LIHU‘E — It started out as another way for Meadow Gold Dairies to give back to the community, something more than just sponsorship of the Kaua‘i County Farm Bureau Fair. In 13 years, it has grown into a huge phenomenon,
LIHU‘E — It started out as another way for Meadow Gold Dairies to give back to the community, something more than just sponsorship of the Kaua‘i County Farm Bureau Fair.
In 13 years, it has grown into a huge phenomenon, one of the must-see events of the annual fair, and origin of thousands of “Oh da cute” moments over those years.
It is the Meadow Gold Healthy Baby Contest, with this year’s event drawing 65 competitors, most of whom had something to show to the judges, making for a humorous, lengthy display emceed by Ron Wiley of KONG Radio Group.
Competitors, many of them in creative and inventive costumes, vied for many prizes in many categories.
A huge crowd gathered for the contest, prompting Wiley to joke that there is security for the judges, who would be whisked away via limousine at the conclusion of the contest.
“We have created the most exciting baby contest of all the islands,” said KONG’s Andy Melamed, contest creator. His words, he said, come from the Meadow Gold management, not himself.
According to Meadow Gold officials, the Kaua‘i healthy baby contest is “the most entertaining, diverse and action-packed,” Melamed said in an e-mail.
Melamed created the contest for Meadow Gold 13 years ago, he said.
At the end of the long afternoon, Colten Kai-Reggie Nagahisa emerged as the 2009 Meadow Gold Healthy Baby. He is the son of Veronica and Jason Nagahisa.
In the Best Overall Appearance category, the title of Sweet Miss Babycakes went to Rylee Kamalei Fabiana, daughter of Jonna and Shea Fabiana, and Mr. Super Dude is Makoa Malama Gomes, son of Sunshine Cummings and Ansen Malama Gomes.
The Best Personality awards went to Miss Smiley Smile Nikki-Marie Ortega, daughter of Nicole and Mark Ortega, and Cool Kane Akoni Villatora, son of Maile and Dustin Villatora.
The Best Costume awards went to Keen Wahine Darbie Eguchi, daughter of Marian and Nelson Eguchi, and Groovy Guy Lukas Ayau, son of Sheena Lyn Cabanilla and Mahina Ayau.
The contest results were provided by KONG Radio Group.
