Gabriel Salazar of Maui Waena Intermediate School correctly spelled "mozzarella" and "hypocrisy" in the final rounds to win the Maui District Spelling Bee last night.

It was the second year in a row Salazar has won the crown of Maui's top speller. He was the state runner-up last year.

Salazar and runner-up Talya Jaffe of Kihei Charter School qualified for The Honolulu Advertiser's 24th Hawai'i State Spelling Bee, set for March 15 at Windward Community College's Paliku Theatre.

Twenty-three students began last night's district bee at 'Iao Intermediate School, which lasted 15 rounds. By Round 13, only Salazar and Jaffe remained in the competition.

In Round 14 Jaffe misspelled "nisei," opening the door for Salazar, who correctly spelled his next two words.

Salazar, a 12-year-old seventh-grader, is the son of Manuel and Wilma Salazar. Jaffe, an 11-year-old sixth-grader, is the daughter of Elizabeth Jaffe.

Spelling champions from 84 schools will compete in seven district spelling bees through February.

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.

The Kaua'i and Windward district bees were held earlier. Here are the remaining district bees:

• Feb. 19: Central District, Mililani Middle, 6 p.m.

• Feb. 20: Leeward District, Waipahu Intermediate, 6:30 p.m.

• Feb. 21: Honolulu District, Sacred Hearts Academy, 2 p.m.

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