Kamakahelei 8th-grader wins Kaua'i spelling bee

By Jan TenBruggencate
Advertiser Kaua'i Bureau

PUHI, Kaua'i — Stephen Valenciano, a 13-year-old eighth-grader at Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School, won the Kaua'i Complex Area Spelling Bee last night, easily spelling through his final words words "gallows" and "Lutz."

Runner-up Lauren Esaki, a 13-year-old 8th-grader from Kapa'a Middle School, missed the word "aeronautic" in the seventh round.

Both will participate in the State Spelling Bee on O'ahu March 14 at Windward Community College. If either can't make it, alternate Mark Guirao of Waimea Canyon School will step in.

Valenciano, whose mother was also a spelling bee champion, said the key to victory was to study hard, and to get friends to study with you.

"That helped a lot," he said.

The tough words for some of the other spellers included "blunderbuss," "ostentation" and "parolee."

Nine students from five schools — three public and two private — participated in the bee.

Other top spellers included Briana Bailey from Chiefess Kamakahelei, Dylan Cockerham from Kapa'a Middle School, Dante Martin from Waimea Canyon School, Wyatt Hom-Weaver and Seth Morales from Kaua'i Christian Academy and Zariani Fernandez from St. Catherine School.