Next for Kellie Peterson is Miss Hawai’i pageant PUHI – Kellie Peterson, who adopted a platform of reef conservation, became the 10th Miss Garden Isle before an appreciative audience Saturday that included her grandfather in a front-row seat in the
Next for Kellie Peterson is Miss Hawai’i pageant
PUHI – Kellie Peterson, who adopted a platform of reef conservation, became the 10th Miss Garden Isle before an appreciative audience Saturday that included her grandfather in a front-row seat in the Kaua`i Community College Performing Arts Center.
Michelle Rundbaken, a Kaua`i Community College student, was named first runnerup, with Tiffany Angelei Ke Momi O Kekai Salazar, a senior at Kapa`a High School, crowned the second runnerup in the scholarship pageant.
Peterson’s activism for reef conservation was carried through her talent vocal presentation as she made her appearance in an outfit depicting a mermaid bathed in lights of red and blue en route to becoming Kauai’s representative at the Miss Hawai’i pageant.
Rundbaken, a graduate of Kaua`i High School, captured the top talent slot by overcoming technical difficulties with a jazz dance routine showcasing two different styles of dance. The daughter of Allen Rundbaken and Nancy Beckel put her platform of art in education into action with her dynamic dance, opening the curtain with a solitary glass-encased candle that traced her movements against a darkened stage.
Rundbaken hopes to continue her pursuit of higher education beyond the Puhi campus where she eventually hopes “to develop educational programs utilizing the arts to facilitate the learning process in elementary school aged children.”
This dream was aided by a prize cache that included an 80 per cent tuition at the Hawai`i Pacific University.
Salazar, who credits her hula with teaching her about life, garnered a $200 cash scholarship among her trove of prizes. Her talent presentation included a hula about Kalihiwai. Salazar also earned The Spirit of Miss Garden Isle special award.
Charity Maka`i Drumeller took the top swimsuit and most photogenic awards, with Anahola’s Jeni Kamaohelani Kaohelaulii announced as the most congenial of the field of five contestants that vied for the honor of representing Kaua`i at the upcoming Miss Hawai`i pageant in June.
Peterson, the daughter of William and Sea Peterson, will be shouldering that responsibility as Miss Garden Isle 2001 as she received the crown from outgoing Miss Garden Isle Pamela Lavilla. Peterson also picked up a bundle of prizes as the new queen, including a full scholarship to Hawai`i Pacific University.
J Robertson served as the evening’s host, weaving the audience through snippets of each candidate’s resume and introducing the panel of judges that included Earline Diego, Tuck Gudger, Gloria Burton, Grace Basque, and Aaron Todd Miller, who was visiting Hawai`i from New York for the first time.
The Miss Garden Isle Scholarship Program is headed by executive director Rose K. Dahle. Other members include Benjamin Nakaahiki, Jr., Kawehi Mahi, Lani Sibayan, Sherri Sanchez-Holcomb, Tammy Miyazaki, Emery Remata and Damien Omakanim.
Mandy Ululani Thronas-Brown, the first Miss Garden Isle crowned in 1991, took the stage with Holcomb, Miss Garden Isle 1995, to present a powerful duet rendering of “Reflections” symbolizing the evening’s theme as well as celebrating the event’s tenth anniversary.
Billyne Takaki, the reigning Miss Hawai`i 2000, also graced the audience with a special presentation.
Prior Miss Garden Isles include Jodi Hanako Kono (1993), Aimee Elizabeth Butler (1994), Holcomb (1995), Alicia Malia Michioka (1996), Malia Olivas (1997), Sabrian Olena Rubin (1998), Tracy Pickels (1999) and Lavilla (2000).
Staff photographer Dennis Fujimoto can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or mailto:dfujimoto@pulitzer.net
