LIHU‘E — Noelani Pomroy, one of the coordinators of the Kaua‘i Museum Walter and Irmalee Pomroy Lei Competition, said Jennifer Pomroy didn’t even get sleep on May 1 when the field of lei submissions were put on display for bidding at Royal Sonesta Kaua‘i Resort Puna Ballroom.
“She had to take care of her keiki who were preparing lei for Island School’s first lei competition,” Noelani said. “By the time she was finished with that, it was past nine o’clock before she could start on her lei for the Kaua‘i Museum judging. She hasn’t gone to bed, yet.”
The effort was justified as Jennifer’s lei was judged the Kaua‘i Museum Award winner from the field of more than 50 lei submissions. The rewards continued as former mayor Maryanne Kusaka had the winning bid for Jennifer’s lei, and the proud lei maker had the honor of installing the exotic hala and lehua lei on Kusaka.
Tammy Nishimoto finished with three awards for her lei — the Hobey Goodale Award, the Papale Award and the King Family Award. The awards are for multiple submissions, not a single lei sharing three awards.
A steady stream of people flowed through the Puna Ballroom to admire and inspect all of the lei submitted to the competition that remembers the great lei makers Walter and Irmalee Pomroy.
The tribute overflowed to include Happy Tamanaha, who started the keiki lei competition that was held on a different day from the adult division, and longtime lei competition participant Kawa‘iki Olores.
The Kaua‘i Museum supplemented the lei bidding by having select items from the gift shop available for purchase, including a special Kaua‘i Museum shirt.
For people compelled to try their hand at lei making, the Kaua‘i Association of Family and Community Education hosted a separate ballroom for people who opted to sew their own lei.
Distinguished Awards
• Director’s Choice: Mia Javellana
• Kaua‘i Museum: Jennifer Pomroy
• Distinguished President: Tammy Shinohara
• Hobey Goodale: Tammy Nishimoto
• Irmalee Pomroy: Ivy Michimoto
• Walter Pomroy: Madeline Kinikohu Guyette
• Lehua Mamo Farm: Tommy Vidinha
• Hawaiiana Hapa loa: Tommy Vidinha
• Outstanding Hula Lei: Uli‘i Castor
• Papale Award: Tammy Nishimoto
• Mayor’s Award: Kalei Cadaoas
• King Family Award: Tammy Nishimoto
• Royal Sonesta Kaua‘i Resort: Flo Casticimo
• Timbers Kaua‘i: Elvrine Chow
• Excellence Award: Phoebe L.
• Ali‘i Award: Katrina Cacal
• Perfection Award: Jodi Gardner
• Grand Award: Owana Botelho
