The Hawai'i Council of Teachers of Mathematics (HCTM) and Brigham Young University Hawaii have been primary forces behind the State Math Bowl (State Math Championship) in conjunction with a prolific number of supporters.

The State Math Championship (State Math Bowl) was started in 1978 because the already successful Oahu Mathematics League (OML) did not include any neighbor island school and the OML required participation by 10 student teams, thereby making it difficult for the smaller and neighbor island schools to receive any recognition.

Already, many previous participants have returned to contribute to the success of the State Math Championship. Mr. Merritt Eto is the only person to have been a member on a winning team (Mililani in 1987) and to have coached a winning team (Mid Pacific Institute in 1993 and 1994). Coaches Carl Wheeler (six times) and Dian Nielsen (nine times) of Mid Pacific, Michael Park (nine times) of Iolani, James Wong (four times) of Maryknoll, and Patricia Ota (four times) of Hawaii Baptist Academy have the most victories.