Two Big Island students earn a first place prize in national history competition in D.C.

Showcasing their passion for history, Big Island students won top awards at the National History Day competition at the University of Maryland earlier this month.

Forty-six public, private, and charter schools on Kauaʻi, Molokaʻi, Maui, Oʻahu, and Hawaiʻi advanced through school, district, and state-level Hawaiʻi History Day competitions to earn the opportunity to compete at the national level.

Under this year’s History Day theme, “Rights and Responsibilities in History,” students were tasked with choosing a topic, conducting extensive research, and then presenting their thesis and evidence through exhibits, documentaries, websites, performances, or essays.

Students explored narratives of tensions between what people are entitled to and what they owe to others or society, which have often led to turning points in history.

Winning first place in the national competition, Abigail Gomez and Lillian Tao from Waiākea High School created a project called “The Thalidomide Tragedy: The Importance of Manufacturing Responsibility, Consumer Safety, and the Birth of Modern Drug Regulation and Consumer Rights.” They won the Group Website Division.

“Thalidomide became widely used by pregnant women because it marketed as a cure for morning sickness and was prescribed by doctors,” Gomez said. “Even after the company received multiple warnings of thalidomide being linked to birth defects, they continued to market the drug, paid no mind to these warnings, and refused to take responsibility.”

“This was an abuse of marketing rights, and because of the devastating effects, multiple consumer safety rights were put into effect, leading to safe practices today,” Gomez continued.

The duo decided to pursue this complicated but important tragedy in history because they are both interested in going into the medical field, with Gomez interested in oncology and Tao in pediatrics.

“For me, the best part of doing this project was being able to expand my knowledge on a very important part of history that tied into my interests,” Gomez said. “It was a huge tragedy that affected so many people, but without it, our pharmaceutical practices may not have changed to have stricter regulations.”

Hawaiʻi also had four students presenting two projects in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi at a special “In Language There Is Life: I ka ‘ōlelo nō ke ola” showcase at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian. The projects were displayed at the University of Maryland, College Park, on June 9 and at the museum on June 11.

In 2019, Hawaiʻi became the first and only state to have a History Day category for projects completely created and judged in an Indigenous language, ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi.

During their time in Washington, D.C., Hawaiʻi students saw the places they have most likely only seen in media. While visiting the Capitol, they met all four of Hawaiʻi’s congressional delegates and gained insights into public service and the political process. Students were also able to take in the important history on display at the Holocaust Memorial Museum and the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

“The experience in D.C. was so much fun. We met students from other islands, states, and countries and enjoyed exploring the monuments and museums in our small group,” Gomez said. “The award ceremony was also fun, and it was cool to see the number of students from around the country and the world who participated.”

Hawaiʻi History Day was started by the Hawaiʻi Council for the Humanities as a state affiliate of National History Day in 1990. In 2025, 865 students and 89 teachers from 44 schools on five islands submitted 558 projects to district- and state-level competitions.

While the Hawaiʻi Council for the Humanities was concerned about funding for the annual program, Hawaiʻi History Day is set to continue as normal in the 2025–2026 school year.

Gomez and Tao, along with other Hawaiʻi winners, are listed below:

• National 1st Place – Senior Group Website
• Abigail Gomez and Lillian Tao from Waiakea High School
  • “The Thalidomide Tragedy: The Importance of Manufacturing Responsibility, Consumer Safety, and the Birth of Modern Drug Regulation and Consumer Rights”
  • Ishael Shaw-De Mello and Sean Wagner, teachers
• National 1st Place – Senior Individual Performance
• Keilani Kajiyama Moses from Kahuku High and Intermediate School
  • “Defending Rights, Embracing Responsibility: Aiko Herzig-Yoshinaga’s Pursuit of Justice for Japanese Internees”
  • Caitlin Albert, teacher
• National 2nd Place – Senior Individual Documentary
• Kalamakūokanaʻauao Crabbe from Kamehameha Schools Kapālama Campus
  • “The Protect Kahoʻolawe ʻOhana’s Fight for Kohe Malamalama O Kanaloa’s Rights”
  • Sarah Razee, teacher
    • Razee also received a Teacher of Distinction award from the National Maritime Historical Society for her guidance to Crabbe
• National 5th Place – Junior Group Exhibit
• Ofa-Ki-Tonga Nonu, Malie Levi, and Tafailagi Lafaele from Lā‘ie Elementary
  • “The Polynesian Panthers Had Enough”
  • Serena Tuliloa, Colleen Spring, Kaitlin DeMartini, teachers
• Honorable Mention – Junior Group Website
• Isabella Ooka and Sofia Ooka from Waiakea Intermediate School
  • Love Canal: The Toxic Legacy of a Forgotten Disaster”
• Honorable Mention – Junior Individual Documentary
• Margot Little from Kahuku High and Intermediate School
  • “Racing Towards Gender Equality: The Boston Marathon and Beyond”
• Honorable Mention – Senior Group Performance
• Sijin Chen and Kainoa Kelly from Iolani School
  • “The Weight of Crowns: The Rights and Responsibilities of Winston Churchill in WWII”
• Honorable Mention – Senior Group Exhibit
• Alicia Duenas and Jackson Savala from Kamehameha Schools Kapālama Campus
  • “Raising Voices, Changing Schools: Chicano Student Activism”
• Showcase Selections – ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi Senior Individual Website
• Puaokekoʻolau Kahihikolo from Ka ʻUmeke Kāʻeo Public Charter School
  • “Ke Kīpeku ʻAna Ma Ke Awāwa ʻo Mākua”
  • Māhealani Lono, kumu
• Showcase Selections – ‘Ōlelo Hawaiʻi Senior Group Exhibit
• Pristine Pullman, Chukashali Smith, A’hari Gonzalez from Kula Kaiapuni ʻo Kekaulike
  • “Ke Koikoi o ke Kapu o Mauna Kea”
  • Kapolei Kiili, kumu
• Showcase Selections – ʻŌlelo Hawai‘i Junior Individual Documentary
• Kilolani Smith from Ka ʻUmeke Kāʻeo Public Charter School
  • “Nā Pono Lawaiʻa ma Hawaiʻi: Ko Kākou Kuleana e Mālama”
  • Kaimana Kawaha, kumu

More information for Hawaiʻi History Day and Hawaiʻi Council for the Humanities can be found at https://hihumanities.org/.