A New Queen & Court, Miss Ka'u Coffee Pageant 2013

Miss Ka'u Coffee 2013 Tiare-Lee Shibuya (left), stands with the former Miss Peaberry Rebecca Lynn Kailiawa-Escobar (middle) and her Tiare's sister, the former Miss Ka'u Coffee, Brandy Shibuya. Photos by Geneveve Fyvie

Tiare-Lee Shibuya, daughter of police officer Dane and Terry-Lee Shibuya, of Wai'ohinu, became Miss Ka'u Coffee Friday night, April 26,  during the pageant that kicked off ten days of Ka'u Coffee Festival events. Tiare-Lee is a graduate of Kamehameha Schools, attends Hawai'i Community College and plans to be a nurse. Her talent was hula. She won a $1,000 scholarship presented by the Edmund C. Olson Trust II.

First Princess
Seneca Lee Oleyte.

First Princess is Seneca Lee Oleyte, of Pahala. She is 22 and the daughter of Ernest and Lenora Lorenzo-Oleyte. She attends University of Hawai'i in Hilo and studies communications. She is a graduate of Ka'u High School. Her talent was singing. She won a $500 scholarship presented by Ka'u Coffee Festival chair Chis Manfredi.

Second Princess
Rachel Ornelas.

Second Princess is Rachel Ornelas, of Wai'ohinu. She is the daughter of Mia Ornelas and resides with her grandparents, Mario and Memmy Ornelas. She is 19, graduated from Ka'u High School and attends University of Hawai'i at Hilo, studying to be a nurse. Her talent was singing. She won a $400 scholarship presented on behalf of Sen. Russell Ruderman donating $250 and Rep. Richard Onishi donating $150.

Third Princess
Kawailani Houvener.

Third Princess is Kawailani Houvener, of Ocean View. She is 17 and the daughter of Michelle and Kenneth Houvener. She is a senior at Ka'u High School and plans to sign up for the Army and study mechanics. Her talent was hula. She won a $300 scholarship with Punalu'u Bake Shop donating $250 and Miss Bobby Tucker donating $50.

The Talent and Gown categories were won by Shibuya. Ornelas took home the Education scholarship, and Houvener took home the Miss Photogenic prize.

The reigning Miss Peaberry, Rebecca Lynn Kailiawa-Escobar, wowed the crowd with a dance, a speech and gown presentation. The reigning Miss Ka'u Coffee performed a beautiful hula dance and welcomed her sister as her successor.

From left: Second Princess Rachel Ornelas, Miss Ka'u Coffee Tiare-Lee
Shibuya, former Miss Ka'u Coffee Brandy Shibuya, former Miss Peaberry
Rebecca Lynn Kailawa-Escobar, Emcees Bobby and Phoebe Gomes, First
Princess Seneca Lee Oleyte, and Third Princess Kawailani Houvener.

Emcees Bobby and Phoebe Gomes entertained, with Phoebe singing and playing 'ukulele. Before announcing the judges’ decisions, Bobby said about the candidates, “They are all winners.” 

The queen and her court will attend many festival events through May 5. Events this week include a hike in the mountains along the old plantation water system on Wednesday, visiting Aikane Plantation Coffee farm and stargazing at Makanau on Friday, and the day-long ho'olaule'a at Pahala Community Center on Saturday, May 4 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. See our website, kaucoffeefestival.com, for more.