Ka‘ū News Brief Sunday, April 22, 2018

     Recent green fees at Punaluʻu were $46.50 on weekdays and $49.50 on weekends.

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FIRES LIT UP BEACH TRASH FRIDAY at Kamilo. Hawai‘i Fire Department reported "intention fire of flotsam on the beach." The report said, "Upon arrival, two fires of ocean flotsam were found burning. Fire #1 was 3 X10 feet and fire #2 was 15 by 20 feet. Both fires were on the beach below mean high tide line."
     The trash included ropes, nets, and other ocean debris. A helicopter crew extinguished the fire using a Bambi Bucket and ocean water. High tide helped out as it enveloped the fire's location.
     Multiple calls of black smoke rising came from Kamilo beachgoers, with the first call coming in at 12:46 p.m. on Friday. The fire was out by 2:10 p.m., with one fire engine, one tanker, one medic unit, and the helicopter responding. Eight county crew and two volunteer fire fighters responded to the fire call, according to the Hawai‘i Fire Department report. There were no reported injuries.
     Kamilo is one of the Kaʻū Coast sites where Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund sponsors volunteer cleanup days to haul away the ropes, nets, and plastics that wash in from the ocean.

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Reishalyn Kekoa Jara, Miss Kaʻū Coffee 2018, received her crown Saturday night, along with a scholarship from major founder Edmund C. Olson, who will also sponsor her appearances on behalf of the Kaʻū Coffee industry during her reign. Photo by Julia Neal

REISHALYN KEKOA JARA IS MISS KAʻŪ COFFEE 2018, crowned Saturday evening by 2017 Miss Kaʻū Coffee Jami Beck, in the pageant directed by Trini Marques. The new queen is a 16-year old Kaʻū High School Junior who loves sports and family. She won with Tahitian dance in Talent, and also took first in Gown and Photogenic categories. She is the daughter of Regulo Jara and Brenda Kekoa, of Nāʻālehu, and sister
to Jadelyn, Chaycen, Blaycen, Kamalyn, Jacelyn, and Regulo.

First Miss Kaʻū Coffee Helena Nihiplai-Sesson and her fisherman dad Guy Sesson.  The 16-year old Kaʻū High student sang and played ʻukulele. Photo by Julia Neal

     First Miss Kaʻū Coffee Princess is Helena K. Nihipali-Sesson, who loves singing, playing ʻukulele, and dancing hula. She took first in Career-Interview, second in Talent and Photogenic, and third in Swimsuit and Gown. She is daughter of Guy Sesson and Sherraine Nihipali-Sesson, of Pāhala. Her adopted parents are Bradford and Jadelyn Moses, of Pāhala. She is sister to Asia, Ocean, and Rain.
     Second Miss Kaʻū Coffee Princess is Karlee Kaliya Kealaikamaile Fukunaga-Camba. She is 16 and loves dancing. She took second in Swimsuit, and third in Career-Interview and Gown. Her parents are Keala and Justine Camba, of Pāhala. She is sister to Tyren Fukunaga-Camba.

Second Miss Kaʻū Coffee Princess  is Karlee Fukunaga-Camba. Photo by Julia Neal

     Third Miss Kaʻū Coffee Princess is Sheri Lynn Freitas. She is 18 and a student at University of Hawaiʻi-Hilo and excels in sports and business. She took third in Talent and Photogenic. She is daughter of Rodney and Marlene Freitas, of Pahala. She is sister to Jessica, Michaela, Shaelia, and Ikaika. She is a graduate of Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary School.
     Miss Kaʻū Coffee will represent the Kaʻū Coffee industry throughout the year at events in the community and beyond, her appearances sponsored by the Edmund C. Olson Trust, II. The Miss Kaʻū Coffee Court will meet the public this Friday at Pāhala Plantation House at 6 p.m. for the kickoff open house for the tenth annual Kaʻū Coffee Festival. See all the events at kaucoffeefestival.com.

CRISTINA NICOLE AKIKO LOKELANI KAWEWEHI IS JR. MISS KAʻŪ COFFEE. She  is 12 years of age took first in Career-Interview, Evening Gown, and Photogenic. She is the daughter of Angelica Kawewehi and Bill Lorenzo, of Pahala. She is sister to Kapono, Mia, Keana, and Zachary Kuluwaimaka. She attends Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elemrntary School.

Jr. Miss Kaʻū Coffee Cristina Kawewehi and Miss Peaberry Jacelyn Jara. Photo by Pam Taylor

     First Jr. Miss Kaʻū Coffee Princess is Jacie Umemoto. The 12-year old is daughter of Michael and Valerie Pakale, of Pāhala, She is sister to Moki. She attends Volcano School of Arts & Sciences.

JACELYN KALEIPUA KEKOA JARA IS MISS KAʻŪ COFFEE PEABERRY. The ten-year old is daughter of Brenda Kekoa and Regulo Jara, of Nāʻālehu, and granddaughter of William "Brada" Kekoa and Lani Kekoa of Kamaoa, Kaʻū . She is sister to Jadelyn, Blaycen, Reishalyn, Kamalyn, Chaycen, and Regulo. She attends Nāʻālehu Elementary School.
       First Miss Kaʻū Coffee Peaberry Princess is Tenielle Jade Ducosin Blanco. The eight-year old is the daughter of Ted and Donielle Blanco, of Nāʻālehu. She is sister to Triton and Teagan-Elis.

Kysha Kaupu-Manini took first in the Flower Gown category. Photo by Julia Neal

TELIA ALIYANA KULIAIKAUʻI ESPEJO-NAVARRO IS MISS KAʻŪ COFFEE FLOWER. She is daughter of Elias and Alyssa Navarro, of Nāʻālehu. She is sister to Tehani-Mae, Kilinahe, Kanaʻi, and Koaliʻi. The six year old attends kindergarten at Nāʻālehu Elementary School.
     First Flower is Kysha Kainanimaueonalani Kaupu-Manini.  She is daughter of Sasha Kaupu and Kai Manini, of Pāhala. The three year old attends Nāʻālehu Elementary School.
     Second Flower is Lilianna Marques. She is daughter of Shawn Marques and Kuulei Marques. She is sister to John Michael and attends kindergarten at Pāhala Elementary School.
     Major scholarship funders for this year's pageant were Edmund C. Olson, Kaʻū Mahi, Kaʻū Valley Farms, CU Hawaiʻi Federal Credit Union, Punaluʻu Bake Shop, Pacific Quest, Kaʻū Local Products, Sen. Russell Ruderman, Sen. Josh Green, Rep. Richard Creagan, and County Council member Maile David.
     Olson Trust also funds appearances by Miss Kaʻū Coffee throughout the year.