LIHU‘E — Veronica Pablo was crowned the 2010 Miss Kaua‘i and Ha‘aheo Oliver was crowned the 2010 Miss Garden Isle, Saturday night at the Kaua‘i Community College Performing Arts Center. The two girls topped a field of eight contestants before
LIHU‘E — Veronica Pablo was crowned the 2010 Miss Kaua‘i and Ha‘aheo Oliver was crowned the 2010 Miss Garden Isle, Saturday night at the Kaua‘i Community College Performing Arts Center.
The two girls topped a field of eight contestants before a standing-room only audience at the KCC facility, and become eligible to compete in the 2010 Miss Hawai‘i pageant in June on O‘ahu.
This brings the total number of Kaua‘i entries into the Miss Hawai‘i pageant at three, Pablo and Oliver joining Nicole Kaui, the winner of the inaugural Miss Mokihana pageant held in October at the Waimea Theater.
En route to her crown, Oliver captured specialty awards in talent and the swimsuit phase of the competition.
Talia Anela Medina was named the winner of the spirit award and Chauncie Garcia earned the congeniality award, voted on by the contestants.
Kendrah Gallardo, a teacher at the Kapa‘a Middle School, was named the pageant’s first runner up with Medina announced as the second runner up.
As part of the winning cache, both Oliver and Pablo earn $7,000 in tuition waivers at the Hawai‘i Pacific University for four years. The runners up earn $3,500 in tuition waivers to HPU for four years. The winners also received a variety of other prizes contributed by sponsors and community organizations.
J Robertson, the emcee for the event, said in total, the scholarships are worth $84,000 benefiting four girls, making this one of the larger scholarship programs on island.
He noted that special guest for the evening was Raeceen Woolford, the reigning Miss Hawai‘i who finished in the Top 10 of the 2010 Miss America pageant.
Kaua‘i Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. wowed the audience, singing a mele while his mother, the 1960 Miss Kaua‘i, performed a hula.
This year’s field of contestants included Pablo, Oliver, Garcia, Gallardo, Kierstan Beltrame, Liane Ancajas and Pua Uyehara.
