Daphne Sanchez, a graduate of Kapa‘a High School, captured the Miss Island Mokihana crown Saturday night. En route to the crown, Sanchez, also head of The Jam Room program on Friday nights at Kukui Grove Center, finished with honors in
Daphne Sanchez, a graduate of Kapa‘a High School, captured the Miss Island Mokihana crown Saturday night.
En route to the crown, Sanchez, also head of The Jam Room program on Friday nights at Kukui Grove Center, finished with honors in the Lifestyle and Fitness in Swimsuit and the Talent categories.
She also pocketed the Spirit and Congeniality awards, voted on by the contestants in the second Miss Island Mokihana pageant.
Liane Ancajas picked up the People’s Choice award en route to being named the First Runner-up, and Mary Lindsey was announced as the Second Runner-up.
Kona-Kai Wilson was announced the winner of the Photogenic Award.
With the win, Sanchez becomes one of three representatives from Kaua‘i to the Miss Hawai‘i Scholarship Pageant which will be held June 4 on O‘ahu. The other two representatives will be the winners of the Miss Kaua‘i/Miss Garden Isle pageant.
Sanchez, performing “Reflection” to win the Talent phase, shared in $56,000 in tuition waivers from the Hawai‘i Pacific University and more than $2,500 in prizes, said Avery Kano, executive director of the Miss Island Mokihana pageant.
Kano said Kieran Caberto was appointed to hold the Miss Island Mokihana’s Outstanding Teen 2011 title during the same pageant.
“Kieran will be Kaua‘i’s only official representative to the Miss Hawai‘i’s Outstanding Teen pageant next spring,” Kano said in an e-mail. “This pageant is a preliminary to Miss America’s Outstanding Teen, the little sister program to the Miss America organization.”
With the crowns, Sanchez and Caberto embark on a year promoting their respective personal platforms at various schools and in the community, raising money for the Children’s Miracle Network and representing Kaua‘i at their respective state pageants, Kano said.
The Kaua‘i High School Media Program headed by Leah Aiwohi filmed the pageant, and special guest hostesses included Jalee Fuselier, Miss Hawai‘i 2010, and Jacquie Brown, Miss Washington 2010.
Kano said Fuselier and Brown will be competing for the Miss America 2011 title on Jan. 15 in a televised event on ABC from the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nev.
