When Matty Hiroto Inaba, a high school senior at Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy on the Big Island, clinched the title of 2022 North American Speedcubing Champion, he didn’t just bring home a trophy — he sparked a statewide movement.
Inaba, a humble yet fiercely determined speedcuber from Waimea, has become a household name in Hawai‘i’s growing cubing scene. Known for his lightning-fast solves and sharp precision, Inaba is currently ranked 8th in the world for 3×3 single, earning admiration from top cubers around the globe — and inspiring a new generation of solvers right here in the islands.
His journey began at age nine during a family trip to Japan, where he spotted a Rubik’s Cube on a bookstore shelf. Curious, he taught himself how to solve it using YouTube videos. What started as a moment of fascination turned into a disciplined pursuit of excellence that has taken him across the world.
Inaba has competed in Japan, Australia, South Korea, China, Canada, and Belgium — and throughout the U.S. in states including California, New York, Colorado, Minnesota, and more. His reputation as Hawai‘i’s top speedcuber continues to grow.
“Speedcubing is 90% dexterity and 10% intellect,” Inaba says. “I hope everyone tries it.”
His 2022 win became a turning point for Hawai‘i’s cubing community. During the pandemic, many local kids turned to speedcubing as a hobby — seeking focus and fun during uncertain times. But it was Matty’s championship title that transformed casual interest into serious passion.
“We were just moms trying to figure out how to support our kids’ interests,” said Yulee Okazaki, one of the founding parents of what is now the Hawaii Cubing Community. “Then we heard about this incredible cuber from Waimea — and that changed everything. Matty’s success fired up our kids and gave them someone to look up to.”
With few formal groups in place at the time, Okazaki and two other parents took action. What began as a small network of families grew into a vibrant statewide cubing community. They now host monthly meetups and organize official WCA (World Cube Association) competitions every January, May, and September — thanks to the support of Chris Martin, Hawai‘i’s WCA delegate, who travels from Sacramento to oversee events.
“Before COVID, the Hawai‘i cubing scene wasn’t that big,” said Martin. “But after Matty’s win, interest exploded. The community quadrupled in size. He really helped put Hawai‘i on the speedcubing map.”
This summer, ahead of the 2025 World Championship in Seattle, Hawai‘i will host a summer speedcubing tour, the Hawaiian Island Tour, with events in Hilo, Waimea, Kealakekua, and O‘ahu — plus an exhibition round at Kahala Mall just for fun.
At the heart of it all is Matty Hiroto Inaba — not just as a champion, but as a role model. He’s shown local keiki that world-class excellence can begin on a small island.
Today, when young cubers walk into a competition in Hawai‘i, they’re not just practicing finger tricks—they’re chasing the path Matty carved.
Congratulations to Matty Inaba, who will attend Columbia University this fall. You can follow his cubing journey on Instagram @thecubingjedi as well as staying up to date on Hawaii Cubing Community @hawaiicubingcommunity.
