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Photo of the Cherry Blossom Festival Queen Contestants

Cherry Blossom Festival Queen Contestants (p. 4 of 4)

Ruth Mariko Taketa Family: Carol Sato (mother) and Jonathan Taketa (brother) High School: Roosevelt High School, 2011 College/Degree/Year: University of Hawai‘i at Mänoa, bachelor’s degree in biochemistry, 2016. “What does kokoro mean to you?” “Kokoro is the careful balance of the heart, mind, and spirit. I think of kokoro as a combination of each characteristic....
The 66th Cherry Blossom Festival contestants were introduced at the Ohana Festival. They are (from left): Mika Nakashige, Colette Masunaga, Kristen Yamamoto, Kaydi Hashima, Rhianna Taniguchi, Ariel Stenek, Melanie Carrié, Joy Nakahara, Kylie Hisatake, Chelsea Briggs, Cindy Nakagawa, Renni Iwasa, Karly Kaneshiro, Shelby Meador and Jordie Ocenar. (Photo courtesy Cherry Blossom Festival)

Spotlight – Cherry Blossom Festival Queen Contestants Introduced

The 66th Cherry Blossom Festival got its official kick-off on Jan. 14 with the introduction of the 15 queen contestants at the New Year’s ‘Ohana Festival, presented by the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai‘i. The Cherry Blossom Festival is sponsored annually by the Honolulu Japanese Junior Chamber of Commerce. This year’s festival theme is Inspire.....
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70th Cherry Blossom Festival: QUEEN CONTESTANTS

Photos by Expressions and Glenn Yoza Photography TAELER KEALOHILANI AKANA High School: La Pietra Hawai‘i School for Girls, Honolulu, Hawai‘i College/Degree: Saint Mary’s College of California, Bachelor of Science in Psychology Occupation: Community Based Case Manager Hobbies: Gardening and...
Photo of the Cherry Blossom Festival Queen Contestants

Cherry Blossom Festival Queen Contestants (p. 2 of 4)

Lori Satoki Kim Parents: Eric and Karen Kim High School: Pacific Buddhist Academy, 2007 College/Degree/Year: University of Hawai‘i at Mänoa, bachelor’s degree in business administration – accounting, 2012. “What does kokoro mean to you?” “Growing up, Kokoro always meant heart. It meant using my heart to always try and show compassion to others, a thought....
Group photo of the 65th Cherry Blossom Festival Court

Spotlight – Heather Omori Chosen as the 65th Cherry Blossom Festival Queen

SPOTLIGHT BY Gwen Battad Ishikawa Gwen Battad Ishikawa Kansha (gratitude) and Kokoro (heart) were the themes, respectively, of the 64th and 65th Cherry Blossom festivals, sponsored by the Honolulu Japanese Junior Chamber of Commerce. Heather Kiyomi Omori, who was chosen queen of the 65th Cherry Blossom Festival on March 18 at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel,....

Queen Contestants – 68th Cherry Blossom Festival (page 1 of 3)

[caption id="attachment_20392" align="alignnone" width="240"] Taylor Date[/caption] TAYLOR LILIA DATE High School: Punahou School College/Degree: Seattle University, Bachelor of Arts in Strategic Communications, minor in Journalism Occupation: Marketing assistant Hobbies: Searching for cute cafes, playing soccer and watching k-dramas. How do you live “kaizen,” continuous growth/improvement, in your daily life? “Just over a year ago, I....
Photo of the Cherry Blossom Festival Queen Contestants

Cherry Blossom Festival Queen Contestants (p. 3 of 4)

Kaelyn Sachiko Okuhata Parents: Kevin and Lori Okuhata High School: King Kekaulike High School (Hawai‘i Island), 2012 College/Degree/Year: Chapman University, bachelor’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in marketing and a minor in art studio, 2016 “What does kokoro mean to you?” “Last winter in the Colorado Rockies, I saw snowfall for the first....
68th Annual Cherry Blossom Festival Court (left to right): Princess Kelsey Toshie Uyeda, First Princess and Miss Popularity Sophia Aiko Teruya, Queen and Miss Congeniality Jewel Kahiwalani Miyuki Mahoe, Princess Lauren Elizabeth Holt and Princess Alyssa Mika Nakamoto. (Photo courtesy of HJJCC)

JEWEL MAHOE IS the 2020 CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL QUEEN

And Miss Congeniality and Recipient of the Violet Niimi Oishi Scholarship Ida Yoshinaga While growing up, Jewel Mahoe, the bright, focused daughter of yonsei Jennifer Lam of Kapahulu and sansei Arthur Mahoe of Hawai‘i Kai, was...
67th Cherry Blossom Festival Queen Contestants: Kallista Hiraoka (top left), Taylor Chee (bottom left), Michelle Chen (top right), and Jacqueline Arelliano (bottom right)

67th Cherry Blossom Festival – Queen Contestants (part I)

JACQUELINE MIYUKI ARELLIANO Parents: Janet and Dwayne Arelliano High School: Sacred Hearts Academy College/Degree: Whittier College, Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Science and minor in Biology Occupation: Procurement Specifications Specialist I What or who drives you to keep moving forward? “Experiencing the quality traits of faithfulness, empathy and love drive me forward through life. We....

69th Cherry Blossom Festival: RECORD-BREAKING CBF QUEEN BRIANNE YAMADA

Okinawan Musical Performer Sweeps Top CB Festival Awards for Historic “Triple Win” Ida Yoshinaga In the early evening of Saturday, Apr. 3, the virtual audience of the 69th Annual Cherry Blossom Festival — ensconced in their...

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