2017 And A New Miss Ka'u Coffee Queen

Photo by Pamela Taylor  

Congratulations to Jami Beck, our 2017 Miss Ka'u Coffee Queen!

Photo by Pamela Taylor

Jami Beck, an 18-year old University of Hawai‘i - Hilo student who lives in Wai‘ohinu, swept all categories at The Drying Room at Ka‘u Coffee Mill. Jami earned titles of Miss Popularity, Photogenic and Congeniality and won the Swimsuit, Evening Gown, Career Outfit and Interview trophies.

The daughter of James Beck and Ka‘u High & Elementary School Principal Sharon Beck, Jami grew up in Ka‘u and graduated from Ka‘u High School. She is seeking a Bachelor's Degree in Administration of Justice and works for Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Her win marks the second time in two years that a Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park student ranger wins the Miss Ka‘u Coffee title. Last year's winner was Michelle Koi. Jami seeks a career with the National Park Service in Interpretation, or Law Enforcement.

As Miss Ka‘u Coffee 2017, she earned a $1,500 scholarship from the Edmund C. Olson Trust and $500 scholarship from CU Hawai‘i Federal Credit Union, presented by Cheryl Marzo. Jami also received awards for her titles from Ka‘u Coffee Growers Cooperative, Sen. Russell Ruderman, Sen. Josh Green, Rep. Richard Creagan, and County Council member Maile David. Her community sponsors include Kumu Hula Debbie Ryder, Terrie Louis, Jackie Flaherty and Greg Flaherty.

Jami’s Miss Ka‘u Coffee trophy was sponsored and presented by Ka‘u Coffee Festival organizer Chris Manfredi and his company Ka‘u Local Products. Ka‘u coffee farmers sponsored her many trophies with the Interview Trophy by Milton and Verna Dacalio, Career Outfit Trophy by Wayne and Danarie Dacalio, Talent Trophy by Melchor and Fely Fernandez, Evening Gown Trophy by Rose and Ren Tamayo, Swimsuit Trophy by Jim and Josie Oakes, Congeniality Trophy by Marlon and Aurora Biason, Photogenic Trophy by Don and Ipo Dacalio and Popularity Trophy by Lee and Nicole Segawa.

Jami won the Swimsuit competition and tied for Talent in the 2016 Miss Ka‘u Coffee competition. She represented Ka‘u in the recent Miss Teen Hawai‘i competition. She enjoys modeling and acting and will represent the Ka‘u coffee industry at numerous events over the next year.

Miss Ka‘u Coffee First Princess is Alysha Gufstafson-Savellawon who won a $950 scholarship from Ka‘u Mahi and a trophy from William and Grace Tabios.

Second Princess is Shaenese Tailon who won a $675 scholarship from Ka‘u Valley Farm and a trophy from Francis and Trinidad Marques.

Congratulations to our Junior Miss Ka'u Coffee for 2017, Calaysa Koi!

Photo by Julia Neal

Calyasa Koi, a seventh grader at Ka‘u Middle School in Pahala, is the daughter of Punalu‘u Bake Shop manager Connie Koi and recently retired Hawaii‘i Police Department officer Cory Koi. Her trophy was sponsored by Miles and Shasta Mayne.

Calaysa received a $700 scholarship from Pacific Quest. She won Talent, performing the difficult song David Guetta's Titanium made famous by both the Australian recording artist Sia and also Madilyn Bailey. Her Talent Trophy was sponsored by John and Ruby Javar. Calaysa also won the Evening Gown competition with trophy sponsored by Ann Fontes. She won Career Outfit with trophy sponsored by Berta and Jose Miranda and the Interview Trophy sponsored by Alex and Francisca Calumpit.

Her community sponsors included Ali‘i Hawaiian Hula Hands Coffee, Punalu‘u Bake Shop, Southside Shaka's Restaurant, Cody Faber, Erika Polido, Kai Hauanio, Karlee Hauanio, Tiana Hanashiro and many members of the Koi and Marques families.

First Junior Miss Princess is Jaycee Umemoto with trophy sponsored by Maile and Efren Abellera. Second Princess is Cristina Kawehiwehi with trophy sponsored by Sixto Assuncion. They won scholarships from Ka‘u Local Products, Punalu‘u Bake Shop and Ka‘u Valley Farm.

Their other trophies were sponsored by Manuel and Deborah Marques.

Congratulations to our Miss Ka‘u Peaberry for 2017, Jazmynn Navarro!

Photo by Julia Neal

Jazmynn Navarro swept all but one Miss Peaberry title. She is the daughter of Johnathan and Jennifer Navarro, of Pahala and attends Pahala Elementary School. She won a $300 scholarship from Punalu‘u Bake Shop and a crown sponsored by Bong and Gloria Aquino.

She won the Miss Popularity contest, with the most community sponsors of the entire pageant. She took the Miss Photogenic trophy provided by Rick and Mimie Sambajon, Talent trophy sponsored by Joseph and Mariel Castaneda, Congeniality trophy sponsored by Lee and Nicole Segawa, and Character Outfit trophy sponsored by Pablo and Marina Mauricio.

First Miss Ka‘u coffee Peaberry is Gwendolyn McElroy, daughter of Mariss Calcano and Adam Peters, of Ocean View. She is a student of Ka‘u Learning Academy and won the Evening Gown trophy sponsored by Roberto and Maria Miranda. For her title she won a $250 scholarship from Ka‘u Valley Farm and trophy sponsored by Kurt and Anne Hall.

Second Princess is Adryana Lorenzo who received a $125 scholarship from Sen. Russell Ruderman and a trophy from Delvin and Shawnette Navarro. Third Princess is Melo Keohuloa who received a $100 scholarship from Rep. Richard Creagan and a trophy from Leonardo and Jackie Castaneda. Fourth Princess is Ava Estabilio Lazar who received a $75 scholarship from Ka‘u Mahi and Ka’u Valley Farm with a trophy from Jeffrey and Donna Gascon.

Congratulations to our Miss Ka'u Coffee Flower for 2017, Evalynn Ornelas!

Photo by Julia Neal

Evalynn Ornelas is the four year old daughter of Caitlan and Mario Ornelas of Ocean View. Her community sponsors are Aunti Donna, Julie Enriques, Michelle Beck, Kuulei Ka‘awa, Jamie Pasion, Getty Clark, Ms. Tori and Jana Kaniho. She received a $200 scholarship from Ka‘u Local Products and a trophy from Lorie Obra.

She won Miss Photogenic and Character Outfit and tied for evening gown with Liliana Marques.

First Princess is Liliana Marques who received a $150 scholarship from Maile David and Sen. Russell Ruderman and a trophy from Mely Biason.

Second Princess is Mia Lazar who won a $100 scholarship from Rep. Richard Creagan and a trophy from Edwin and Andrea Jara.

Trophies were also provided by Franklin and Annabel Orcino, John and Kathy Cross, Jack and Brenda Moses, Marcus and Felma Domingo.

Thank you to our 2017 sponsors!

Anyone wanting to volunteer for Miss Ka'u Coffee Pageant for 2018, please call Pageant Director Trini Marques at 808-928-0606 or email trinimarques@yahoo.com. To donate for scholarships, call Scholarship Chair Julia Neal at 808-928-9811 or email mahalo@aloha.net.

Join us at our upcoming events: Pa‘ina and Open House, Ka‘u Coffee Recipe Contest, Ka‘u Mountain Water Systems Hike, Ho‘olaule‘a with music and entertainment, vendors, farm and mill tours and the Ka‘u Coffee Experience and free entry, Ka'u Coffee College.

Photo by Julia Neal