A New Queen Has Been Crowned, Miss Ka'u Coffee Pageant 2016

 

Photo bu Pamela Taylor

Congratulations to Rochelle Koi, our 2016 Miss Ka'u Coffee Queen! 

Photo by Michael Worthington

Rochelle, 22, is the daughter of Rory Koi, of Na'alehu, and Michelle Ortega, of Pahala. She was crowned by Miss Ka'u Coffee 2015 Maria Miranda at the pageant held last night, Saturday, May 14, at Ka'u Coffee Mill. Koi won the Interview and Evening Gown titles and tied for the Career Outfit title. Ka'u Coffee Farmer Trini Marques, of Ali'i Hawaiian Hula Hands Coffee, directed this year's pagant.

Rochelle, whose talent is singing, is a University of Hawai'i student and works at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park as a ranger. Koi takes home scholarships totaling $2,750 from the Edmund C. Olson Trust, Pacific Quest and Ka'u Chamber of Commerce. For all scholarships, sponsors and the pageant program, see http://www.kaucalendar.com/MissKauCoffeeFest_Program2016.pdf

Miss Ka'u Coffee First Princess is Casey Koi, 21, daughter of Corey and Connie Koi, of Pahala. She tied in Career Outfit and Miss Photogenic categories. She is a student at University of Hawai'i-Hilo.

Jami Beck, 17, is Miss Ka'u Coffee Second Princess and daughter of James and Sharon Beck, of Na'alehu. She won the Swimsuit competition and tied in the Talent competition. Beck is a student at Ka'u High School.

Miss Ka'u Coffee Third Princess is Shaira Panganiban Badua, 18, daughter of Mario and Lucia Badua, of Pahala. The senior at Ka'u High School tied in the Talent competition.

Photo by Pamela Taylor

Congratulations to our Junior Miss Ka'u Coffee for 2016, Karlee Fukunaga-Camba!

Karlee, 15, is the daughter of Keala and Justine Camba, of Pahala. She won Talent and Evening Gown categories. She attends Ka'u High School.

Junior Miss Ka'u Coffee First Princess is Calaysa Koi, 11, daughter of Corey and Connie Koi, of Pahala. She is a student at Ka'u Middle School.

Lyric Oliveiros, 15, is Miss Ka'u Coffee Second Princess. She is the daughter of Junior and Saydi Llanes. Lyric won the Hobby Outfit Competition and attends Ka'u Middle School.

Miss Ka'u Coffee Third Princess is Helena Nihipali-Sesson, 14, daughter of Guy Sesson and Sherraine Nihipali-Sesson, of Pahala, and Bradford and Jadelyn Moses, of Pahala. She is a student at Ka'u High School.

Congratulations to Miss Ka'u Peaberry for 2016, Chazlynn Pua-Queja!

Chazlynn, 9, daughter of Chad and Queja and Jerilyn Pua, of Pahala. She won the Character Outfit category and attends Pahala Elementary School.

Miss Ka'u Peaberry First Princess is Jazmyn Navarro, 8, daughter of Jonathan and Jennifer Navarro, of Pahala. Navarro won the Talent competition. She is a student at Pahala Elementary School.

Miss Ka'u Peaberry Second Princess is Khloe Moses, 6, daughter of Jack and Brenda Moses, of Pahala. She won the Evening Gown competition. Moses attends Pahala Elementary School.

Photo by Michael Worthington

Thank you to our sponsors!

Miss Ka'u Coffee Pageant Committee thanks the following sponsors: Ka'u Coffee Mill, Edmund C. Olson Trust II, Hawai'i Coffee Co., Crop Rx, Ka'u Mahi LLC, Pacific Quest, Ka'u Royal Hawaiian Coffee & Tea Co., Punalu'u Bake Shop, CU Hawai'i Federal Credit Union, Ka'u Local Products, Crop Production Services, Paradise Helicopters, Ka'u Chamber of Commerce, Science Camps of America, Ka'u Specialty Coffee, Hawai'i Forest & Trail, OK Farms, Genny Aiona, Sen. Russell Ruderman, Sen. Josh Green, Rep. Richard Onishi, Rep. Richard Creagan, County Council Member Maile David, Aunty Ba Fund, Donna Butler, Masako Sakata and donors at the Pahala Plantation House Pa'ina Kick-off for Ka'u Coffee Festival Week.

If you missed the pageant or would simply like to watch it again, tune in to Na Leo TV. See schedule here.