Before the national pageant, there was lots of campaigning to be done. Here, Miss Hawai'i Teen America Le'a Kunipo, second from left, joins three other state queens to sign autographs. Photo: Courtesy Kunipo 'ohana

Run for office, crown
not that different

By T. Ilihia Gionson / Ka Wai Ola

Candidates statewide have campaigned hard for your vote this election season. But aspiring politicians aren't the only folks in Hawai'i smiling big, shaking hands and waving. And while the campaigns for pageant queens may not have the yard signs and T-shirts that we are accustomed to in political races, there are lots of similarities.

Le'a Kunipo of Nānākuli is the reigning 2008 Miss Hawai'i Teen America. The Kamehameha Schools-Kapālama senior, who previously attended Mā'ili Bible School, represented Hawai'i in the National Miss Teen America Pageant in Murfreesboro, Tennessee this July.

Although she didn't take the national title, she learned a lot about the title run. And she will crown her successor in this year's pageant to be held in November.

Miss Arizona, Miss Kentucky, Miss Texas, Miss Illinois, Miss Arkansas, Miss Connecticut, and Miss Hawai'i Teen Le'a Kunipo at the “Tropical Party” on opening night of the national competition. Photo: Courtesy Kunipo 'ohana

Kunipo said that the biggest job of an aspiring pageant queen is to convince the judges to pick her, like a candidate needs to show voters the reasons to pick him or her. “It's ultimately up to the judges to pick the best person to represent, in my case, our state,” she said.

Like elective office, pageant titles aren't all about glitz and glam. Some of Kunipo's responsibilities here at home are to be a good example to other teen girls and to encourage them to get involved and volunteer in the community, she said. “It's not all about you, it's about giving back.”

But in each race, there can only be one winner. And in the end, Kunipo says, the run isn't all about winning; it's about learning and growing.

The Miss Hawai'i Teen America pageant was Kunipo's first, and she wanted to experience something new. “I wasn't expecting to win or lose, I just wanted to do my best and have fun,” she said.

Miss Hawai'i Teen America Le'a Kunipo. Photo: Courtesy Kunipo 'ohana