Ka`u News Briefs, Saturday, May 13, 201

Miss Ka`u Coffee 2017 Court, the pageant held Saturday evening at Ka`u Coffee Mill. Photo by Pam Taylor

JAMI BECK IS MISS KA`U COFFEE 2017. The 18-year old University of Hawai`i - Hilo student who lives in Wai`ohinu swept all categories at the Miss Ka`u Coffee Pageant held Saturday night at The Drying Room at Ka`u Coffee Mill. Beck earned titles of Miss Popularity, Photogenic and Congeniality and won the Swimsuit, Evening Gown, Career Outfit and Interview trophies.

Jami Beck is Miss Ka`u Coffee 2017, a graduate of Ka`u High and student at University of Hawai`i- Hilo planning a career with the National Park Service. Photo by Pam Taylor

     Beck is the daughter of James Beck and Ka`u High & Elementary School Principal Sharon Beck. She grew up in Ka`u and graduated from Ka`u High School. She is seeking a Bachelor's Degree in Administration of Justice and works for Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.
     Her win marks the second time in two years that a Hawa`i Volcanoes National Park student ranger wins the Miss Ka`u Coffee title. Last year's winner was Michelle Koi.
     Beck seeks a career with the National Park Service in Interpretation, or Law Enforcement.
     As Miss Ka`u Coffee 2017, Beck earned a $1500 scholarship from the Edmund C. Olson Trust and $500 scholarship from CU Hawai`i Federal Credit Union, presented by Cheryl Marzo.
    Beck also received awards for her titles from Ka`u Coffee Growers Cooperative, Sen. Russell Ruderman, Sen. Josh Green, Rep. Richard Creagan, and County Council member Maile David.
     Beck's community sponsors include Kumu Hula Debbie Ryder, Terrie Louis, Jackie Flaherty and Greg Flaherty.
      Her Miss Ka`u Coffee trophy was sponsored and presented by Ka`u Coffee Festival organizer Chris Manfredi and his company Ka`u Local Products. Ka`u Coffee farmers sponsored her many tropies with the Interview Trophy by Milton and Verna Dacalio, Career Outfit Trophy by Wayne and Danarie Dacalio, Talent Trophy by Melchor and Fely Fernandez, Evening Gown Trophy by Rose and Ren Tamayo, Swimsuit Trophy by Jim and Josie Oakes, Congeniality Trophy by Marlon and Aurora Biason, Photogenic Trophy by Don and Ipo Dacalio and Popularity Trophy by Lee and Nicole Segawa.
       Beck won the Swimsuit competition and tied for Talent in the 2016 Miss Ka`u Coffee competition. She represented Ka`u in the recent Miss Teen Hawai`i competition. She enjoys modeling and acting and will represent the Ka`u Coffee industry at numerous events over the next year.
     Miss Ka`u Coffee First Princess is Alysha Gufstafson-Savellawon who won a $950 scholarship from Ka`u Mahi and a trophy from William and Grace Tabios. Second Princess is Shaenese Tailon who won a $675 scholarship from Ka`u Valley Farm and a trophy from Francis and Trinidad Marques.

The Drying Room at Ka`u Coffee Mill hosted the Miss Ka`u Coffee Pageant Saturday. Photo by Julia Neal

CALAYSA KOI IS JUNIOR MISS KA`U COFFEE. The seventh grader at Ka`u Middle School in Pahala is daughter of Punalu`u Bake Shop manager Connie Koi and recently retired Hawai`i Police Department officer Cory Koi. Her trophy was sponsored by Miles and Shasta Mayne.

