First Robotics Competition

What is FIRST Robotics Competition?

“Under strict rules, limited time and resources, teams of students are challenged to raise funds, design a team "brand," hone teamwork skills, and build and program industrial-size robots to play a difficult field game against like-minded competitors. It’s as close to real-world engineering as a student can get. Volunteer professional mentors lend their time and talents to guide each team. Each season ends with an exciting FIRST Championship.” -FIRST

Learn more

2026First Robotics Game: REBUILT

FIRST robotics announced their 2026 game: REBUILT, presented by the Gene Haas Foundation. This year’s game challenges alliances to score "fuel" into an active hub and climb a tower. The game features alternating active hubs based on auto-period performance, a 20-second autonomous period, and high-density packaging requirements for robot mechanisms. Key elements include shooting fuel, navigating obstacles, and utilizing human player stations.

Our Journey

Waiakea High School Robotics has been competing in FRC since 2003. As veterans of FRC, we have gained a great deal of knowledge and experience which grows every year with our knowledgeable members who have shared their experience with their fellow members. Passing down our knowledge and experience has propelled us to win multiple awards, with us even going to the World Championship in 2008, 2010 and 2011.

Team Gallery

  • 2022 Finalized Robot

  • 2022 FRC Robot

  • Designing the robot (Micah Tajiri 2022)

  • Coding the Robot (Paul Verricatt & Jen Okano 2021)

  • Drive Train

  • Testing Robot Designs (Cole Anderson, Micah Tajiri, Kiyoshi Todd) 2022)

  • 2023 Robot Maintenance

  • 2023 Working On TLC Presentation

So How Do We Do It?

 

Preseason

The preseason of FIRST Robotics is a crucial time to train new members, outreach to the community, gather sponsors, and prepare students for the upcoming season.

To train our new members, the older/experienced students teach them the basics in building, CADing, electronics, programming, etc.

During season

The FIRST season starts in January where FIRST will release a video encompassing the task for the season! The kickoff marks the beginning of the design and build season where teams can come together to take notes and brainstorm ways to tackle the challenge for the exciting competition season.

Jobs

In FRC, there are many jobs that the team members need to fulfill. The jobs within FIRST Robotics range from builder to outreach coordinator. Since there are many jobs within FIRST, they are categorized into drive team, logistics support, support stands, and public relations.

 Awards

 

Chairman’s Award

The Chairman’s award is one of the most prestigious awards in the FIRST competition where they recognize the team that “best represents a model for other teams to emulate and best embodies the mission of FIRST.” This award is a rigorous one where two students have to write an essay, create a video. and prepare a presentation about how their team is teaching FIRST values.

 

Woodie Flowers

The Woodie Flowers’ award is one that recognizes a mentor that has done an outstanding job of motivation through communication while also challenging the students to be clear and succinct in their communications. In this award, a student nominates a mentor that has greatly impacted their team and someone who preaches FIRST Robotics values such as teamwork and professionalism.

Dean’s List

The Dean’s List is an award that recognizes a 10th or 11th grader within a team that has displayed attributes of leadership and dedication towards FIRST.