LIHU‘E — The minutes ticked by and the group wondered if there was another entrance to the Lihu‘e Airport gates, Friday. A group of about a dozen neighbors, friends and supporters of Lenore Klass were getting anxious as the Koloa
LIHU‘E — The minutes ticked by and the group wondered if there was another entrance to the Lihu‘e Airport gates, Friday.
A group of about a dozen neighbors, friends and supporters of Lenore Klass were getting anxious as the Koloa couple had yet to arrive.
Klass, accompanied by her husband Bob, was scheduled to depart for Orlando, Fla. where she is one of 100 finalists in the Pillsbury Bake-Off contest, Monday.
“We were tied up because the Oprah Winfrey Show people called and had Lenore occupied with an interview,” Bob said as fans mobbed the homemaker with lei, magazines and snacks for the cross-country flight.
Oprah Winfrey will announce the winner of the 44th Pillsbury Bake-Off contest on her show, Wednesday, Lenore said in an e-mail. This will be the first time in the 60-year history of the contest.
Lenore said an awards program to announce the category and special prize winners will take place in Orlando at 7 p.m. EDT, Monday following the competition.
Immediately following the awards program, the four category winners will fly to Chicago and head to Harpo Studios where the $1 million grand prize winner will be announced live on “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” Wednesday.
“When packing for my trip to the Pillsbury Bake-Off, I was asked to be prepared to fly to Chicago, Monday night after the awards ceremony in the event I am one of the category winners,” Lenore said. “I was also asked to be prepared to fly to New York City, Wednesday night for a media tour with broadcast and print outlets if I am named the Grand Prize winner.”
Lenore was already a winner in the eyes of the neighbors, fans and supporters, many coming from The Mokihana Club where she is a member.
“Our goal was to give her so many lei she wouldn’t be able to see,” said Brenda Sameshima, a neighbor who made special arrangements to come to the airport.
Lenore earned the finalist spot with her Banana-Peanut Butter Cream Tart, a recipe she said she’s done many times since being announced a finalist.
“My son sent me a video of him making the recipe on the Mainland,” Lenore said. “I’ve made it for friends here and it’s really easy. I’m not nervous.”
Lenore is the only contestant from Hawai‘i.
