HONOLULU (KHON2) — Farrington High School set the scene for an international esports tournament on March 29, with competitive gamers from Asia and the mainland looking to engage in Hawaiʻi’s emerging esports scene. The event was livestreamed on KHII and KHON2.com, with awards going to the wi nner. FoodieCon to fill Blaisdell Exhibition Hall this weekend “Hawaiʻi is proud to welcome some the world’s top esports talent to the Honolulu International Esports Tournament,” said Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke. “As Hawaiʻi’s first international esports tournament, this event showcases the power of esports to inspire students, create career pathways in technology and connect players from diverse backgrounds… We look forward to welcoming more teams from across the country and around the world as Hawaiʻi continues to grow as a global esports hub.” Nine students from University of Utah, including their Asia campus, competed in non-violent computer games against gamers from Farrington High School, as well as other Oʻahu schools. According to officials, this event highlights esports as a gateway to tech careers. The University of Utah’s partnership with Farrington High has helped the school’s esports program flourish, opening up opportunities for students to gain priceless experiences that prepare them for careers in game development, animation and interactive media careers. Get Hawaii’s latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You “As our esports-friendly competition continues to grow with participants from middle school, high school and post-high school organizations, partnerships like this go a long way to promoting our long-term goal of global education and workforce development into various high tech industries,” said Farrington Esports Program Director Josh Dimaya. Even Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi is excited for the tournament, saying that esports helps bridge connections across cultures and sets students up for bright futures. “The Honolulu International Esports Tournament is an exciting opportunity to showcase the incredible talent of our local students while strengthening global connections through gaming and technology,” Blangiardi said. “Esports is more than just competition–it’s a pathway to careers in tech, digital media and innovation. We are proud to welcome these elite gamers from South Korea and the University of Utah, and we look forward to the positive impact this partnership will have on our youth, our schools and our city’s future.” Find more Hawaii, Oahu, Maui and Kauai news here The tournament concluded with a battle between the top two competitors, Big Stew of Kapolei and BBW of Kaneʻohe. Big Stew used a character named Kazuya, leading him to victory over BBW and his character Diddy Kong. ...read more read less