Friends of Hawai'i Robotics

04/24/2021

Over 20 teams applied for APRECIATION GRANT! Inspiring work by STEM students across the state. Award announcement by May 3rd.

01/21/2021

Recently -PacificOwlRobotics embarked on a new challenge called the "Innovation and Imagination Student Challenge." Students from grade school to college were invited to participate in this design challenge. Participants were required to build something which is "innovative" and "imaginative" using local Hawaiian hardwoods. The Owls decided to build an ancient Hawaiian protector robot called "Kia'i".

They used woods such as koa, mango, monkeypod, eucalyptus and mahogany in their design. Although they entered this competition purely for the experience, the team won first place in the high school division as well as recognition for the most promising young artist.

We wanted to share the news as we continue to inspire school teams to find new ways of enjoying robotics during these unprecedented times!

Congratulations to and all team members!

01/14/2021

3000th-day-on-Mars!

As the rover has continued to ascend Mount Sharp, it’s found distinctive benchlike rock formations.

12/31/2020

INNOVATION TODAY, FOR TOMORROW!
With the unprecedented pandamic impacting our state, country, and neighbors around the world, we need to support our Hawaii robotics students now more than ever. December 31st is the last day in 2020 to contribute to the future of STEM education through our 501(c)(3) not-for-profit. Mahalo!

Healthy and Happy New Year!

Your generous contribution to Friends of Hawaii Robotics may be made today to ensure Hawaii students have access to STEM learning experiences we offer through our nine programs. By making your unrestricted gift, you will allow Friends of Hawaii Robotics the flexibility to allocate funds where they a...

11/24/2020

Wishing all robotics students, teachers, mentors, advisors, patents, volunteers, individual contributors and corporate partners a very HAPPY AND SAFE THANKSGIVING!

11/21/2020

Named after former NASA Earth Science Division Director Michael Freilich, the U.S.-European satellite will be carried into space on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.

Tune in live for in space coverage Nov. 21 at 11:45 a.m. EST on NASA Television and the agency’s website, as well as YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitch and Daily Motion.

09/03/2020

ONLY TWO WEEKS REMAINING FOR 2020
"WE CARE" GRANTS!

Aloha Hawai'i Robotics Teams!

We know it has been very difficult the last several months for everyone, We trust you and your students are staying healthy and safe as our island communities do their best to recover from the unprecedented effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Together, with our corporate and individual partners, we've done what we could to help your team deal with canceled events, tournaments, championships and a myriad of missed opportunities. We've always been available including being on-call, and proud we could offer the recent "stimulus grants."

As you navigate the summer plans to reopen our schools, Friends of Hawai'i Robotics would like to ease this transition. Our emphasis continues to be laser-focused on our students who want to get-together with their teammates to build innovative robots, and hopefully compete.

Yes, adapting to new protocols will be challenging. Best practices will be have to be implemented, and your school teams will have to be flexible. This will be no easy feat, but we are confident you will succeed.

Therefore, Friends of Hawai'i Robotics, thanks to our individual and corporate partners, we are offering a "We Care" grant opportunity to support as many student school teams as possible. We care about the current and future faces of innovation!

2020 should not be remembered as anything less than a special time when our future leaders overcame every challenge, every obstacle and created solutions that positively changed their lives for the better.

In order to submit a application, please complete the form below with thoughtful and detailed answers to all questions. Only those applications that are correctly submitted will be reviewed. Also, each application must include a completed W9 form (emailed to info@friendsofhawaiirobotics) in order to be reviewed by our board members.

And, please note that only one application per school will be accepted. If approved, checks will be mailed to the name on the W9 form by the mid-October.

The online grant applications opened a month ago and will close on Friday, September 18, 2020 at 12:00pm HT.

Finally, as mentioned above, we hope to assist as many school teams as possible by being fair and even-handed. Funds are not unlimited. Therefore, we respectfully ask you be cognizant of this fact and be judicious with your financial request. We know your student teams need support, and Friends is here for you, as we have been for almost 15 years. Just like the recent success of Mars 2020 and NASA & SpaceX missions, we feel enormous pride, and the exhilaration to continue our efforts to support and grant funds to help tomorrow's engineers.

Once again you've can "lean on us" Good luck, and we wish you all the best this season.

Go to www.friendsofhawaiirobotics/grants

Mahalo,
Board of Trustees, Friends of Hawai'i Robotics

08/31/2020

Sorry to share the sad news that Mark Koors has passed away.
Mark was a caring, thoughtful, innovative, energetic person who patiently had time for others.
His FIRST robotics team grew through Mark's unwavering support.
In Hawai'i, we would not have had an event for 13 years without his unique, collaborative, hard-working support.
He will be missed! Aloha, dear friend!

08/20/2020

"WE CARE" grant applications are now available for robotics school teams in Hawai'i. (Please read the descriptive guidelines very carefully.)

FRIENDS' Board of Trustees will review each application after the firm grant deadline, and funding will be distributed in September.

Now in our 15th year, we are very proud of the legacy each student, teacher, advisor along with the administrators, parents, volunteers and corporate/individual partners have contributed in creating a beautiful picture, a yearly masterpiece, of the THOUSAND FACES OF INNOVATION.

Best wishes for a successful school year ahead, and most importantly, STAY HEALTHY and SAFE!

03/19/2020

We lost a great friend today. touched so many lives in a positive way day after day, year after year. He surely will be missed. Heartfelt condolences.

To all of you who have so graciously offered your support and love during this time of transition…we thank you. Alana, Marika and I, along with Michael’s extended family, are overwhelmed with gratitude for your kindness, and loving support.

Michael believed that everyone in his life had some extraordinary purpose for being in it. Each of you contributed in some way to defining who he was, even if only in the tiniest way. I hope you find grace in our connection to one another just as we have.

In his humble, loyal and loving role as a husband, father, son, relative, friend and business associate he has given all of us a gift – an example of goodness and hope in this world.

Please know that Michael died as he lived - courageous, brave, mindful and gracious. Be comforted that the girls made it back home safely to be at his side just as he had hoped for. In the end Michael was not alone. He passed peacefully. The presence of this incredibly wonderful human being will be greatly missed.

In the coming weeks, and as our plans unfold in these uncertain times, we will let you know about Michael’s memorial services.

With deepest gratitude,
Suzanne

03/07/2020

nasa.gov/astronauts

NASA.gov brings you the latest images, videos and news from America's space agency. Get the latest updates on NASA missions, watch NASA TV live, and learn about our quest to reveal the unknown and benefit all humankind.

02/16/2020

What our students are doing!

Artificial systems that allow a robot to “feel” pain might ultimately lead to empathy.