Aloha teachers, students, and families,

​Welcome to a new school year! On this kickoff page, you will find information and useful materials (some new and some old) for this new History Day season. We have some exciting things planned.

2026-27 Calendar

New Resource! Introduction to Hawaiʻi History Day 

New to History Day, or need a refresher? See our resource, Introduction to History Day. We hope this presentation can provide some of the basics of the program.

Intro to History Day Presentation

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New for 2026-2027:
​Hawaiʻi History Day Project Showcase Opportunities

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Project showcases have always been a part of Hawaiʻi History Day. However, this year, we are excited to publish an official listing of Hawaiʻi History Day project showcases for the 2026-2027 season. These showcases are opportunities for students to present their hard work in their communities as student-historians. We love to see the active participation of our students and hear their voices in raising awareness on historical events, guiding others to mālama and reflect on our history, and serve as our leaders and educators in history and civic education.

​Students, if one of these showcases appeal to you, perhaps you might even think of a topic that fits a project showcase! We look forward to seeing your inspiring work.

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Education Week Project Showcase
Date: March 15-March 19, 2027
District(s): Honolulu, Central-Leeward, Windward
Description: This showcase will take place at the Hawaiʻi State Capitol as part of the stateʻs Education Week. Projects are displayed during the DOE Spring Break.

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Hawaiian History Month Documentary Project Showcase
Date: September, 2027
District(s): Kauaʻi, Honolulu, Central-Leeward, Windward, Molokaʻi, Maui, Hawaiʻi
Description: This yearly showcase is part of Hawaiian History month, a series of events taking place in late August and throughout September. Five to six Documentary projects are selected from across Hawaiʻi (all districts) to be chosen to be showcased at the State Supreme Court. Travel funding is available for selected students.
Project Topics: Projects chosen for this showcase must be Documentary projects related to the history of Hawaiʻi.
Partner(s): Hawaiʻi Ponoʻi Coalition, King Kamehameha V Judiciary History Center

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Honouliuli National Historic Site Day Showcase
Date: March 13, 2027
​District(s): Honolulu, Central-Leeward, Windward
Description: This project showcase will take place during Honouliuli National Site Day. The location is to be confirmed.
Project Topics: Honouliuli National Historic Site, World War II Japanese Incarceration 
Partner(s): Honouliuli National Historic Site

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ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi National Project Showcase at Smithsonian NMAI
Date: June, 2027
District(s): Kauaʻi, Honolulu, Central-Leeward, Windward, Molokaʻi, Maui, Hawaiʻi
Description: The top ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi History Day projects at the State level are invited to showcase at National History Day and Smithsonian NMAI in Washington D.C. Other high-quality ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi projects may be invited to showcase as well.
Project Topics: All project topics are welcome
Partner(s): National History Day, Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian

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Special Hawaiʻi History Day Awards

n addition to the District and State Competitions, Hawaiʻi History Day projects may be eligible for special awards, supported by organizations across Hawaiʻi. Below are the Community Awards offered in 2026.

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ʻAʻaliʻi Award, Sponsored by Barbara Peterson, the League of Women Voters of Hawaii, and a Community Member & Volunteer
For students demonstrating heart, resiliency, and dedication throughout the transformative journey of Hawaiʻi History Day

Associated Chinese University Women Award, Sponsored by Associated Chinese University Women
For an outstanding project in Chinese or Chinese-American history

Barbara Bennett Peterson Award, Sponsored by Barbara Bennett Peterson
For the junior- and senior-division essays placing first

Cedric B. Cowing Memorial Award, Sponsored by the Cedric B. Cowing Memorial Foundation
For the youth-, junior-, and senior-division, and ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi essays placing first

Daniel K. Inouye Institute Award, Sponsored by the Daniel K. Inouye Institute
For an outstanding project in political or social leadership

Dr. Jojo Peter Memorial Award, Sponsored by Mary Therese Perez Hattori
Celebrating an excellent project in Micronesian and Pacific Islander history

George and Marguerite Simson Biographical Research Center Award, Sponsored by the Center for Biographical Research, UH Mānoa
For an outstanding project in life writing (autobiography, biography, diaries, etc.)

Hawai'i Association of School Librarians Award, Sponsored by the Hawai'i Association of School Librarians
For an outstanding use of primary sources

Hawai'i Labor Heritage Council Award, Sponsored by the Hawai'i Labor Heritage Council
For an outstanding project in labor history

Hui o Laulima Lorraine Toma Award, Sponsored by Hui o Laulima
For an outstanding project in Okinawan history

Koji Ariyoshi Award, Sponsored by UH Mānoa Dept. of Ethnic Studies Center for Oral History
For an outstanding project featuring oral history 

Chad Tanaguchi Award, Sponsored by UH Mānoa Dept. of Ethnic Studies Center for Oral History
For an outstanding project featuring oral history

Lei Pua ʻAla Out in the Silence Award, Sponsored by Dean Hamer & Joe Wilson
For an outstanding project on the history of LGBTQ+ Māhū, Aikāne people and movements in Hawaiʻi

Matson Award, Sponsored by Matson
For an outstanding project in maritime history

Pōʻai Moʻolelo Award, Sponsored by Bess Press
For an outstanding project featuring local literature or a local literary figure

Robert G. Buss Award, Sponsored by Robert G. Buss
For a youth project that demonstrates exemplary creativity, reasoning skills and communication

Wurst Family Foundation Award, Sponsored by the Wurst Family Foundation
For an outstanding project on the significance or impact of education in history

Johanna Wurst Award, Sponsored by the Wurst Family Foundation
For an outstanding project related to textiles, the fashion industry, or art and its impact on history

Martin F. Wurst Award, Sponsored by the Wurst Family Foundation
For an outstanding project related to transportation or machinery and its impact on history

Robert Douglas Memorial Award, Sponsored by the Wurst Family Foundation
For an outstanding project exploring the impact or relation of science to history
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Yuklin Aluli Award, Sponsored by the Hawaiʻi Ponoʻī Coalition
For an outstanding documentary or performance on Hawaiian history