Hawaii Annual Code Challenge

2017 Hawaii Annual Code Challenge Kicks Off Aug. 26

The State of Hawaii is calling all computer programmers, software developers, and tech-minded innovators to lend their collective creativity toward improving state government at the 2017 Hawaii Annual Code Challenge (HACC), the state’s second event of its kind.

The month-long competition will begin with the HACC Kickoff on Saturday, Aug. 26, at the East-West Center, Keoni Auditorium, and culminate with the HACC Judging and Awards on Saturday, Sept. 23, at the same location. Registration will begin at 9 a.m. on both days.

Open to everyone, from students to amateurs to professionals, the HACC is a hackathon-inspired competition designed to engage the local tech community in modernizing state functions and services for a more effective, efficient and open government. Conceived by Gov. David Y. Ige, the event is coordinated by the Office of Enterprise Technology Services in partnership with the High Technology Development Corporation, local nonprofit Hawaii Open Data, and multiple state departments and agencies that will put forth challenges to community participants for identifying innovative ways to improve government services.

Month-Long “Code Challenge” Takes Hackathon Model to a New Level

The HACC breaks the mold of a traditional hackathon, which typically takes place over a single day or weekend. The HACC provides an expanded four-week timeframe meant to encourage interaction between community teams and state department personnel, ultimately resulting in sustainable solutions that are appropriately matched with technologies and platforms in use or being considered by the state.

Beginning at the HACC Kickoff, community participants form teams and select from a list of challenges themed around key problems facing the state. The teams then work over the next several weeks to develop their solutions. Participants return one month later to present their solutions for judging and the selection of winners. Awards go to the top teams, with outstanding solutions considered for implementation by the state.