Honolulu Hoʻoilo 2025

A single solve determined the tightest battle of the weekend when Daniel Mullen secured the 2x2x2 Cube title by just two hundredths of a second. Finishing with a winning average of 2.69 seconds, Mullen held off Cy Hamilton, who posted a 2.71 average after delivering the fastest single solve of the entire event at 1.42 seconds. Nico Harper completed the closely contested podium with a 2.93 average. The single round format left no margin for error, setting the stage for high drama right from the opening phase of the competition.

Held on January 25, 2025, at Noelani Elementary School in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA, Honolulu Hoʻoilo 2025 brought together 71 competitors for a full day of Rubik's Cube mastery. The packed schedule spanned seven distinct events and twelve rounds of action. Enthusiasts who follow each major cubing competition were treated to fierce battles across various disciplines, ranging from lightning-fast twists on the Pyraminx to the stamina-testing endurance required for the 6x6x6 Cube.

Matty Hiroto Inaba proved to be the standout performer across multiple categories, capturing four separate championship titles. Inaba established his dominance early in the marquee 3x3x3 Cube event, recording the day's best single of 4.98 seconds on the way to a winning average of 5.48 across three rounds. Mullen earned the runner-up spot in the event with an 8.56 average, while Jason Ostdiek locked in third place with an average of 8.93, anchoring the final 3x3 results at the top of the standings.

In the mid-sized and big cube categories, Inaba swept the field with exceptional pacing. In 4x4x4 Cube, he took the gold with an average of 22.33 seconds, followed by Harper in second with 30.62 and Michael Larsen in third with 33.95. The larger puzzles featured identical top tiers, as Inaba captured first in 5x5x5 Cube with a 45.60 average and first in 6x6x6 Cube with a 1:29.50 average. Harper claimed second place in both events with times of 59.06 and 1:55.63, while Lydia Workman secured bronze in both with averages of 1:01.28 and 1:56.67.

Beyond the traditional cubes, side events delivered dynamic action and tight finishes. In Skewb, Daniel Mullen added a second tournament victory to his tally by logging a winning average of 5.37 seconds, narrowly defeating Michael Larsen who marked a 5.52 average, and Anthony Carrillo who finished in 5.85. The Pyraminx bracket saw Travis Dumaran take top honors with an average of 3.10 seconds, ahead of Harper at 3.65 and Larsen at 3.97, rounding out an impressive multi-podium day for several contenders.

Away from the top of the podiums, the competition floor highlighted remarkable personal progress across the roster. Logan Bortle delivered a standout milestone in the 3x3x3 Cube, posting a personal best of 17.11 seconds to improve by 34.9 percent over an earlier mark of 26.27, while also making a first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube with a 1:44.66. Skyler Nguyen surged forward in Pyraminx with a personal best of 7.32 seconds, cutting 46.5 percent from a prior 13.69 mark. Jacob Endo slashed his 4x4x4 Cube personal best by 41.6 percent down to 1:43.36, and Ian Sadaoka improved his 3x3x3 Cube time by 40.4 percent to set a fresh personal best of 30.82 seconds.

Several competitors broadened their skill sets by tackling new formats in official play. Kaimana N. Higa tackled six events, achieving a Skewb personal best of 4.48 seconds which was 41.5 percent faster than before, while also recording a first ever attempt at 5x5x5 Cube in 2:32.81. Austin Barton took on seven events and completed a first ever attempt at 5x5x5 Cube with a time of 2:54.56. Levi Duffield stepped up for six events, recording a first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube in 1:06.91, while Benjamin Knutsen tried Pyraminx for the first time with an initial mark of 9.75 seconds.

First-time participants also made their mark at their debut speed cubing tournament. Phoebe Ji Ae Komatsu made a first official attempt at 3x3x3 Cube with a time of 19.96 seconds, while Konan Suyat logged a first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube in 1:32.15. Jared Ezekiel Flores registered a 19.34 in his first ever attempt at 3x3x3 Cube, and Riku Horiguchi completed his first ever attempt at Pyraminx with a mark of 22.02 seconds, marking a memorable start to their official journeys.

The tournament stood as a testament to the thriving community in the islands, with competitors from the United States sweeping all 21 available podium positions. From nail-biting finishes decided by mere hundredths of a second to landmark breakthroughs by newcomers, the WCA competition demonstrated the depth of talent present across every round. As the 2025 calendar moves forward, the high standards set during Honolulu Hoʻoilo 2025 ensure plenty of excitement for the next speedcubing challenges ahead.