Winners of the 2011 Miss Ka'u Coffee Pageant

Miss Ka'u Coffee Brandy Shibuya shares the spotlight with Young Miss Ka'u Coffee Dayse Meleani Andrade and Miss Ka'u Peaberry Rebecca Lynn Kailiawa-Escobar.  Photos by Julia Neal

Every contestant of the 2011 Miss Ka'u Coffee Pageant performed with grace, showcasing an array of talent and original works. If you happen by any of our participants, make sure to share your appreciation for her bravery, intellect, aptitude and creativity. For each of our beautiful candidates embodies the spirit of Ka'u - however only one can be named queen.

Brandy Shibuya became Miss Ka'u Coffee Queen last night after performing a hula to Poliahu. “It has always been a dream of mine to represent Hawai'i and make a difference in the world,” she said. She described her home of Ka'u as “over 922 square miles of rich sacred land, holding the most powerful Hawaiian history.” She said she is “intrigued by its cultural diversity and natural beauty.” 

First Miss Ka'u Coffee Princess Jaeneise Cuison, Miss Ka'u Coffee Brandy Shibuya and Second Miss Ka'u Coffee Princess Brandy Eder.

First Miss Ka'u Coffee Princess, Jaeneise Cuison, danced Tahitian. She said she has a “passion for volleyball, baking assorted desserts and spending time at the beach with family.” She plans to become a nurse and “help the needy and the sick in our community.”

Second Princess is Brandy Eder, who performed her own piano composition. She said she would love to be a doctor. “What I love the most about Ka'u is the aloha spirit, the way everyone is like family.” She said she wants to help solve the problem of domestic abuse, especially identifying teens with physical and verbal abuse problems through counseling in the schools. 

Young Miss Ka'u Coffee,
Dayse Meleani Andrade.

The new Young Miss Ka'u Coffee Queen is Dayse Meleani Andrade. She said she likes to dance, sing and play sports and wants to become a pediatrician. She says she loves living in Ka'u because “all of my family and friends are here, and because the beaches are beautiful.” Her talent was dance. Shailei-Marie Penera was named First Princess and Malia Corpuz was named Second Princess.

Miss Ka'u Peaberry,
Rebecca Lynn Kailiawa-Escobar

The new Miss Ka'u Peaberry Queen is Rebecca Lynn Kailiawa-Escobar. She likes to play soccer and volleyball and make beaded jewelry. She says she wants to be a scientist because she loves nature and could “warn everyone in the world before anything happened.” She said she loves living in Ka'u because we have “fishing, farming, hunting, and ranching. Ka'u is the only district with untouched beauty,” she proclaimed. Her talent was hip hop. Tatiana Ka'awa was named First Princess, and Cherrisse Calumpit was named Second Princess.

Miss Ka`u Coffee Pageant director Gloria Camba and
  her partner Rogelio Aquino.  Photo by Julia Neal

Winners of the 2011 Miss Ka'u Coffee Pageant are already gearing up for their first public appearance. It will be this Saturday at the Merrie Monarch Parade in Hilo. Miss Ka'u Coffee Queen Brandy Shibuya and her court, First Princess Jaeneise Cuison and Second Princess Brandy Eder, will be representing Ka'u Coffee this Saturday at the Merrie Monarch Royal Parade in Hilo. Also representing Ka'u Coffee at the parade will be Young Miss Ka'u Coffee Queen Dayse Meleani Andrade and her court, First Princess Shailei-Marie Penera and Second Princess Malia Corpuz, and Miss Ka'u Peaberry Queen Rebecca Lynn Kailiawa-Escobar and her court, First Princess Tatiana Ka'awa and Second Princess Cherrisse Calumpit. The two floats entered in this year's Merrie Monarch Royal Parade are sponsored by the Ka'u Coffee Growers Cooperative.

Ulu Makuakane, 2010 Ka'u Coffee Queen, welcomed
 the 2011 Miss Ka'u Coffee Queen at the pageant.
Photo by Geneveve Fyvie

The sold-out pageant drew many scholarship contributions and was emceed by Kahikina and KAHU public radio’s own Deevah. Scholarships, to be saved for higher education of the winners, were donated by the Edmund C. Olson Trust, 'Aina Koa Pono, the Ka'u Federal Credit Union, Golden Pacific Farms, Sen. Gil Kahele, Rep. Bob Herkes, Punalu'u Bakeshop, KAHU RADIO 91.7 FM, Ka`u Coffee Mill, R&G Mini Mart, Ka'u Royal Coffee, The Ka'u Calendar newspaper and hundreds of $5 donations to Friends of Miss Ka'u Coffee Pageant.

Pageant director Gloria Camba said that all the work was worthwhile since so much of the community participated and enjoyed supporting the talent and education of Ka'u youth. 

