Knowing Hawaii wins geography bee for sixth-grader in Gurnee

"The Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument is located off the coast of which U.S. state?" the moderator asked.

"Hawaii," answered sixth-grader Kenith Taukolo, who celebrated when he realized he was the only one to answer the question correctly.

Taukolo won the competition against 19 other Woodland Middle School students who participated in Wednesday's 2017 National Geographic Bee at the Gurnee school.

"I think they are very enthusiastic about geography," said social studies teacher Paul Durietz. "They know different types of geography, not just physical geography, but economic geography and political geography. There are all sorts of questions given to them."

Round after round, the sixth- through eighth-graders were asked questions about the United States, countries from around the world and physical features of continents. Slowly they fell during a double elimination process before Taukolo and eighth-grader Juan Cardenas faced off in the final round.

"I'm Polynesian. That is how I knew Hawaii," Taukolo said after the win. "I just like the feeling of knowing maps and being familiar with different places I've never been before. Geography is kind of my way of going there but not actually physically."

Taukolo will represent the school in the online state contest, with the winner advancing to the national championship May 15-17 in Washington, D.C., for a chance at a $50,000 college scholarship.