NAWILIWILI — Jan Masukawa entered six lei in the 37th annual Irmalee and Walter Pomroy Lei Contest on Monday.
She came away delighted.
“I had two winners out of six — a first place in the Blue and Purple category, and one in the Lanakila Hou,” Masukawa said. “That’s not bad.”
Marina Pascua, helping with the make-it lei table, said she has been so occupied with trying to make fabric lei, she could only enter a single lei in “May Day is Lei Day” organized by the Kauai Museum.
Hundreds of people flowed through the Kauai Marriott Puna Court to admire, photograph, and make bids through a silent auction for lei that were set out for everyone to admire.
“I’m surprised it did well,” Pascua said, admiring her second-place award. “This is a miniature ti I use for flower arrangements at the church.”
Kauai Iki ended up the big winner, capturing two specialty awards, including the County of Kauai Office of the Mayor, and the Marriott Waiohai Beach Club Award in addition to picking up first-place honors in the Pink and Red, Mixed Colors, and Ti Leaf categories.
“I didn’t have any this year,” said Pam Chock. “About midnight, last night, it hit me — I should have done something. There are so many items to use.”
Sue Kanoho, director of the Kauai Visitor Bureau, was bidding on a lei created by Madeline “Kinikohu” Guyett.
“Today is her birthday, and I saw her bidding on the lei,” Kanoho said. “I just looked at her bid and out-bid her so now, she can have it for her birthday.”
37th annual Irmalee & Walter Pomroy Lei Contest results
Special awards:
Distinguished President’s Award: Elvrine Chow
Prestigious Board of Trustees Award: Jodi Gardner
Director’s Choice Award: Diane Masumura
Kauai Museum 57th Anniversary Award: Elvrine Chow
County of Kauai Office of the Mayor Award: Kauai Iki
Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort Award: Kaulana Kahalekoma
Irmalee Pomroy Award: Linda Pitman
Grace and Lyle Guslander Award: Ka‘ohu Ranis
Walter Pomroy Award: Tommy Vidinha
Kauai Mokihana Malie Foundation Award: Pat Finberg
Hobey Goodale Award Owana Botelho
Marriott Waiohai Beach Club Award: Kauai Iki
Category Award-Blue & Purple: Jan Masukawa, Michael Koerte, Elvrine Chow
Category Award-White & Green: Emma Chidgey, Michael Koerte, Kendall Lemn
Category Award-Orange & Yellow: Linda Pitman, Kahanu Smith, Linda Pitman
Category Award-Pink & Red: Kauai Iki, Linda Pitman, Diane Masumura
Category Award-Mixed Colors: Kauai Iki, Madeline “Kinikohu” Guyett, Sandra Bafia
Catergory Award-Plumeria: Kaulana Carlos-Kahalekomo, Kaulana Kahalekomo, Matilda Inouye
Catergory Award-Ti-leaf: Kauai Iki, Marina Pascua
Category Award-Hat: Emma Chidgey, Michael Koerte, Sandra Bafia
Lanakila Hou (new winner): Alaina Abbott, Tommy Vidinha, Jan Masukawa
