LIHU‘E — A kindergarten student from Island School won the Youngest Lei Maker Award Saturday. Keiki lei entries have been at the forefront of the Kaua‘i Museum annual May Day Lei Contest for the past several years, and this year,
LIHU‘E — A kindergarten student from Island School won the Youngest Lei Maker Award Saturday.
Keiki lei entries have been at the forefront of the Kaua‘i Museum annual May Day Lei Contest for the past several years, and this year, there were sufficient entries to enable seven prize awards.
Mia Javellana, a kindergarten student at Island School, earned the Youngest Lei Maker Award, her brother, Ka‘ohu Ranis, a fifth-grade student at Island School, getting the top honor, Tamanaha Award for his entry made from kikania, hala and hau.
“All of the keiki lei had to be created at the museum,” said Melissa Paterson, the public relations manager at the Kaua‘i Museum. “Ka‘ohu and his sister were working in front of the judges, along with the other keiki participants.”
Ranis was not shy about talking about the ingredients going into his creation, impressing the line of admirers in the museum’s newly-renovated courtyard.
Alyssa Taguiam topped the K-2 division with Kahana Heen, a fourth grade student, topping the grade 3 to 5 division.
Fourth-grade students Heleo Yokotake and Hanohano Kuhaulua filled in the second the third places.
Amber Lopes topped the grades 9 through 12 division.
Linda Pitman’s creations caught the eye of resort judges as she captured four of the special awards: the Marriott Courtyard, the Kaua‘i Beach Resort, the Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i and the Aloha Beach Resort. She also topped the Green/White category.
Jodi Gardner was another big winner, capturing the Kaua‘i Aloha Festivals Royal Court Award, the Kaua‘i Beach Resort-Manager’s Choice Award and the Anne Punohu award in addition to getting third place in the Plumeria category, third place in the white/green category and top honors in the Blue/Purple category.
Pat Finberg rounded out the resort awards, capturing the St. Regis award.
Kirby Guyer captured the Distinguished President Award, adding to her winnings with a second place in the orange/yellow category.
Emma Chidgey was awarded the Prestigious Board of Trustee Award and the Ginger Alexander Award, adding to her collection with a second place in the mixed category.
Lola Mae Bukoski was named to the 53rd annual Kaua‘i Museum Award, adding a first place in the orange/yellow category.
Misha Anuhea Taylor captured the Director’s Choice Award.
Madeline Guyett was the recipient of the County of Kaua‘i Mayor’s Award bowl, adding a first place in the mixed category and a second place in the Blue/Purple category to her winnings.
Noelani Pomroy was awarded the Irmalee Pomroy Award and the Kaua‘i Marriott Beach Club Award, adding a third place in the orange/yellow category and second place in the pink/red category.
Carlina Vea captured the Walter Pomroy Award and the Family Flower Farms Award.
Happy Tamanaha, providing the Keiki division top award, was recipient of the Anna Sloggett Award and the Kaua‘i Mokihana Festivals Malie Award, adding a second place in the white/green category and a third place in the pink/red category.
Tammy Nishimoto was the recipient of the Lyle & Grace Guslander Award, and Sondra Lund was the recipient of the Jack & Edith Plews Award.
“This is the first time I’ve won at the Kaua‘i Museum lei competition,” an ecstatic Lund said. “I’ve entered the contest for four years and this is the very first time I’ve won anything.”
Elvrine Chow of Heavenly Hakus at the Kaua‘i Community Market at the Kaua‘i Community College cut her marketing short to collect second place in the Hat category and third place in the blue/purple category.
Angela Olivas, a perennial lei maker, walked off with third place in the Hat category and first place in the pink/red category.
Taylor Savage and Mikaila Naholoholo topped the first two spots of the Plumeria category, the third spot being filled by Gardner.
Georgia Fernandez filled in the third spot of the Mixed category, the top two spots being awarded to Guyett and Chidgey, respectively.
Betty Ihara, creating ti leaf lei for football coaches in Florida, topped the first two spots in the Ti Leaf category, the third spot going to Eric Pitman.
During the day-long exhibit, a constant flow of spectators bid on the various lei.
Spectators, topping the 400-mark just after the noon hour, could also purchase lei being made by various lei makers while enjoying the live entertainment.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
The name of Christian Ka‘ohu Ranis was misspelled in an earlier version.
