STATE OF HAWAIʻI
KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI

JOSH GREEN, M.D.
GOVERNOR
KE KIAʻĀINA

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS
KA ʻOIHANA PILI KĀLEPA

NADINE Y. ANDO
DIRECTOR KA LUNA HOʻOKELE

BUSINESS REGISTRATION DIVISION
TY Y. NOHARA
COMMISSIONER OF SECURITIES

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 20, 2026
HONOLULU — The state of Hawaiʻi Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs
(DCCA) Business Registration Division and Insurance Division, and Hawaiʻi Credit
Union League (HCUL), announces that the team from ‘Iolani School is the winner of the
annual Hawaiʻi LifeSmarts State Competition, conducted today at the Neal S. Blaisdell
Center in Honolulu.

The competition tests students on their knowledge of personal finance, health and
safety, the environment, technology, as well as consumer rights and responsibilities.
Following the preliminary online portion of the competition, top scoring teams from
Kalani, ‘Iolani and Waipahu High Schools were invited to compete in today’s in-person
competition, where they tested their skills through a “speed smarts” activity and game
show-style buzzer rounds.

‘Iolani School will go on to represent Hawaiʻi at the National LifeSmarts Competition in
Orlando, Florida, from April 15 – 18, 2026. Members of the team are: James Chen
(team captain), Donovan Kwan, Dominic Nakama, Henry Li, and Inseo Kim. The team
was coached by Kit U Wong.
“Congratulations to ‘Iolani School who will represent Hawaiʻi at the National Competition
in Orlando,” said DCCA Deputy Director Dean Hazama. “Through the LifeSmarts
program, students gain critical life skills that prepare them for adulthood and we are
proud to have been a sponsor of this statewide program for more than 20 years. Mahalo
to our staff, volunteers and community partners for their generous contributions toward
another successful year of Hawaiʻi LifeSmarts.”

2026 Hawaiʻi State Competition Community Supporters include:
• Accenture
• Beachside Roofing
• Big Island Federal Credit Union
• Cisco
• Coastal Construction Company Inc.
• Farmers Hawaiʻi
• Hawaiʻi Community Federal Credit Union
• Hawaiʻi Credit Union League
• Hawaii Government Employees Association (HGEA)
• Hawaiʻi Information Service
• Hawaiʻi State Federal Credit Union
• HawaiiUSA Federal Credit Union Foundation
• Hawaiʻi Medical Service Association (HMSA)
• Kualoa Ranch Hawaiʻi Inc.
• Pacxa
• Pacific Point
• Pearl Hawaiʻi Federal Credit Union

Visit www.LifeSmartsHawaii.com for more information.

LINK: MEDIA

LifeSmarts is a national consumer education program that prepares students to enter
the real world as smart consumers by teaching them the skills needed to succeed in
today’s global marketplace. The program is run by the National Consumers League and
sponsored locally by the DCCA Business Registration Division and Insurance Division,
in partnership with the Hawaiʻi Credit Union League.

Media Contact:
William Nhieu
Communications Officer
Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, State of Hawaiʻi
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 808-586-7582