Miss Ka'u Coffee Queen Brandy
Shibuya dancing hula.  
Photo by Geneveve Fyvie

Miss Ka'u Coffee Queen Brandy Shibuya says her "dream has always been to represent Hawaii by truly making a difference in the world." She is "honored and blessed to devote herself to the Ka'u Coffee industry, with dignity and pride." Her platform is "emphasizing the importance of education by strengthening children, youth & communities." She says she believes it is vitally important to know ones culture and to embrace uniqueness and encourages people to "strive to your full potential in all aspects of life." Brandy says "I am so proud of all the contestants who came out this year and wish them all the best of luck in their future ambitions." She also says she gives a "special Mahalo to all the Ka'u coffee farmers, let this year be a prosperous one for all of us."

Congratulations to the candidates and winners of the 2011 Miss Ka'u Coffee Pageant!

Ka'u Coffee Recipe Contest and Taste of Ka'u

ATTENTION: Application deadline has been moved forward to May 7, 2011.

The Ka'u Coffee Festival Recipe Contest 2011 and Taste of Ka'u is up and running again for this years event on Saturday, May 14, at 12 noon in the Pahala Community Center. Win cash and prizes for your original recipe showcasing Ka'u coffee and other products of Ka'u!

Entries will be accepted through May 7, 2011, in the following categories:

• Dessert I: Cakes, cookies, and pies
• Dessert II: Drinks, candies, other desserts
• Main course/Entrée
• Smoke meat, pupu/appetizers, savory snacks

Applications can be downloaded from the home page of our website: www.kaucoffeefestival.com. Entry forms are also available at R & G Store in Pahala. For more information, call Michelle Galimba at 430-4927 or email info@kaucoffeefestival.com. Applications must be submitted in person, by email info@kaucoffeefestival.com, or by fax (929-7009) before May 7, 2011.

Each first place winner will take home $100.00, second and third place finishers will receive prizes or gift certificates. In addition, the highest scoring recipe will win the Best Taste of Ka'u, taking home $250.00 cash!

Contestants are welcome to compete in any one to all four categories listed above, however, each contestant is only allowed to compete in one of the following divisions:

• Professional (working chefs, culinary teachers or post-secondary students of the culinary arts)
• Amateur (adults who simply enjoy cooking)
• Students (High School and Middle School students who enjoy cooking)

For each completed entry form, entrants have until May 7 to pickup a free six-ounce bag of Ka'u Coffee from R & G Store in Pahala, 928-8558, to use in their creation(s).

Important rules to follow:

• More Ka'u ingredients used means more points earned, so make sure to list all ingredients grown in Ka'u
• All entries must contain Ka'u Coffee
• All recipes must be alcohol-free
• No cooking facilities will be available at the Community Center, so be sure to do all cooking beforehand!
• Each entry must be plated and presented at the Pahala Community Center no later than 1pm on Saturday, May 14, 2011.
• Be prepared to distribute at least 20 samples per entry during the tasting session, which is after the judging. Entrants must present at judging and tasting to win.
• Entries are presented to judges anonymously so no monograms or signatures please.
• Recipes will be included in a Ka'u Coffee Festival Cookbook, so make sure it's an original! By entering the contest, entrants give the Ka'u Coffee Festival Committee permission to publish their recipes.

 Showcase your creativity and culinary skills at the Ka'u Coffee Festival's Ka'u Coffee Recipe Contest!

Progress Towards a Successful Pageant

As most of you are aware, our 3rd annual Miss Ka'u Coffee Pageant takes off this coming Saturday, April 23, starting at 5:30pm in the Ka'u High School gym. Watch our contestants shine on stage as they come into their own, as courteous and skilled young women of Ka'u.

We are very thankful to the of hundreds of community members who each donated $5 to become Friends of Miss Ka`u Coffee Pageant. They helped us raise more than $4,000 to support the event, the activities of the candidates and winners and for scholarships. The event is sold out so make sure to purchase your ticket well in advance for next year's pageant.

Our candidates experienced the first round of competition on Monday as they traveled to Hilo for the pre-pageant interviews with the judges in the County Building. This year's judges are: Leslie Apoliana, of Kamehameha Schools; Norman Arancon, a professor at University of Hawai`i-Hilo; Dina Kageler, a teacher at Volcano School of the Arts & Sciences; Jenilee Keliinani Waipa, of HomeStreet Bank; and Jennifer Naiga-Ka`aihui, a former Miss Hawai`i Island Filipina who works for the Police Department.

Kahikina and Deevah will emcee the pageant. Kahikina, also known as the Polynesian Pirate and Tommy Ching, has been grand marshal of the Ka`u Fourth of July Parade and an emcee for many music workshops, events and radio shows on this island. The Deevah is a soulful singer and radio announcer on KAHU 91.7 FM public radio in Ka`u. Also known as Denise Peralta, she resides in Pahala and covers the 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. broadcast on KAHU. She also performs with Demetrius Oliveira and his band Keaiwa.

There will be food offered for sale before the pageant and during intermission.

Hopefully, we'll see you there this Saturday for a fun-filled evening of friendly competition!

