WAIMEA — An invasive Lion Head, considered a weed and pest by some homeowners, earned Niryanne Santiago the Student Grand Prize, Grades 3-5, in the annual Hat Lei contest, Friday, at the 34th annual Waimea Town Celebration. Santiago also captured
WAIMEA — An invasive Lion Head, considered a weed and pest by some homeowners, earned Niryanne Santiago the Student Grand Prize, Grades 3-5, in the annual Hat Lei contest, Friday, at the 34th annual Waimea Town Celebration.
Santiago also captured the Most Original First Place, Grades 3-5 entry in the contest which drew more than 100 entries.
“This is far more than last year,” said Chris Faye, longtime organizer of the celebration. “What is amazing is the amount of first-timers and entries from visitors.”
John Herr, a visitor to the island, was one of those, capturing Adult Most Original first and second places with his feather lei entries.
Manny Rapozo, well-known for his floral work on the Westside, rounded out that division with a third place in the Adult Most Original.
Katrina Sahut took the Adult Grand Prize and also placed second in the Adult Most Beautiful category with a unique ti leaf lei.
Halai Topp was awarded top honors in the Adult Most Beautiful, and Kauai Iki placed third in that division.
Pi‘ikea Sahut finished with two awards, both second places, one in the Grades 3-5 Most Beautiful and the other in Grades 3-5 Most Original divisions.
Kenni Topp earned the Student Grand Prize in the Grades 9-12 division with Braden Sanpei taking the Student Grand Prize in the Grades K-2 division. Sanpei also pocketed the second place award for Grades K-2, Most Beautiful.
Kaulana Kahalekomo was the top award winner for Grades 9-12, Most Beautiful and Most Original.
Nikki Ann Vea earned the lion’s share of awards in the Grades 9-12 division, capturing second and third places in Most Beautiful, and third place in Most Original.
Maikoa Baniaga walked off with top honors in the Grades K-2, Most Unique, and followed that with a third place in Most Beautiful.
Maya Henry picked up the Most Unique second place honors in the Grades K-2 division.
Anuhea Anakalea earned the red ribbon in Grades 9-12, Most Original.
Maile Baniaga pocketed the Grades 3-5 Most Beautiful white ribbon, and Kaliua Kahalekomo was presented the Grades 6-8 Grand Prize.
Kalena Kahalekomo took first place honors in the Grades 6-8 Most Beautiful as well as top honors in the Most Original and followed that with second and third place in the category.
Kustom Vea Wise finished with the red and white ribbons for the Grades 6-8 Most Beautiful category.
Matsu Shigematsu topped the Grades 3-5 Most Beautiful and Maile Sahut rounded out the winners in the Grades K-2 Most Beautiful division.
All of the lei were displayed and judged at the West Kaua‘i Technology Visitors Center where a special tribute to the late Warren Robinson, and this year’s Paniolo Hall of Famer, William Sanchez, were also set up.
