Outgoing queen Wikolia Enos pins the crown on Miss Kona Coffee 2011 Lacy Deniz as festival president Norman Sakata looks on. (Hawaii 24/7 photo by Karin Stanton)

Story and photos by Karin Stanton | Hawaii 24/7 Editor
and Finn Gallagher | Hawaii 24/7 Student Reporter

Lacy Deniz outscored nine other young ladies to capture the 2011 Miss Kona Coffee title, while Tatiana Boteliho was crowned Miss Aloha Hawaii.

The 10 contestants competed Saturday evening in the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival’s scholarship pageant, vying for thousands of dollars in scholarship money and the two annual pageant crowns.

Previously, all the contestants participated in a private interview with the seven-judge panel. Saturday’s pageant included the lifestyle & swimsuit, talent, on-stage question and evening wear categories.

Deniz is a 2009 graduate of Kamehameha Schools – Kapalama Campus and currently is attending Hawaii Community College, studying psychology.

For her on-stage question, Deniz was asked to define success.

“Success to me mean to be the best individual you can be and represent your family values the best way your family taught you,” she said.

For the talent portion, Deniz performed a hula auana, which she dedicated to kumu Etua Lopes.

Her parents are Harold and Rene Deniz. She has two younger brothers, Lowen, 16 and Landon, 14.

“Oh my goodness, words can’t even explain how tonight feels. It’s so unbelievably awesome. I want to thank everybody and I just want to make Kona proud,” she said. “I’ve been dreaming about a night like tonight ever since I was a little girl.”

Outgoing queen Wikolia Enos said she was proud to pin the crown on Deniz.

“She is going to be an outstanding queen. She has such a good, humble, Kona heart,” Enos said. “Tonight is a little bit of a relief for me, but I’m really glad to be here and I’m so thrilled for all these girls.”

The full slate of 2011 contestants included: Sonia Allen, Talia Bianca Vasquez, Ariel Maile Enriquez, Kaiulani Barretto, Kishawn Kehaulani Ilima Tualaulelei, Rebekah Michelle Duncan, Lacy Deniz, Tiare Ewalani-Jean Mata, Brandilyn Kirk and Tatiana Kawehionalani Boteliho.

Category Winners

Miss Popularity: Lacy Deniz

Most Photogenic: Sonia Allen

Miss Congeniality: Sonia Allen

Private Interview: Lacy Deniz

Lifestyle & Swimsuit: Tatiana Boteliho

Talent: Lacy Deniz

Evening Wear: Tatiana Boteliho

First Runner-up: Sonia Allen

Second Runner-up: Kaiulani Barretto

Miss Aloha Hawaii: Tatiana Boteliho

Miss Kona Coffee 2011: Lacy Deniz

The opening number.

The contestants and the Kealakehe High School dance team.

Miss Kona Coffee 2011 Lacy Deniz performs hula.

Sonia Allen wins Most Photogenic.

The 2011 Miss Kona Coffee & Miss Aloha Hawaii Scholarship Pageant contestants.