Read bios of this year's contestants:
Miss Ka'u Coffee
Young Miss Ka'u Coffee
Miss Ka'u Peaberry

Miss Ka'u Coffee Pageant Program for 2011

More about this year's Miss Ka'u Coffee Pageant

Miss Ka'u Coffee Pageant, 2011

Miss Ka`u Coffee 2010 Alesha Makuakane (Ulu) visited with the 2011 Ka`u Coffee candidates and talked about her reign as Miss Ka`u Coffee and practiced the runway walk with each girl. Ulu said that in the months leading up to her debut she was so dedicated that she practiced any where at any time, even wearing her heels to school and performing her walk during recess in the yard. "The other kids would ask me what I was doing and I explained that I was in a pageant," said Ulu. She added that it may have looked strange to others, but she didn't care. She did her own thing and it paid off in the end.

 

In preparation for their debut at the Miss Ka’u Coffee 2011 pageant, contestants have been practicing hard, with dance, beauty, and health lessons as well as coffee education and etiquette coaching.

Nalani Parlin, Pageant Show Director and Choreographer, is in charge of organizing and scheduling each lesson so that every contender has the opportunity to take away valuable life skills just by competing. The girls are encouraged to always be gracious and confident. Nalani is teaching the young contenders that being polite, having good posture and sharing aloha should not be taken for granted. The titles of Miss Ka’u Coffee, Young Miss Ka’u Coffee and Miss Peaberry are honors awarded in each category to those not only talented and well spoken, but also good representatives of Ka’u.

Below are a few lessons each candidate has been involved in:

Contenders visited the coffee farms of Berta and Jose Miranda and Manuel Marques at Moa’ula for a photo and educational session. Farmers Gloria Camba, Pageant Chair, and Manuel Marques explained coffee farming and harvesting practices.

Myrajean Sumida, of Motives Cosmetics, volunteered to give young pageant candidates and parents make-up tips. Candidates had the opportunity to have make-up applied, foundation mixed to match their specific skin tones and mix their very own blush.

Aesthetician Ursula D'Angelo, of Beauty Calls, has been working with Kaʻū Coffee Pageant candidates to help them care for their skin. "It's never too early to start taking care of your skin," advised D'Angelo. She brought fresh ingredients that can be found in the home - such as honey, avocado, oatmeal, green tea and yogurt - and let the girls concoct their own facial masks. The contestants topped off their faces with seaweed, which is used in spa treatments to smooth and tone skin.

Nalani has been working hard in the Old Pahala Clubhouse with the girls at practicing their group dance number, walking and presenting themselves properly. Each contestant has also been individually practicing her talent for the fast approaching pageant, Saturday, April 23, 5:30pm in the Ka’u High School Gym. Read biographies and see photos of our contestants for Miss Ka’u Coffee, Young Miss Ka’u Coffee, or Miss Peaberry or visit our website: kaucoffeefestival.com.

Tickets are sold out to this event, but donations are still being accepted. Nalani says she is hoping to receive prize donations for the Mahalo Drawing. The drawing is to thank sponsors, donors and friends of the Ka'u Coffee Pageant, who are automatically entered.  

Hosting a Booth at the Ka'u Coffee Festival

During the last two Ka'u Coffee Festivals, the public enjoyed a range of multi-ethnic foods and deserts from Asian to Hawaiian to Paniolo styles. Local coffee products are high in supply, providing treats from hot/iced coffee to deserts. Craft booths are also a popular destination for festival goers as local artists and artisans showcase their creations, both small and large. Join our Ho'olaule'a (celebration) this year as either a festival goer, vendor, or contestant!

BOOTH APPLICATIONS OPEN UNTIL APRIL 14, 2011

Looking for ways to promote your business or product? Host a booth at the 2011 Ka'u Coffee Festival and get loads of exposure while celebrating Ka'u Coffee on Saturday, May 14. Make sure to visit our website to download the following applications (both are required)

• Vendor Registration Application
• Hawai'i County Vendor Permit Application

 Here are a few important things to know before applying:

THERE WILL BE NO DUPLICATION OF HOT FOOD SOLD. You are limited to two different food items. Example: Teri Beef and hot dog. Also, no two booths will be allowed to sell beverages (water, soda, or juice). And, only the Ka’u Coffee Growers Cooperative will be able to sell hot/iced coffee. Your signs will indicate your product being sold per approval.

Each vendor is responsible for the following:

• $10.00(info.)/$50.00(reg.)/$100.00(food) booth fee made payable to “Ka’u Coffee Festival“, by April 14, 2011. 
• 10x10 tent, tables, chairs, signs and all other equipment. 
• Department of Health Permit, if serving food items ($25.00).
• Proof of Certified Kitchen, if serving food items.
• Vendor Permit form from the County of Hawaii ($25.00).
• Proof of General Excise License. 
• Good housekeeping in assigned booth space. 
• Removal of vehicles from event vendor area by 8:00 a.m. 
• Ready to serve the public at 9:00 a.m. 
• No smoking in non-smoking areas. 

*Anyone caught in violation of this agreement, which you agree to by turning in an application, will be flagged and your booth will be closed.