LIHU‘E — Lei U‘i Kaholokula was crowned the new Miss Garden Isle, and Alexandra Roth was crowned the new Miss Kaua‘i, before a crowd of several hundred enthusiastic people at Kaua‘i Community College in Puhi Saturday evening. Kaholokula and Roth
LIHU‘E — Lei U‘i Kaholokula was crowned the new Miss Garden Isle, and Alexandra Roth was crowned the new Miss Kaua‘i, before a crowd of several hundred enthusiastic people at Kaua‘i Community College in Puhi Saturday evening.
Kaholokula and Roth earned a $10,000 university scholarship each for being named 2013 Miss Garden Isle and 2013 Miss Kaua‘i, respectively, among nine contestants at KCC Performing Arts Center, which had nearly every seat filled.
“There are more than $40,000 in scholarships being given away tonight,” said J Robertson of Ho‘ike Community Television, the evening’s emcee. “Each of the nine contestants will receive a portion of the scholarship funds provided by Argosy University.”
Kaholokula, a Kapa‘a High School graduate and student at Chaminade University, and Roth, a Waiakea High School (Big Island) graduate, earned the right to compete in the 2013 Miss Hawai‘i pageant scheduled for June 8 on O‘ahu.
The Miss Garden Isle and Miss Kaua‘i scholarship pageant is the local competition which can lead to the Miss America crown.
Kimberly Evans earned at least $6,000 in scholarships for being named the pageant’s First Runner Up and Nicolette Levinthol was presented $4,000 in scholarships for being named Second Runner Up. Levinthol was also voted to the Congeniality trophy by her peers.
En route to her Miss Kaua‘i crown, Roth, whose personal platform is encouraging a global education, topped the Talent phase with her vocal rendering of “Gimme” from the “Thoroughly Modern Millie” production.
Tarole Harris, a finisher at the recent Great Aloha Run and whose platform is “Sweat Pink — Healthy is a Lifestyle” topped the Lifestyle and Fitness floor where the emphasis throughout the night was on the individual as a whole.
Nei-Moana Henriques, a graduate of Waimea High School, was announced the winner of the Spirit award.
This year’s field of contestants included Roth, Evans, Mariah Yadao, Henriques, Levinthol, Saunie Torricer, Sydnee White, Kaholokula, and Harris.
The Miss America organization is one of the nation’s leading achievement programs and the world’s largest provider of scholarship assistance for young women, states the pageant’s program. During 2012, the Miss America organization and its state and local organizations made available more than $45 million in cash and scholarship assistance.
Loke Dahle, a former Miss Kaua‘i, served as the program’s chair.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
