(AP) — A 13-year-old Maui boy who is a son of Tongan immigrants will represent Hawaiʻi in the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Lokelani Intermediate School student Simione Olakauatu is participating in the competition’s virtual preliminaries this weekend. The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reports he will turn 14 on Saturday when he competes in the first round. The final rounds of the national spelling bee will be held in July at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. The champion will receive a $50,000 cash prize.
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