Hanalani's spellers best in Central O'ahu
By Scott Ishikawa
Advertiser Staff Writer
It was a Hanalani School sweep of first and second place at last night's Central O'ahu District Spelling Bee.
Karynna Asao, 14, of the private school in Mililani beat out her classmate Jessica Palola, 13, for the title. Both eighth-graders will compete in the State Spelling Bee set for March 16 in Honolulu.
Asao's winning words were "allemande" and "bagatelle." Asao and Palola bested 26 other contestants at the contest held at Mililani Middle School. Palola had to take second place when she misspelled "cedilla" in the ninth and final round.
Asao and Palola credited their success to Hanalani principal Wayne Yoshino, who practiced with them twice a week after school.
Karynna is the daughter of Roy and Karen Asao.
A total of 14 district winners will receive special gifts from Sears, Island Heritage, Consolidated Theatres, Tesoro Hawaii, the Hawaii Court Reporters Association and Anderson News Co.
The State Spelling Bee champion also wins an all-expense paid trip to Washington to compete in the Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee in May; a $100 U.S. savings bond from Jay Sugarman; Spelling Bee merchandise; a Webster's Third New International Dictionary; a $200 Sears merchandise certificate; and a special gift basket from Island Heritage and other gifts.
