Before a crowd of about 350, Kauai’s newest royalty were crowned at the the Hilton Garden Inn on Aug. 5.
The winners were:
Sarah Manuel, Miss Kauai USA 2018
Ki‘ilani Arruda, Miss Kauai Teen USA 2018
Tamara Akau, Miss Garden Isle USA 2018
Kaytlen Akau, Miss Garden Isle Teen USA 2018
Enroute to their win, Manuel and Arruda both won the evening gown phases in their division while Manuel won the Swimsuit phases and Arruda won the Active Wear Phase.
Manuel also won the Photogenic Award chosen by pageant photographer Brayden Suliven and the Popularity Award for selling the most tickets to the pageant.
Akau received the “Social Media Fan Favorite” Award receiving 869 combined likes on Facebook and Instagram on her official headshot.
Teen contestants included Alexis Cacabelos and Brandie Aguinaldo, who sold the most program book ads winning the Hospitality Award; Dawn Serapio, who won the People’s Choice Award; and Tiffany Sagucio received the Congeniality Award, which was voted by the contestants.
All contestants received a scholarship from Argosy University, while the teen winners received $7,000 and the miss winners received $10,000. Over $50,000 in scholarships were awarded.
Winners will compete in the Miss Hawaii USA and Miss Hawaii Teen USA state pageant on Nov. 18 at the Hawaii Convention Center with hopes of advancing to Miss USA/Miss Universe or Miss Teen USA.
The Miss Universe Organization is the largest pageant organization in the word also having the largest fan base of any pageant in the world making it a perfect place for young women to have their voices heard, while continuing to reach their personal and professional goals.
The Miss Universe Organization empowers women to develop the confidence they need to achieve their personal best. A confident woman has the power to make real change, starting in her local community with the potential to reach a global audience.
Also crowned that night were Kauai’s aspiring princesses — Xaianaleigh Perreira, Kauai’s Mini Miss; Kaizey Castillo, Garden Isle’s Little Miss; and Wailea Malina, Kauai’s Little Miss.
