Hawaii Annual Code Challenge

‘HACC’ Takes Hackathon Model to the Next Level

Open to everyone, from students to amateurs to professionals, the Hawaii Annual Code Challenge (HACC) is a hackathon-inspired competition designed to engage the local tech community in modernizing state functions and services and support IT workforce development. 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, DevLeague, and multiple state departments and agencies that will put forth challenges to community participants for identifying innovative ways to promote a more effective, efficient and open government.

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 2nd Hawaii Annual Code Challenge (HACC) culminated on Sept. 23, 2017, at the East-West Center, as Gov. David Ige welcomed a total of 20 community teams who presented innovative solutions to various state challenges. Congratulations to this year’s winners and mahalo to all participants for making the event a success.The month-long HACC kicked off on Aug. 26, at the East-West Center, Keoni Auditorium, with hundreds of computer programmers, software developers, and tech-minded innovators accepting the State of Hawaii’s challenge to lend their collective creativity toward improving state government. Community teams returned for the HACC Judging and Awards (a.k.a. Demo Day) on Sept. 23.

First Place
LoveMilkTea

Second Place
FidgetSpinners

Third Place
The-Progress-Bars

Top High School Team
No-Internet

Top College Team
ArchiTechs

Certificates of award were also presented to community teams “pcotg-v2” (Peaceful Citizens of the Galaxy, Version 2) and “PoweredByRamen,” as well as high school teams “J.E.S.S.” (Kamehameha School Kapalama), “Na Koa” (Kamehameha School Maui), and “Furious-Five” (Punahou School).

Read the News Release

HACC 2017 Demo Day Photo Album

HACC Kickoff

Saturday, Aug. 26, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
East-West Center, Keoni Auditorium

HACC Checkin #1

Saturday, Sept. 2, 2017, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Manoa Innovation Center

HACC Judging and Awards
(a.k.a. “Demo Day”)

Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017, 10 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
East-West Center, Keoni Auditorium

State of Hawaii
Governor David Ige

“Innovation is not just a technological phenomenon. It crosses all industries, including agriculture, fashion, ‘media and design,’ clean energy, and healthcare. It creates good paying jobs that keep our best and brightest here where we need them.”

Chief Innovation Officer
State of Hawaii
Todd Nacapuy

“I’m looking for modern apps that make interacting with the public innovative and fun.”

State of Hawaii
Senator Glenn Wakai

“The reinvention of government will depend heavily on improvements to our technology infrastructure. The State needs to create processes that are Fresh, Fast, and Friendly. Tomorrow’s apps are key to giving us a government that is innovative, productive, and accountable.”