WHEREAS, the Miss Hawaii Scholarship Program, a nonprofit organization supported by individuals and corporations, provides young women with cash and tuition and serves to empower them to achieve their personal and professional goals, while providing a forum to express their opinions, talent, and intelligence; and

WHEREAS, born in Honolulu in 1979, the daughter of Nani Lee Christian, KEHAULANI CHRISTIAN graduated from President Theodore Roosevelt High School, and continued her education by pursuing degrees in public relations and entrepreneurial studies at Kapiolani Community College and Hawaii Pacific University; and

WHEREAS, KEHAULANI CHRISTIAN, who showcased Hawaii on culture through dancing in local Polynesian shows, was chosen from among 300 applicants to perform Polynesian dance at Tokyo Disneyland for the year 2001, and, in so doing, learned to converse in Japanese and continued to spread the spirit of Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, being passionate about promoting children's literacy in the schools, KEHAULANI CHRISTIAN was afforded an opportunity to present her platform by competing in the Miss VIP Pageant, which she won, thereby entitling her to compete for the title of Miss Hawaii in the Fifty-fifth annual Miss Hawaii Scholarship Program; and

WHEREAS, KEHAULANI CHRISTIAN was selected Miss Hawaii 2002 from among eleven other preliminary contest winners statewide and was awarded scholarships and entitlement to compete in the prestigious Miss America contest; and

WHEREAS, throughout her competition and her reign as Miss Hawaii 2002, KEHAULANI CHRISTIAN has promoted her platform, "A Child's Right to Read," in Hawaii and with various mainland related organizations, participated in visitor industry-related promotions, and has regally served as a goodwill ambassador, bringing pride to the State of Hawaii and its citizens; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2003, that this body hereby honors, congratulates, and thanks KEHAULANI CHRISTIAN on her successful reign as Miss Hawaii 2002, and extends to her its warmest aloha and best wishes for continued success in all future endeavors.