Reina DeCosta, an eighth-grader at Highlands Intermediate School, last night won the Leeward District Spelling Bee at Waipahu Intermediate School.

DeCosta, 13, daughter of Patrick and Lori DeCosta, advances to the state bee next month along with runner-up Brianne Tabios of Our Lady of Perpetual Help School.

Twenty students started last night's district bee. In Round 6, DeCosta correctly spelled "extrinsic" while the other two remaining spellers missed their words.

DeCosta then spelled "adjoining" in Round 7 to win the district title.

Officials then held a spell-off to decide the second and final spot in the state bee. Alexis Calimpong, a sixth-grader at Ma'ili Bible School, misspelled "sullenness."

Tabios, 13, daughter of Merle Tabios, correctly spelled "preemptive" and "disastrous" to gain the state berth.

Spelling champions from 84 schools are competing in seven district spelling bees through February. The winner and runnerup from each district bee qualify for The Honolulu Advertiser's 24th Hawaii State Spelling Bee, set for March 15 at Windward Community College's Paliku Theatre.

The state champion will receive a trip for two to Washington, D.C., and represent Hawai'i in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in May. The winner also will be awarded a $100 U.S. savings bond from Jay Sugarman.

The national bee will award prizes ranging from $50 to $12,000.

Here is the 2009 schedule of district spelling bees, and district qualifiers for the state bee:

• Jan. 29: Kaua'i District, Alyssa Medd (winner), Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School; Charlie Kahepuu, Waimea Canyon School.

• Feb. 10: Windward District, Philip Bretz (winner), Trinity Christian School; Malia Smith, St. Anthony School.

• Feb. 12: Maui District: Gabriel Salazar (winner), Maui Waena Intermediate; Talya Jaffe, Kihei Charter School.

• Feb. 19: Central District: Jamaica Go (winner), Holy Family Catholic Academy; Hannah Komar, Our Savior Lutheran School.

• Feb. 20: Leeward District, Reina DeCosta (winner), Highlands Intermediate; Brianne Tabios, Our Lady of Perpetual Help.

• Today: Honolulu District, Sacred Hearts Academy, 2 p.m.

• Feb. 28: Hawai'i District, NHERC Facility, Honoka'a, 2 p.m.