Crowning Miss Kona Coffee
KAUILUA-KONA — Nine contestants, but only two crowns.
On Saturday, those nine young women will vie for the titles of Miss Kona Coffee and Miss Aloha Hawaii during the 45th annual Kona Coffee Cultural Festival that kicks off today and includes the art show opening reception and awards from 6 to 8 p.m. at Donkey Mill Art Center as well as the beloved talent night competition at 6:30 at Konawaena Elementary School.
The festival runs until Nov. 15 and Saturday’s winners will be the faces of the festival.
“She represents Kona coffee,” said Tracey Apoliona, executive director of the program.
The program includes $46,000 of scholarship money and each competitor earns some of it.
The winners also will go to Japan to promote Kona coffee products.
To prepare the two for their trip they are trained about coffee, its production, the culture around it and general life skills to promote the product, she said. Many of the skills are transferable to general life, she said.
The competitors will also become part of the family feeling that has developed around the event, Apoliona said. She knows many previous contestants who have grown to become lifelong friends.
The competition has run since 1971, adding the Miss Aloha Hawaii title in 2009.
Entrant are between 17 to 24 years old, and a senior in high school, high school graduate or equivalent.
The scoring in the competition is based on a private interview, lifestyle and fitness in swimsuit, talent, evening wear and on-stage question. It’s weighted most heavily for the talent and private interview.
The event starts at 5:30 p.m. in the Sheraton Kona Resort and Spa at Keauhou Bay. Entry is $30 and requires a festival button. Tickets will be available at the door. The competition begins at 6:30 p.m.
The winners will compete at the statewide pageant in Oahu.
Name: Polanimakamae Kaoakaokalani Kahakalau
Age: 20
High school: Graduated Kanu o ka Aina Public Charter School, Waimea
College: University of Hawaii at Hilo
Hometown: Kukuihaele
Current residence: Hilo
Favorite color: Emerald green
Favorite Kona coffee roast: French roast
Why are you competing in the Miss Kona Coffee Competition? Did you ever think you would compete in this type of pageant? I have harbored the dream of competing in the Miss Kona Coffee Competition for several years. My primary reason is to win scholarship funds to assist me with my college education. I also look at it as a great opportunity to work on my poise, my confidence, and my public speaking skills and to educate others. Indeed, this pageant is helping me to reach multiple goals and become a role model and leader.
What is your platform? My platform is to advocate for Hawaiian-focused education that is culturally driven, family-oriented and community-based and will close the achievement gap of Native Hawaiian public school students.
What will be your talent? My talent will be hula auana, or modern hula.
What is something you want the community to know about you? I am passionate about perpetuating and sharing my Hawaiian language, culture and traditions with others and empowering my community.
Name: Laakea Vogelgesang Kahale
Age: 17
High school: Kealakehe High School
College: Hawaii Community College — Palamanui
Hometown: Kailua-Kona
Current residence: Kailua-Kona
Favorite color: White
Favorite Kona coffee roast: Medium
Why are you competing in the Miss Kona Coffee Competition? Did you ever think you would compete in this type of pageant? I am competing in this year Kona Coffee Pageant because I want to challenge myself. Also, because I believe that this pageant will give me a great platform for my future and career aspirations. I’ve never thought of competing in this type of pageant, let alone any pageant so this is all completely new to me. However, it is very exciting.
What is your platform? My platform strictly focuses on the reformation of education in state. The title of my platform is to create Hawaii’s education accessible, affordable and achievable.
What will be your talent? My talent is singing, “Read All About It” by Emeli Sande.
What is something you want the community to know about you? Family is everything to me. Because of their continual support I’ve had a great deal of time to not only find myself, but to spread my wings. I am now ready and willing to give back to my community, and create a change.
Name: Jessica Lloyd
Age: 19
High school: Kealakehe High School Class of 2014
College: Hawaii Community College — Palamanui
Hometown: Kailua-Kona
Current residence: Kailua-Kona
Favorite color: Blue
Favorite Kona coffee roast: French/City Roast
Why are you competing in the Miss Kona Coffee Competition? Did you ever think you would compete in this type of pageant? I am competing in this year’s Miss Kona Coffee Scholarship Pageant because I want to be an inspiration to others and show our community that pageants aren’t only about wearing a sparkly crown and banner but rather; putting in the hard work, time and dedication to your community and platform, as well as sharing the love and culture of our award-winning coffee industry on Hawaii Island.
What is your platform? Helping youth find creative outlets: Throughout my platform I work with high school students in order to develop a sense of creativity, and show the youth that there are fun, safe and promising clubs/activities to get involved with here in our own town.
What will be your talent? I will be performing a self-choreographed contemporary dance to Kelly Clarkson’s song “Breakaway.”
What is something you want the community to know about you? I am the first in my family to attend college and I will be graduating this spring with my AAS degree in the Culinary Arts division.
Name: Marlie Mandaguit
Age: 17
High school: Hawaii Preparatory Academy
College:
Hometown: Kailua-Kona
Current residence: Kailua-Kona
Favorite color: Pink
Favorite Kona coffee roast: French roast
Why are you competing in the Miss Kona Coffee Competition? Did you ever think you would compete in this type of pageant? I want to raise awareness of childhood hunger in Hawaii and to make new friends and build relationships.
What is your platform? Raise awareness of childhood hunger.
What will be your talent? Singing “Put Your Records On” by Corrine Bailey.
What is something you want the community to know about you? I am a student-athlete hoping to play soccer at the Division I NCAA level.
