LIHU‘E — Linda Pitman earned four awards from the Sponsored Awards category and a first place in the category competition to top Kaua‘i Museum’s May Day Lei Contest Saturday.
The contest is one of the biggest and longest-running lei contests on the island, attracting lei makers from all parts of Kaua‘i.
New for this year was the return of the keiki division, which also ended with a sponsored award when Elvrine Chow received approval from a sponsor to present the youngest lei maker award, earned by Mia Noelani Pomroy, who was so shy her brother C. Ka‘ohu Ranis accepted the lei while she clung to her mother like an ‘opihi.
Mia Pomroy finished first in the age group for children lei as well as getting the special award from Chow.
Ranis topped the older age group for children with a hala lei, followed by Maya Henry and Layla Gray rounding out the leaders.
Following Pomroy in the younger age group, Emily Melchor and Kyra Pi‘ikea Sahut rounded out the leaders.
The Pomroy ‘ohana’s winnings were not limited to keiki lei-making as Noelani Pomroy earned top honors in the blue/purple, white/green and the pink/red categories and a second place in the orange/yellow category. The Pomroys also provided the Irmalee Pomroy and Walter Pomroy awards in the sponsored category.
Chow, who presented the youngest lei maker award, was herself a winner, earning three of the sponsored awards and a second place in the ti leaf category, using the surplus from that lei at the Kaua‘i Community Market at Kaua‘i Community College.
Chow earned the County of Kaua‘i Office of the Mayor award, the Rev. Malcolm Miner award and the Ann Punohu award for her creations.
Pitman’s favorite lei ended up winning the Kaua‘i Mokihana Mali‘e Foundation award “Most Hawaiian,” as well as the St. Regis Princeville Resort award, the director’s choice award and the Kaua‘i Aloha Festival award.
Madeline Kinikohu Guyett earned the Kaua‘i Museum’s 51st anniversary award and the distinguished president’s award. Lola Bukoski earned the prestigious board of trustees’ Award and the Grace & Lyle Guslander award for “Aloha Spirit.” Ida Mickle earned the Jack and Edith Plews Pililani award, Kawaiula Kobayashi was presented the Paul Douglass award, Nicolette Sahut earned the Walter Pomroy “Ka lei I ka Wekiu” award, Emma Chidgey earned the Family Flower farms award, Manny Rapozo earned the Aloha Beach Resort award.
Mary Lou Harchis was presented the Kaua‘i Marriott Resort and Beach Club “Lei that best Portrays Kaua‘i” award and the James Anderson award.
Angela Olivas earned the Vince Itoga award and the Kaua‘i Beach Resort “Outstanding Lei Maker” award, adding a second place in white/green to her winnings.
Carlina Vea earned the Waimea Plantation Cottages award as well as placing second in the blue/purple and second in the hat lei categories.
Vivian Tamanaha was presented the Irmalee Pomroy award and the Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i Resort and Spa award as well as being tops in the hat category.
Georgia Fernandes finished third in the orange/yellow category, which was topped by Pitman, followed by Noelani Pomroy. She also finished second and third in the mixed colors.
Happy Tamanaha, responsible for the incentive for keiki lei makers, finished third in the blue/purple category which was topped by Noelani Pomroy and Vea.
Kirby Guyer finished below Noelani Pomroy in the pink/red category, followed by Jodi Gardner.
Gardner ended the day getting a second in the plumeria, a first in the ti leaf and a third in the hat categories.
Judy Pattee finished with a third in the white/green category, and Pat Fingerg topped the mixed colors category.
Kawai Kahalekomo topped the plumeria category, followed by Gardner tying with Marina Pascua for second and Katrina Sahut rounding out the leaders.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