Junior Miss Ka'u Coffee Court for 2017. Photo by Julia Neal

      Koi received a $700 scholarship from Pacific Quest. She won Talent, performing the difficult song David Guetta's Titanium made famous by both the Australian recording artist Sia and also Madilyn Bailey. Her Talent Trophy was sponsored by John and Ruby Javar. Koi also won other titles including the Evening Gown competition with trophy sponsored by Ann Fontes. She also won Career Outfit with trophy sponsored by Berta and Jose Miranda and the Interview trophy sponsored by Alex and Francisca Calumpit.
     Her community sponsors included Ali`i Hawaiian Hula Hands Coffee, Punalu`u Bake Shop, Southside Shaka's Restaurant, Cody Faber, Erika Polido, Kai Hauanio, Karlee Hauanio, Tiana Hanashiro and many members of the Koi and Marques families.
     Junior Miss Princesses are Cristina Kawekhiwehi and Jaycee Umemoto who won scholarships from Ka`u Local Products, Punalu`u Bake Shop and Ka`u Valley Farm.
    Additional trophies were sponsored by Sixto Asuncion,  Manuel and Deborah Marques, and Ruby and Amy Javar.

JAZMYNN NAVARRO IS MISS KA`U COFFEE PEABERRY. She swept all but one Junior Miss title. She is the daughter of Johnathan and Jennifer Navarro, of Pahala and attends Pahala Elementary School. She won a $300 scholarship from Punalu`u Bake Shop and a crown sponsored by Bong and Gloria Aquino.

Miss Ka`u Coffee Peaberry court for 2017. Photo by Julia Neal

   She won the Miss Popularity contest, with the most community sponsors of the entire pageant. She took the Miss Photogenic trophy provided by Rick and Mimie Sambajon, Talent trophy sponsored by Joseph and Mariel Castaneda, Congeniality trophy sponsored by Lee and Nicole Segawa, and Character Outfit trophy sponsored by Pablo and Marina Mauricio.
     First Miss Ka`u coffee Peaberry is Gwendolyn McElroy, daughter of Mariss Calcano and Adam Peters, of Ocean View. She is a student of Ka`u Learning Academy and won the Evening Gown trophy sponsored by Roberto and Maria Miranda. For her title she won a $250 scholarship from Ka`u Valley Farm and trophy sponsored by Kurt and Anne Hall.
    Second Princess is Adryana Lorenzo who received a $125 scholarship from Sen. Russell Ruderman and a trophy from Delvin and Shawnette Navarro. Third Princess is Melo Keohuloa who received a $100 scholarship from Rep. Richard Creagan and a trophy from Leonardo and Jackie Castaneda.  Fourth Princess is Ava Estabilio Lazar who received a $75 scholarship from Ka`u Mahi and Ka`u Valley Farm with a trophy from Jeffrey and Donna Gascon.

Miss Ka`u Coffee Flower Court. Photo by Julia Neal

MISS KA`U COFFEE FLOWER IS EVALYNN ORNELAS, the four year old daughter of Caitlan and Mario Ornelas of Ocean View. Her community sponsors are Aunti Donna, Julie Enriques, Michelle Beck, Kuulei Ka`awa, Jamie Pasion, Getty Clark, Ms. Tori and Jana Kaniho. She received a $200 scholarship from Ka`u Local Products and a trophy from Lorie Obra.
     She won Miss Photogenic and Character Outfit and tied for evening gown with Liliana Marques.
    First Princess is Liliana Marques who received a $150 scholarship from Maile David and Sen. Russell Ruderman and a trophy from Mely Biason.
     Second Princess is Mia Lazar who won a $100 scholarship from Rep. Richard Creagan and a trophy from Edwin and Andrea Jara.
    Trophies were also provided by Franklin and Annabel Orcino, John and Kathy Cross, Jack and Brenda Moses, Marcus and Felma Domingo.

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HAUNANI'S ALOHA EXPRESSIONS entertain Wednesday, May 17 at 6:30 p.m. at Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium. Enjoy an evening of music and hula of Haunani’s Aloha Expressions. With their handmade colorful costumes and lei, these energetic kūpuna have competed at, and won, various hula festivals. They bring to life the magic of old Hawai‘i. Part of Hawai‘i Volcanoes’ ongoing Nā Leo ManuHeavenly Voices presentations. Free.