Name: Kalai Olono Kamakaula Mersberg- Gonzalez
Age: 20
High school: Graduated from Konawaena High School in 2013
College: Attended University of Hawaii, West Community Center
Hometown: Waianae, Oahu
Current residence: Kona,
Favorite color: Pink
Favorite Kona coffee roast: Dark Roast
Why are you competing in the Miss Kona Coffee Competition? Did you ever think you would compete in this type of pageant? I am competing in the Miss Kona Coffee/Miss Aloha Hawaii Pageant because growing up I have always loved school; so I feel this is a great scholarship opportunity to further my education. I am also competing in this scholarship pageant because I knew it could help with character development skills with which I struggle, such as confidence and self-esteem. Being I lack self-confidence I never would have seen myself to be a part of this event. I feel like being a part of the Miss Kona Coffee organization is a great way for me to give back to my community by using it as a stepping stone for my platform “Be the Voice.”
What is your platform? Be the Voice-Sexual Abuse Awareness and Prevention Campaign, is an ad awareness campaign that would be used to educate, help and protect individuals from such a tragic social and public issue, sexual abuse.
What will be your talent? For my talent I will be performing an American Sign Language (ASL) Interpretive to the song “Grace of God.”
What is something you want the community to know about you? I love to use creative outlets, such as writing and dancing, as ways to express myself and relax.
Name: Kirstie Kanoelani Akemi Naone
Age: 21
High school: Mililani High School 2011 graduate
College: University of Hawaii at Hilo
Hometown: Mililani, Oahu
Current residence: Hilo
Favorite color: Green
Favorite Kona coffee roast: High
Why are you competing in the Miss Kona Coffee Competition? Did you ever think you would compete in this type of pageant? Growing up as a timid tom-boy, I never though I would have the confidence to compete in a pageant. Upon returning from my study abroad experiences in Scotland and South Korea, I gained the courage to go for my dreams. My current dream is to become Miss Kona Coffee. I want to earn this title because I would love to inspire others with my personal experiences and promote peaceful intercultural relations as an international ambassador for Hawaii’s most delicious coffee brand.
What is your platform? My platform is EAGLE: Encouraging A Global Learning Experience. The goal of my platform is to increase acceptance of other cultures through a variety of affordable international immersion experiences.
What will be your talent? I will perform a self-choreographed modern Tahitian dance.
What is something you want the community to know about you? After I graduate with my bachelor’s degree, I would like to attend graduate school and become a professor of public health and nutrition.
Name: Piper Marie Pearson
Age: 17
High school: Kealakehe Class of 2015
College: Going next fall, still deciding
Hometown: Tulsa, Okla.
Current residence: Kailua-Kona
Favorite color: Turquoise
Favorite Kona coffee roast: Full city
Why are you competing in the Miss Kona Coffee Competition? Did you ever think you would compete in this type of pageant? The skills and networks built by doing a local beauty pageant will follow you for life. Every moment of this experience is awesome and transformative. I will take these lessons with me for the rest of my life. I am proud to be apart of the Miss America organization, an organization that embodies style, grace and service. If you’re thinking about running for Miss Kona Coffee, definitely take a leap of faith and join the program.
What is your platform? “Hawaii First” environmental consciousness, transitioning Hawaii island to 100 percent renewable energy by the year 2020 and bringing attention to our unsustainable habits through advocacy and education.
What will be your talent? “Art is Calling for Me” from the light opera “The Enchantress.”
What is something you want the community to know about you? Although I may not be from Hawaii Island originally, Hawaii has truly shaped me as a person and filled my heart with aloha. I would be honored to represent our community.
Name: Cheryl Mei R. Presiados
Age: 17
High school: Konawaena High School
College:
Hometown: Kailua-Kona
Current residence: Kailua-Kona
Favorite color: Maroon
Favorite Kona coffee roast: City
Why are you competing in the Miss Kona Coffee Competition? Did you ever think you would compete in this type of pageant? I am competing in the Miss Kona Coffee Scholarship Pageant to gain self confidence, for the experience and for a great scholarship opportunity. I’ve always wanted to compete in this type of pageant since I was a young age. I believe it gives girls a better role model to look up to and to have fun. It is also a great way to meet new people.
What is your platform? My platform is on sexual assault and rape of minors. I believe there aren’t enough organizations on the island.
What will be your talent? I will be dancing hula to “I Love You Lord.”
What is something you want the community to know about you? I love going on adventures, dancing and found a new love for hunting and fishing.
Name: Megan Souza
Age: 21
High school: Kauai High School class of 2012
College: University of Hawaii at Hilo
Hometown: Kalaheo, Kauai
Current residence: Hilo
Favorite color: Yellow
Favorite Kona coffee roast: Medium
Why are you competing in the Miss Kona Coffee Competition? Did you ever think you would compete in this type of pageant? Although I never thought I’d be competing in a pageant because of the country life I was raised in, I’m now learning that this pageant isn’t only about the scholarships, year of services, confident style, and successes that comes with the Miss America Organization Pageants. I believe in this pageant includes social and marketing experiences that come with the job of Miss Kona Coffee that will benefit me as an aspiring personal and athletic trainer.
What is your platform? My platform, Health and Healing, focuses on sports safety and the prevention of sports-related accidents, while encouraging physical activities for our students and those within sports of the community.
What will be your talent? I will be singing “Flashlight” by Jessie J.
What is something you want the community to know about you? If I am crowned a winner or not, I’m very passionate about spreading “Health and Healing” around the Hawaii Island.
