Līhuʻe eighth grader wins Hawaii spelling bee, heads to nationals

Ethan Irimata’s final word was “impoverish,” and that single spelling carried the Hawai‘i Technology Academy eighth grader from Līhuʻe to the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C.

Irimata won the 2026 Scripps Hawaiʻi State Spelling Bee in March after the final came down to two contestants. When his opponent missed a word, Irimata claimed the title and secured his place at the national bee, scheduled for May 26-28, 2026, in Washington, D.C.

The victory put Kauaʻi back in the spotlight and underscored how much spelling talent has taken root at Hawai‘i Technology Academy’s Līhuʻe campus. Kauaʻi Economic Development Board executive director Jennifer Yang said the community is proud of Irimata and noted that he stayed calm under pressure, asking for definitions, origins and parts of speech before he answered. Robin Worley, who teaches at Hawai‘i Technology Academy and leads its spelling club, said Irimata’s work ethic and growth stood out.

Irimata said he is now studying the competition word lists and vocabulary as he prepares for nationals. That preparation will matter in Washington, where the national bee draws the strongest student spellers from across the country and turns careful study into a public test of memory, composure and precision.

The state title also marked a comeback. Irimata had advanced to the state level as a fifth grader, stepped away from competition, then returned this year and went all the way to the top. His path through Kauaʻi’s spelling circuit has been steady: he won the Kauaʻi District Spelling Bee in 2023, then finished runner-up at the Kauaʻi Complex Area Spelling Bee on Feb. 6, 2026, at the Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School cafeteria in Līhuʻe.

That county bee drew 20 students from schools around the island. Makenzie Abalos of Kapaʻa Middle School won the county title that day after Irimata stumbled on “perceptive” in the late rounds, a reminder that even the strongest spellers can be one word away from changing the outcome.

Spelling also runs in Irimata’s family. His father competed in spelling bees as a student, adding another layer to a run that now carries Kauaʻi from a middle school cafeteria in Līhuʻe to the national stage in Washington, D.C.