Four Hawai'i high school robotics teams – Maui, McKinley, Moanalua and Waialua high schools – distinguished themselves at the FIRST Robotics World Championship in Atlanta this weekend.

Before 20,000 in the Georgia Dome, the four Hawai'i teams competed with more than 300 other teams from Brazil, Canada, Israel, Mexico, the Philippines and the U.S. Mainland. The teams employed critical thinking skills and knowledge of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) to maneuver robots they built themselves around a playing field.

Waialua Intermediate and High School (Hawaiian Kids) earned special recognition and is bringing home a Judge's Award. The team finished 41st out of 86 teams in its division.

McKinley High School (Team Kika Mana) advanced to the semifinals in its division, and finished 23rd out of 88 teams.

Maui High School (Maui High FIRST Team) finished 18th out of 87 teams in its division. This was the first appearance for the team and the first team from Maui to qualify for the championship.

Moanalua High School (Cool Geeks), which also made its debut in the World Championship, finished 72nd out of 86 teams in its division.

The four teams advanced to the World Championship after qualifying during the 2009 NASA/BAE Systems FIRST in Hawai'i Regional Robotics Competition held last month at the Stan Sheriff Center.