Kualapu‘u School Ohana Fun Fair

Photo by Léo Azambuja

At least 300 people attended the fourth annual Kualapu‘u School Ohana Fun Fair, a fundraising event for the school and also an opportunity to bring families together through fun, food, children’s activities and a beauty pageant contest that only had winners.

“The Ohana Fun Fair primarily is to bring our families to the school for a fun event and a fun Saturday,” Kualapu‘u School Principal Lydia Trinidad said. “It’s also partly a fundraiser for the school and the community.”

The Ohana Fun Fair kicked off at 8 a.m. Several food and beverage vendors kept the crowd well fed. Pony rides, a bouncing castle and an inflatable water slide kept the children occupied. Many other vendors selling clothes, accessories, airbrush tattoos, toys and even plants added to the event.

But most of the attention was on the catwalk, where boys and girls let go their inhibitions and put on an engaging display of skills and personality for their friends and families. Not even the brief morning showers put a damper on the crowd’s mood, always cheering for the little ones every time they walked down the red, white and blue catwalk.

This year’s event celebrated patriotism, with much of the decoration being about the United States flag. Still, when Little Miss contestant Kuaolama Ikekuahiwi Chin was asked what makes her proud to be an American, she didn’t think twice about her answer.

“Actually, I’m proud to be a Hawaiian. He Hawai‘i au mau a mau (I’m Hawaiian forever and ever),” the seven-year-old said following her catwalk stroll.

Kuaolama didn’t go home with the Little Miss title, but she did win “Best American Wear” for wearing a red, white and blue kihei. Ironically, her mother, Kanoelani Davis, said the choice of colors was not what people thought, it was symbolism. The red was for the ‘aina, the blue for the reflection of the vast sky and deep ocean, and the white for the purity of the Hawaiian people.

Little Miss winner Kawana‘ao Borden-Phillips also represented her culture. She said she was proud to be an American, but added she was proud to be Hawaiian too.

The girls also competed for Tiny Miss and Miss Comet, while the boys competed for Master Comet. Regardless of what title they won, every contestant went home with their hands full of toys and prizes.

One of the questions for the little contestants was about their professional aspirations. If they stick to their dreams while growing up, Molokai will have some bona-fide born-and-bred professionals, including a couple teachers, a pediatrician, a wrestler, a mechanic, a fashion designer, a flight attendant, a soccer player and others.

Here are the results:

Tiny Miss:

Harmony Kahoiwai – Queen, Best School Spirit

Aleximae Puaa-Gonzales – Best Someday

Jasie-Lyn Kan-Hai – Best American Wear

Little Miss:

Kawana‘ao Borden-Philips – Queen, Best Someday, Best School Spirit

Kuaolama Ikekuahiwi Chin – Best America Wear

Naizaree Lima – Participant

Kuuhani Kanuha – Participant

Miss Comet:

Masina Borden-Philips – Queen, Best Someday, Best School Spirit

Laiku Sanchez – Best American Wear

Zireahlyn Kuahuia – Participant

Mister Comet:

Kaizen Torres-Umi Napoleon – Master Comet, Best Someday, Best School Spirit

John Ikua Hanchett – Best American Wear

Kimo Kuahuia – Participant

Jairus Torres-Umi – Participant