Council presents certificate to Ryker Perales, Hawaii’s 2025 National Civics Bee state champion

Council Member Leon Cordero presented an honorary certificate to Ryker Perales, the 2025 Hawaii state champion of the National Civics Bee, and congratulated him on advancing to the national competition in Washington, D.C.

Cordero said Perales is an incoming eighth grader at Moanalua Middle School and that his first-place winning essay proposed improvements to public beach restroom infrastructure on Oahu, citing single-stall, gender-neutral restroom designs the student observed in New Zealand. The council noted Perales’ win included written submission, a speech before judges and a live civics knowledge component; the presentation said he will represent Hawai‘i in the national competition in Washington, D.C., in the fall of 2025 and that he was awarded $1,000 for winning first place.

Remarks also named Perales’ parents in the chamber and noted the school principal attended for photos. The presentation was ceremonial; the transcript records the certificate and encouragement from the council but does not record a vote or city action tied to funding or implementation of the student’s proposal.