Kaimuki Middle School students sweep national drone tournament

Yahoo

16-05-2025

KAIMUKI, HI (KHON) – They're not even in high school yet, but a group of middle schoolers from Kaimuki Middle School are already making waves in the world of drone competitions.
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With precision piloting, advanced coding skills and hours of dedicated teamwork, the team recently swept a prestigious national drone competition in San Jose, California.
Out of 60 teams from across the country, the students from Oahu walked away with nearly every major title, including Top Pilot and the coveted Overall Excellence Award.
'We're first, third and fourth in the world rankings,' said 14-year-old team member Shaun Lam.
Their success was guided by the mentorship of teacher Samantha Kumagai and Kalani High School student Rex Ho, who coached them in everything from drone mechanics to mission strategy.
Thirteen-year-old Ethan Saccomanno currently holds the title of the world's top-ranked middle school drone pilot.'I'm kind of a quiet person in general,' Ethan said. 'So I'm really good at just focusing directly on what I'm supposed to do. If I really put my mind to it, I can do it.'
His twin brother, Jake, a coder and co-pilot, said perseverance played a key role in their victory.
'I feel like hard work over time is what gets the job done,' he said.
The team trains nearly every day after school, honing flight techniques, refining code and competing in mini-tournaments to stay sharp.
'We work together all the time,' said 12-year-old pilot Mark Tsuzaki. 'That has led to our team being the best team that has ever, like, ever.'
Their dedication gave them a major competitive edge.
'It was actually mind-blowing,' Mark said. 'One team didn't practice for four months. I was really shocked.'
Their success goes beyond the flight zone.
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Eighth grader Bella Chan helped form the only all-girls aerial drone team on Oahu.
'I wanted to start this team so I could include more girls like me to have this chance in the aerial drone competition,' she said.
While they've already proven themselves on the national stage, the students are focused on what comes next. They see drones as essential tools in industries ranging from agriculture and military operations to photography and emergency response.
'I feel like that's the kind of way that our future will be going,' said 12-year-old pilot Kairi Kepa-Nguyen. 'With coding and AI, it's important to understand how these things work.'
For 13-year-old Chloe Liu, the team's strength lies in collaboration.
'Especially in drones, everyone has a role to play,' she said. 'It's definitely really important.'
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From the skies above San Jose to the classrooms of Hawaii, these young trailblazers are proving the future of technology — and leadership — is already here.
Go Voyagers!
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