It has been a whirlwind year for 18-year-old Hilo native Corinne Quinajon, who was named Miss Kona Coffee 2012 a year ago, and will turn over her crown to the new queen tonight at the 42nd annual UCC Hawaii Miss
It has been a whirlwind year for 18-year-old Hilo native Corinne Quinajon, who was named Miss Kona Coffee 2012 a year ago, and will turn over her crown to the new queen tonight at the 42nd annual UCC Hawaii Miss Kona Coffee Scholarship Pageant.
“I want to thank my parents and sister so much for all they have done for me,” said Quinajon. “They are Byron and Deborah Quinajon, and my sister, Natalie, who is 17 and a Hilo High School junior. Without their support, I would not be where I am today.” She credits family, friends and Hilo’s family oriented community for being her support network.
The pageant included lifestyle and swimsuit contests; talent, on-stage question and evening- wear categories in front of front of seven judges and a jam-packed ballroom of 800-plus people. After months and months of training and hard work, Quinajon surprised herself by capturing the Miss Popularity title and sweeping all categories in the competition.
Along with her crown came a promotional tour to Japan for UCC Ueshima Coffee Co.; a spot to compete in the state Miss Hawaii Scholarship Pageant in Honolulu, a preliminary to the national Miss America Pageant; and a newfound position as the face of the Kona coffee industry.
Quinajon attends the University of Hawaii at Hilo as a freshman with the hopes of becoming a registered dietician.
She said her favorite experience this year was her summer trip to Tokyo on behalf of Hawaii and the Kona coffee industry.
“I was unable to perform my piano talent in Japan, so I worked hard to learn hula to share something special with the Japanese. It was an remarkable experience to perform and share my mana‘o, or knowledge, of Hawaii’s culture and the Kona coffee product on huge stages in the midst of such a large and foreign country.”
Quinajon has worked in close collaboration with Cecily Nago from the American Cancer Society to advocate and promote her pageant platform of “Eat a Rainbow.”
She said the nutrition campaign has “grown immensely over the past year” and that she will continue to advocate it to promote healthier lifestyles and combat the childhood obesity epidemic in Hawaii.
Quinajon runs an “Eat a Rainbow Campaign” website and has also created a coloring book and informational pamphlet that is distributed at most events where the American Cancer Society is present. Visit http://www.facebook.com/eat.a.rainbow.
She said competing in, and winning, the Kona contest “really opened opportunities for me that I have never had before.” Quinajon values being able to become a role model for young people and prove to her peers that it’s possible to shoot for your dreams and achieve them.
She said pageants are a great opportunity to earn college scholarships, to bolster personal confidence and to work hard to make a difference in the world.
Miss Kona Coffee 2013, Miss Aloha Hawaii and Outstanding Teen will be crowned Saturday night at the Sheraton Kona Resort & Spa. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the 42nd annual pageant begins at 6:30 p.m. Thirteen young women, ages 17 to 24, are competing this year for many prizes. Topping the list is a $1,000 or $1,500 scholarship, depending on the title.
Miss Kona Coffee and Miss Aloha Hawaii will also become eligible to compete in the Miss Hawaii Scholarship Pageant.
Tickets, costing $30 with a Kona Coffee Cultural Festival button, are available at Gone Again Travel, Kona Coffee & Tea Co., Kimura Lauhala Shop and Wally’s Watch Service. About 100 tickets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis at the door.
