Elementary School, Grade 4
The finalists’ families, friends and sponsors will watch the live broadcast inside a hospitality tent set up at the station’s parking lot. Throughout the evening, OC16’s Felipe Ojastro will provide spectator commentary from the tent.
The state champion will represent Hawaii at the 2014 Scripps National Spelling Bee, May 25 – 31 near Washington, D.C.
As Hawaii’s only public television station, PBS Hawaii advances learning and discovery through storytelling that profoundly touches people’s lives. We bring the world to Hawaii and Hawaii to the world. Visit us online at PBSHawaii.org.