A three-team alliance — 'Iolani School Team Iobotics, California Academy of Math and Science Team J and the California Academy of Math and Science Team K — took the top honor in the VEX Robotics Pan-Pacific Championship that wrapped up yesterday at the Hawai'i Convention Center.

The win qualifies the three teams, made up of middle and high school robotics students, to advance to the VEX Robotics World Championship that will take place at the Dallas Convention Center and Arena on April 30-May 2. At the championship, the teams will compete against top-ranked peers from other countries including teams from the Asian Robotics League, South America and Europe.

The Hawai'i competition kicked off Thursday between 83 student teams from 55 Hawai'i, Mainland and Asian schools.

The teams squared off in the game of "Elevation."

Eight three-team alliances competing in the finals were:

• Moanalua High School Team A, Pearl Highlands Intermediate, Waiakea High School Team 2024;

* Waiakea High School, Lahainaluna High School Team I, Nianjing Jinling High School (Hong Kong);

• Kohala High School, Bellarmine College Preparatory (California), Farrington High School;

• McKinley High School Team E, McKinley High School Team F, Tsinghua University Primary School (Hong Kong) ;

• Campbell High School Team D, Island School, Kalani High School Team Falcons;

• 'Iolani School Iobotics, California Academy of Math and Science Team J, California Academy of Math and Science Team K ;

• Honoka'a High and Intermediate School, Hawai'i Baptist Academy, Pearl Middle School Attached to NNU B (Hong Kong) ;

• Waipahu Intermediate School Team B, Waipahu Intermediate School Team A Campbell High School Team C.

VEX Robotics is one of six major programs for Hawai'i students. To learn more about student robotics in Hawai'i and to see photos and video of the championship, go to www.hawaii.gov/gov or www.robotics.hawaii.gov.