The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation (HDOT) announces that Ian Payba and Jeter Hondo of Maui High School are the 2026 Hawaii Bridge Builder Competition champions. The two juniors, received the award at the 17^th Annual Hawai‘i STEM Conference which was held on April 15 and 16 at the Sheraton Waikῑkῑ on Oahu. The team earned a $1,000 cash award for their school.

The statewide bridge builder competition is part of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) STEM Outreach Solutions network, a national initiative by AASTHTO to inspire the next generation of engineers and problem-solvers.

Hawai‘i Bridge Builder Competition was open to 11th and 12th graders at all high schools in the state. Students form teams of two and use only provided kit materials (balsa wood and glue) to build a bridge with the best strength-to-weight ratio. Each team documented their project, prepared and presented a professional portfolio to industry experts, and tested their designs live at the Hawaii STEM Conference.

The Hawai‘i competition was hosted by HDOT in partnership with Maui Economic Development Board’s STEMworks program (MEDB), and sponsored by engineering software company Bentley Systems, which provided 3D modeling software (CAD) to all participating students and schools.

“We wanted to bring this bridge builder competition to Hawai‘i youth to give them outside the classroom experiences in science, technology, engineering and mathematics,” said HDOT Director Ed Sniffen. “As STEM-related jobs account for about one-third of the U.S. workforce, we want to actively prepare our local students for bright futures ahead.”

This year’s ten finalists included two teams from King Kekaulike High School, four teams from Maui High School, two teams from Keaʻau High School, and one team from each of Kaua‘i High School and Lahainaluna High School.