One way, she said, is to “make miracle through music.” Kitaoka plans to hold benefit concerts for the Kapiolani Children’s Miracle Network.
Stephens Media
The second time’s the charm for 17-year-old Kealakehe High School senior Carissa Kitaoka.
She was crowned Miss Oahu on Feb. 5 at the Manoa Grand Ballroom in Honolulu and will vie this summer for the Miss Hawaii title. The winner there will represent the state in the Miss America competition.
Kitaoka first sought to become Miss Hawaii by competing locally in the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival’s annual scholarship pageant. Kitaoka thought she had “a good chance” after serving as the 2010 Miss Kona Coffee’s Outstanding Teen.
Kitaoka started competing in pageants because she wanted an outlet to share her love of music and performing.
“Music is in my blood. I come from family of musicians. My dad plays the drums and my grandma plays piano. My family has all these home movies of me singing, something I have done even before I could talk,” she said. “I started taking piano lessons at the age of 5 and continued to do so on and off throughout the years. Music is a huge part of who I am.”
She is the daughter of Coran and Christy Kitaoka of Kealakekua.
During the Oahu pageant, Kitaoka won the talent award by playing the piano and singing her rendition of Beyonce’s “Stand Up for Love.”
“I’m really excited about representing my island and Oahu. For me, this is not about being a queen of something,” she said. “It’s about having the opportunity to do a year of service in unbelievable ways.”
One way, she said, is to “make miracle through music.” Kitaoka plans to hold benefit concerts for the Kapiolani Children’s Miracle Network.