Kauai was well represented at the 2019 Miss Hawaii USA &Miss Hawaii Teen USA state pageants held recently at the Hawaii Convention Center.
Ki‘ilani Arruda, Miss Kauai Teen USA, and Kaytlen Akau, Miss Garden Isle Teen USA, competed for the title of Miss Hawaii Teen USA with 11 other teens.
After competing in the interview phase the day before, they competed in the active wear and evening gown phases which landed both of them spots in the top eight. After their top eight questions, Arruda advanced to the coveted top five and awarded second runner-up. She also won the Hospitality Award for selling the most program book ads and was voted Miss Congeniality by her fellow contestants.
Arruda is a junior at Island School and Akau is a senior at Kauai High School.
The daughter of Natualani Arruda and Kaipo Kealalio said it was an amazing time with family and friends there to cheer her on.
The time spent with other contestants – paddle boarding, girls night out, and preparing for the competition, boosted her confidence and made her a better person, Arruda added.
The most nerve-wracking part was the interview portion. For about four minutes, a panel questioned her about herself and her goals.
“It was a great experience,” she said. “I met so many people who were all so nice.”
She would love to return to the event next year.
“And hopefully take the crown home,” Arruda said.
Later that evening, Sarah Manuel, Miss Kauai USA and Tamara Akau, Miss Garden Isle USA, took the Miss Hawaii USA stage competing in the swimsuit and evening gown phases. They completed the interview phase the day before.
Out of a field of 25 contestants, Manuel was called as a top 10 finalist but did not advance into the top five.
Manuel is a project coordinator for Nathan Wood General Contractor and Akau is a communication aide for various schools on Kauai.
Manuel said it was hectic at times, with all the practices, last-minute preparations and she only got her evening gown the night before.
“It was a little crazy,” she said.
Still, she enjoyed the interview phase, when “they basically want to get to know you.”
“You get to show your personality and your true self,” she said. “I know who I am.”
Manuel, 26, felt comfortable in the swimsuit phase and believed she did well in the evening gown phase.
“My favorite dress that I ever got in my life,” she said.
“I felt I did the best that I’ve ever done,” she said.
“Even though I didn’t walk away with the crown, I walked away knowing I was so much better than the last time,” she added.
Pageants are mentally and physically challenging, and Manuel said she was prepared for both. To shine requires stepping out of your comfort zone and pushing toward new goals.
So she did.
“It’s about self growth,” she said. “They say it’s about the journey, and it truly is.”
What’s next for her?
She laughed. “Concentrating on all the food that I can eat,” Manuel said.
She plans to continue her education and may, if the timing is right, try another pageant or two.
“You learn a lot about yourself from this,” she said. “It’s when preparation meets success. When you work hard preparing, the results are going to show.”
The Miss Hawaii USA Organization is headed by Executive Director Alicia Michioka, a Kauai native, who held the title of Miss Hawaii USA 2003.
