Last March, after seven district competitions and 26 rounds at the state spelling bee that included brow-furrowing words most people will never use in their whole life, the championship was decided with this: "defervescence."

The winner went to Washington, D.C. — a-w-e-s-o-m-e — and the loser got to watch the National Spelling Bee on TV — b-u-m-m-e-r.

Tonight, the whole thing starts anew for aspiring Hawai'i spellers from 97 public and private schools who are up for the challenge.

Two winners from each district will compete March 11 in The Honolulu Advertiser's 22nd annual Hawai'i State Spelling Bee.

The bee will be broadcast on OC-16.

The state winner will receive all-expense-paid trips for two to Washington to compete in May in the Scripps National Spelling Bee as well as a $100 U.S. savings bond.

Jasmine Kaneshiro of 'Ewa Beach was last year's state champion. It was her second consecutive championship, and for spellers wondering how she does it, brace yourself. She said she can visualize the words in her head.

Kaneshiro made it to the fourth round of the national bee, tripping on the word "obtundent."

Reach Mike Gordon at mgordon@honoluluadvertiser.com.