HONOLULU — Miss Paradise Kauai Sarah Manuel was announced the first runner-up at the Miss Hawaii 2015 pageant Saturday night at the Hawaii Convention Center on Oahu. Jeanne Kapela, representing Miss Kakaako, was crowned Miss Hawaii 2015 by outgoing Stephanie
HONOLULU — Miss Paradise Kauai Sarah Manuel was announced the first runner-up at the Miss Hawaii 2015 pageant Saturday night at the Hawaii Convention Center on Oahu.
Jeanne Kapela, representing Miss Kakaako, was crowned Miss Hawaii 2015 by outgoing Stephanie Steuri, a former Miss Paradise Kauai who earned the Miss Hawaii title last year.
“I ran against Jeanne last year,” said Topaz Fernandez, a former Miss Hawaii Filipina, and a contestant with Steuri during the 2014 pageant. “She’s very sweet and talented, and it didn’t surprise me that she won.”
Fernandez said Manuel was a contestant in a previous Miss Kauai Filipina scholarship pageant, but was on the Miss Hawaii stage for the first time.
“I’m really proud of how she did,” Fernandez said. “She was the only Kauai girl of four who made the first cut when they cut the field from 29 girls to 14. She also was the last one named when they made the cut to the final seven girls. She has come a long way since the Miss Kauai Filipina pageant, and I’m definitely very proud of her.”
Manuel also received the special Children’s Miracle Network award for her work with the event held in Kapaa to raise funds for the Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children, the Children’s Miracle Network designated Hawaii medical facility.
Miss North Shore Keala Patterson was third runner-up and Miss Kahala Alexandra Roth was fourth runner-up.
