It begins in the marketplace under the library as the 'Iolani Economics Challenge. 

It then moves downtown where the winners of the Challenge defend 'Iolani's titles against all other budding economists in the State of Hawaii. 

And after the taking of silly photos, the State Champions, both from 'Iolani, move on to the regional competition against the best in the west.

Here's a silly picture, and.....the rest of the story:

Sato, Franklin-Murdock Winners 

of 5th Annual Iolani Individual Economics Challenge

To help celebrate April as Financial Literacy for Youth Month, The Iolani No Free Lunch Club (Business/Economics) sponsored the Fifth Annual Individual Economics Challenge.

NFL officers President Jon Fung, Vice-President Lauren Ige, Treasurer Jess Greenough, and Secretary Truong Vu prepared multiple choice questions for the preliminary round.

Thirty-four students participated in the preliminary round with seniors David Jaress, Reid Kawamoto, Braxton Sato, and Dustin Singer achieving the top final-round-qualifying scores in the senior division. 

Junior David Martorana and sophomores Jesse Franklin-Murdock, Justin Rath, and Remi Yamamoto qualified in the underclassman division.

The final buzzer rounds for both divisions were held near the Senior benches during lunch on April 2.

It took two exciting buzzer rounds to determine the winners as seniors Braxton Sato and David Jaress who placed first and second respectively in the senior division. 

Sophomore Jesse Franklin-Murdock and junior David Martorana placed first and second respectively in the underclass division.

Braxton and Jesse each received a $200 U.S. Savings Bond, and the two Davids won $100 bonds apiece.  

And on to States..... Where.......

Iolani Economists Win State Economics Challenge

for the 11th year in a row!

 
Iolani Economists won the 2008 Island Insurance sponsored State Economics Challenge for the 11th straight year on Thursday, April 3.

Over 150 students from four islands competed in the challenge conducted at the Japanese Cultural Center.

Iolani placed first and second in the Adam Smith (AP) division and first in the David Ricardo (Non AP) division of the Hawaii State Economics Challenge.

Seniors David Jaress, Braxton Sato, Lauren Ige, Jon Fung , and Reid Kawamoto were the Adam Smith Champions.

Seniors Meagan Nakamoto, Leslie Kawano, and Gian Garduque with sophomores Michelle Ky and Jesse Franklin-Murdock, were the David Ricardo Champions.

The second place Adam Smith team consisted of seniors Mari Heslinga, Pam Ho, Robert Shimizu, Dustin Singer, and Jess Greenough.

Next up for the teams is the Western Region Economics Challenge to be conducted April 29 on line for the second time in recent years due to funding constraints.

Winners of the Western Region Economics Challenge will travel to New York City in May for the National Final Four Economics Challenge.

Iolani has won the National Championship the last three years in a row.