Vying for the Crown - 2019 Miss Ka‘ū Coffee Pageant Contestants

Helena Nihipali Sesson

Bernadette Ladia

Support the young women of Ka‘ū by attending our Miss Ka‘ū Coffee Pageant on Saturday, April 27, at the Ka‘ū District Gym in Pāhala, as they present their intelligence, grace and a variety of talents. Doors open at 6 p.m.

Pageant Director Trini Marques promises an evening of beauty, talent, poise, confidence, prizes, food, and entertainment. Tickets, sold by contestants and their families, are $10 each for anyone ages 12 to 55; $5 for children ages 5 to 11 and senior citizens ages 55 and older.

Liliana Marques

Kaitlyn Alaon

Tickets, sold by contestants and their families, are $10 each for anyone ages 12 to 55; $5 for children ages 5 to 11 and senior citizens ages 55 and older.

For more or to volunteer, call Trini at 808-928-0606 or email trinimarques@yahoo.com.

To donate to the Scholarship Fund, call Julia Neal at 808-928-9811, or email mahalo@aloha.net.

Helen Miranda

Evalyn Bedsaul

Sponsored by Kaʻū Coffee Growers Cooperative.

Contenders for Miss Kaʻū Coffee:

• Helena Nihipali Sesson of Pāhala, age 17, daughter of Guy Sesson and Sherriane Nihipali-Sesson. A senior at Kaʻū High, she wants to become a police officer.
• Bernadette Ladia of Pāhala, age 16, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Aurelio. A junior at Kaʻū High, she wants to join the military.
• Kaitlyn Alaon of Pāhala, age 15, daughter of Antonia Alaoan. A sophomore at Kaʻū High, she wants to become a neonatal nurse.

Kendall Haddock

Contenders for Miss Ka‘ū Peaberry:

• Lilianna Marques of Pāhala, age 6, daughter of Shawn Marques and Kuʻulei Marques. In first grade at Pāhala Elementary, she wants to become a graphics artist.
• Evalyn Bedsaul of Ocean View, age 9, daughter of Robin Maggard and Edward Bedsaul. Attending Nāʻālehu Elementary, she wants to become a pediatrician.
• Helen Miranda of Kiolokaʻa, age 10, daughter of Roberto and Maria Miranda. Attending Pāhala Elementary, she wants to become a lawyer.
• Kendall Haddock of Kiolokaʻa, age 9, daughter of James and Erin Haddock. Attending Nāʻālehu Elementary, she wants to become a science teacher.

Adilyn Aetonu

Kysha Kaupu Manini

Contenders for Miss Ka‘ū Coffee Flower:

• Kysha Kaupu Manini of Pāhala, age 4, daughter of Sasha Kaupu and Kai Manini. Not yet in school, she wants to become a cosmetologist.
• Adilyn Aetonu of Pāhala, age 5, daughter of Fresno and Ashley Eder. Pre-K at Pāhala Elementary, she wants to become a fashion designer.

There are no Jr. Miss Kaʻū Coffee contenders this year; Cristina Kawewehi holds the crown.

Photos by Trini Marques.

See our schedule of events for more fun-filled Ka‘ū Coffee Festival activities. For photos and information about previous events see our website, kaucoffeefestival.com, and our Flickr account. Find us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.