Big Island Now: Kealakehe Students Represent Big Island as They Advance to Next Round of International Debate Competition

January 6, 2026 — A team from Kealakehe Public High School has advanced to the top 32 teams in the 25th annual Brewer Foundation/New York University International Public Policy Forum, the only global high school debate competition blending written and oral advocacy. This year's contest began with a record 332 teams from 39 countries.

Starting from the Qualifying Round and continuing to through the Round of 64, teams submitted written arguments addressing whether the Group of 20 Nations should impose a global education tax equal to 1 percent of each member country’s GDP to support universal primary and secondary education. Judges then selected 32 advancing teams representing schools in 14 U.S. states and nine countries. The field will continue to narrow through to more successive rounds to eight finalists who travel New York City to compete in oral debates for a $10,000 grand prize and the Brewer Cup.

Kealakehe is the only Big Island team to advance this year, after reaching the top eight in last year’s competition. Read More