The Cherry Blossom Festival crowned its new queen last weekend.
The 60th Cherry Blossom Festival Ball was held at the Hawaii Theatre on March 31. The 15 queen contestants participated and competed in various events in the past year leading up to Festival Ball.
Erin Morimoto was crowned queen. Six other women were crowned into court: First Princess Edrea Katsunuma; Princesses Nicole Kinney, Cari Tasoe and Tomomi Ida; Miss Congeniality Heather Smith; Miss Popularity Terri Nakakura.
The Queen Contestants were judged by Representative Chris Lee, Keith Kaneshiro, Sharon Tomasa Kudo, Yukio Ozaki, Debbi Eleneki and Major General Darryll Wong. The contestants’ total scores were based on their performances in three categories: 40 percent judges’ interview, 40 percent Festival Ball, 20 percent preliminary activities. The judges selected the queen and court that would best represent the Honolulu Japanese Junior Chamber of Commerce (HJJCC), the community and the State of Hawaii, per the program that was handed out at the event.
Festival Ball kicked off its western segment with a taiko performance by the queen contestants followed by their individual speeches.
After a short intermission, the contestants participated in the eastern segment of the ball by displaying silk kimonos from Japan. As each contestant appeared one by one, they were judged on their poise on stage as well as how they displayed their kimono. From there each perspective queen was asked an impromptu question.
When Nicole Kinney was asked to describe her mission in life, she said, “to live it with happiness and integrity … No matter what happens, it’s best to follow your heart.”
Once each contestant had their turn with the impromptu questions, they were all brought out to the stage and the Violet Niimi Oishi Scholarship was awarded.
Emcees Kristine Wada and Devon Nekoba said Violet Niimi was crowned the first Cherry Blossom Festival Queen in 1953 and passed away in 2001. Her son, Scott Oishi, knew how important the festival was to his mother so he established the scholarship in her name to honor her memory. The $5,000 scholarship was awarded to Cari Tasoe so she could continue her education in American Sign Language.
After the scholarship announcement, the 59th Cherry Blossom Festival Court was brought on stage to bid farewell. Queen Jennifer Sur spoke on behalf of the court, thanking the HJJCC as well as those who helped the court with their journey the past two years.
As the court was revealed, Wada said the contestants were huddled backstage and held hands in a circle as they waited for the announcement. When each court member was announced, they appeared on stage with tears of joy in their eyes as they bowed to the audience.
With that, the Festival Ball was over, but the court remained on stage for their photo shoot. The ladies smiled while dozens of cameras flashed. As the curtains dropped singling the end of the night, rather than waving farewell, the court waved to the audience hello to start a new chapter together as the 60th Cherry Blossom Festival Court.