The Academy sponsored the first Science Fair in Hawaii in 1958 known at that time as the "Hawaiian Science Fair." Now referred to as the Hawaii State Science & Engineering Fair (HSSEF), students conduct scientific research, prepare a display board explaining the research, and present their findings to individual scientists, community groups and related organizations at the annual fair. Competition begins at the school level where advancement of selected projects move on to District Fairs. A percentage of selected projects at District are given the opportunity to compete for cash, scholarships and other awards at the State Science Fair where the top 5 projects are selected to represent the State of Hawaii at the International Science & Engineering Fair (ISEF) held in May of each year. Currently, there are approximately 6,000 participants across over 100 Public and Private School fairs, with about 30% advancing to compete at one of nine District Fairs (Central, Hawaii East, Hawaii West, HAIS, Honolulu, Kauai, Leeward, Maui, Windward).