Proposal Competition
The Honua Scholars Proposal Competition encourages students to generate new ideas that could positively impact the Hawaiian community through STEM. Students in middle school and high school located in Hawaii are eligible to submit a proposal to this competition, regardless of nationality or origin. Selected finalists will be invited to give a short oral presentation at Honua Scholars' Laulima Symposium. Prizes will also be provided for outstanding submissions. For any questions, please contact us at info@honuascholars.org!
Deadline: September 15, 2023 (11:59PM HST)
EXTENDED DEADLINE: October 13, 2023 (11:59PM HST)
FIRST 50 students who submit will receive a $10 Amazon Gift Card!!!
FIRST 10 teachers with 3+ student submissions will receive a $20 gift card!!!
Guidelines
Document Specifications
single-spaced, 1" margins
Arial, 11pt font for title and body text and 8pt font for references and figure captions
1 page maximum (including references and figures)
written in English or Hawaiian
PDF submission to Honua Scholars website
Proposal Prompts (Choose one)
Identify a problem in your community. What is its root cause/s? Propose a STEM-focused solution.
Sample topics: climate change, waste, energy, housing, transportation
What historical lessons from STEM can be applied to modern issues in Hawai'i?
How can STEM and Native Hawaiian culture coexist?
How can STEM and the natural world coexist?
Suggested Outline
Background & purpose
Proposed project, experiment, or product
Community impact & conclusion
References
Submission Requirements:
Online submission form containing:
Name, School, Grade Level
Submit ONE PDF containing:
Application Form (Page 1)
Note: This requires a parent (if under 18) AND teacher signature
Proposal (Page 2)
Eligibility
Student currently enrolled at a school in Hawaii
Enrolled in 6th-12th grade at the time of submission
FAQs
Who is eligible to enter this competition?
All students attending a Hawai’i school in grades 6–12.
When is the deadline?
This year’s deadline is September 15, 2023 by 11:59 PM HST.
Can I write my proposal in Hawaiian language?
Yes! We will accept proposals written in English and Hawaiian.
What are this year’s guiding prompts?
This year, there are four prompts that students can use to write their proposals:
Identify a problem in your community. What is its root cause/s? Propose a STEM-focused solution.
What historical lessons from STEM can be applied to modern issues in Hawai'i?
How can STEM and Native Hawaiian culture coexist?
How can STEM and the natural world coexist?
Which reference format should I use?
Please use the most recent edition of APA format.
Why is the competition geared toward proposing a project and not initiating it?
This competition provides an opportunity for students to share extravagant ideas that might not be feasible to accomplish alone. We use this competition to help students think creatively about what communities need and to connect them to potential resources and opportunities along their educational and career pathways.
Will Honua Scholars help the student implement the project in the future?
Unfortunately at this time, Honua Scholars does not have the resources or funding to support and mentor students through these projects. We are actively looking for additional grants that can help create this setup. Contact us at honuascholars@gmail.com if you would like to partner or fund us to help make this happen! We are hoping that in the future, we can team up with local companies and have specific proposal tracks so that students can intern or work with companies to see their project through.
Disclaimer: The essay competition and prize money offered are subject to the terms and conditions set forth by the organizers. The organizers reserve the right to modify or cancel the competition at any time without prior notice. Participation in the competition is voluntary and open to all, subject to eligibility criteria mentioned in the competition guidelines. The organizers shall not be held responsible for any technical glitches, network issues, or any other problems that may affect the submission or evaluation of essays. The decision of the judges will be final and binding. By participating in the competition, the participants agree to comply with the rules and regulations set forth by the organizers. The organizers shall not be held liable for any loss, damage, or injury incurred by the participants or any other person as a result of participation in the competition.