2026 Onizuka Day VIQ Tournament

General Info

Welcome to the 2026 Onizuka Day Tournament!

Join us for an inspiring day of competition and innovation at the 2026 Onizuka Day Tournament. Through the tournament we hope to bring together Hawaii's brightest young minds to celebrate the enduring legacy of one of Hawai'i's greatest heroes: astronaut Ellison Onizuka. More than just a competition, this tournament is a tribute to the pioneer spirit. As an aerospace engineer, U.S. Air Force test pilot, and the first Asian American in space, Kona's own Ellison Onizuka turned ambitious dreams into reality. He embodied a "limitless vision" and a deep belief in the power of education, inspiring generations to reach for the stars.

This event challenges teams to carry that same spirit forward. Here, students will put their hard work, creativity, and problem-solving skills to the test. 

We are honored to host this event and continue his mission of inspiring the next generation of pioneers. We look forward to seeing you there!

Payment Deadlines

Teams must be paid in full (not PO Processing) by the tournament payment deadline. As this event is intended to serve all Hawaii teams, we must ensure that there is adequate team capacity. We will remove teams from the event list if who's status is showing as unpaid 14-days after their initital registration. Teams with PO-Processing status will not be removed unless the final payment deadline has passed. Teams who have not completed payment in full by the tournament date will not be eligible to participate.

Team Participation / Waitlist / Team Cap

This event is open to all Hawaii-region teams. In order to better serve all schools and organizations, there is an initial team limit of two teams per organization. The team limit will be increased 2 weeks prior (on December 31st, 2025) to the registration deadline closing to four teams per organization. If your organization has additional teams that want to participate in the tournament, please add them to the waitlist. We will accept teams from the waitlist in the following priority order:

• Hawaii-region teams that have not yet competed in a VIQ event this season.
• Hawaii-region teams from Hawaii Island (The Big Island) without teams already in the tournament.
• Hawaii-region teams from Hawaii Island (The Big Island)
• Hawaii-region teams from locations with only one geographically viable event on their home-island
• Hawaii-region teams from any island
• Date of registration on the waitlist

Reminders

1. Please supervise all team members; we are guests of The University of Hawaii at Hilo.  Teams are restricted to the Event area. 
2. No food or drinks inside the venue. Capped water bottles are ok. 
3. There should be no running in the pit or tournament areas.  Please be careful about creating tripping hazards with packing crates
4. Please keep the pit area clean.
5. Charging tables will be available; bring your own power strip and extension cord.
6. Please do not bring your own game set and/or field unless you were requested/confirmed to do so.  

Code of Conduct​

We expect the following behavior and ethical standards at all REC Foundation-sanctioned events:
       • Act with integrity, honesty, and reliability
       • Behave in a respectful and professional manner with event staff, volunteers, and fellow competitors
       • Exhibit maturity and class when dealing with difficult and stressful situations
       • Respect individual differences
       • Follow all rules as listed in the current game manual(s)
       • Student-centered teams with limited adult assistance
       • Safety as a top priority
       • Good sportsmanship, which includes supporting your alliance partners

These expectations apply to all team members and all adults associated with a team including, but not limited to, teachers, mentors and parents. This Code may also apply to behavior outside of REC Foundation-sanctioned events where inappropriate actions are related to an event or participating individuals.

Repeated or egregious violations of the expectations in this Code may result in consequences up to the disqualification of the team or organization from the current event and/or future events, and potentially removal from the program after review by the REC Foundation.

Grade Level: All

Skills Challenge Offered: Yes

Judging Format: All In-Person Judging