A six-member, all-girl team from Iolani School returned to the Islands this afternoon, fresh from winning the national title in the U.S. Department of Energy's 2009 Real World Design Challenge.

Iolani won over nine other teams from nine different states. The finals were held Saturday at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum.

Provided with detailed specifications and performance capabilities of an existing twin-engine jet aircraft, the teams had to redesign the plane to improve its fuel efficiency without drastically reducing its load capacity, flying time or any other characteristic of the original aircraft.

Iolani received $3,000 for its science and technology programs, a trophy and a model of a Cessna Citation X aircraft.

Each team member also won an iPod Shuffle.

"We feel like we're dreaming," team member Jessica Lynn Saylors said afterward. "What an honor to have had the opportunity to compete, but winning the national championship makes it even better."

Also on the team were Anya Liao, Amy Ko, Celia Ou, Adeline Li and Julia Zhang.

Dr. Carey Inouye, an Iolani School physics teacher, coached the team and accompanied the girls to the nationals.