Konawaena Middle School sixth-grader Talmage Nakamoto correctly spelled "parallel" and "conceited" to clinch his victory in the Hawai'i Island District Spelling Bee in Waimea yesterday.

Talmage, 11, took the top spelling honor in the 17th round of the competition for sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders, besting a field of 16 other students from around the Big Island.

He is the son of Shan and Traci Nakamoto of Kealakekua.

Runner-up in the Big Island competition at the Hawai'i Preparatory Academy was 12-year-old Kayah Ignacio, a seventh-grader at Kamehameha Middle School in Kea'au.

Kayah is the son of Reggie and Kim Ignacio of Waimea.

The contest was narrowed down to Talmage and Kayah in round 12, prompting a head-to-head "championship" competition until Kayah finally stumbled.

Both boys now advance to The Advertiser's 22nd annual Hawai'i State Spelling Bee March 11, which will be televised on OC-16.

The state winner will receive an all-expenses-paid trip in May to Washington, D.C., to compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

Reach Kevin Dayton at kdayton@honoluluadvertiser.com.