Ki‘ilani Arruda of Kauai was crowned Miss Hawaii Teen USA Sunday night on Oahu.
Kauai was well represented at the 2020 Miss Hawaii USA &Miss Hawaii Teen USA state pageants held at the Hawaii Convention Center.
Arruda, Miss Kauai Teen USA, competed for the title of Miss Hawaii Teen USA with 11 other teens from around the state. After competing in the interview phase the day before, she competed in the active wear and evening gown phases, which landed her a spot in the top eight.
The senior at Island School next advanced to the coveted top five and was crowned Miss Hawaii Teen USA 2020. She also won the Hospitality Award for selling the most program book ads and won all phases of competition – interview, active wear and evening gown.
Arruda will go on to compete for the title of Miss Teen USA next summer.
Also on Sunday, Sarah Manuel, Miss Kauai USA took the Miss Hawaii USA stage competing in the swimsuit and evening gown phases. She completed the interview phase the day before.
Out of a field of 17 contestants, Manuel was called as top-eight finalist and also advanced to the top 5. She won the Photogenic Award and placed as fourth runner-up.
Manuel is a project coordinator for Nathan Wood General Contractor.
The Miss Hawai‘i USA Organization is head by Kauai native Alicia Michioka, who held the title of Miss Hawaii USA 2003.
She crowned her sister Justine Michioka, Miss Hawaii USA 2004. Sonya Balmores from Kalaheo was Miss Hawaii Teen USA 2004 and placed first runner-up at Miss Teen USA that year. Justine and Sonya were the last young women from Kauai that held the state titles.
For more information on the Miss Kauai USA Organization or to apply for its next pageant, visit www.MissKauai.com or @TeamKauaiUSA on Facebook and Instagram.
