I would like to introduce everyone to the newly crowned, 2011 Miss Maui Filipina Shelby Bantilan. Ann and I attended the Miss Maui Pageant at the Hyatt Regency Resort & Spa this weekend and watched Shelby and the other contestants put their all into the pageant.



I am proud to say that many of my staff members were also involved in the pageant itself. Assistant Communications Director Ryan Piros served as pageant co-director and Special Assistant Kit Zulueta and Communication Director Rod Antone worked together as co-MC's. And my Chief of Staff Herman Andaya is the President of the Maui Filipino Community Council, the entity which sponsors and puts on the Miss Maui Filipina pageant year after year.

I have always been very involved in the Filipino community and the pageant is probably the premiere event of the year. This year was no exception as the poise, talent and beauty of the contestants came shining through on stage. I'm sure Shelby will do a great job as Miss Maui Filipina, just as last year's Miss Maui Filipina, Dibea Lapid, did before her.



I'd also like to thank the County Council members who were in attendance that night: Gladys Baisa, Mike White and Joe Pontanilla. Your presence means a lot to the community and to these young women and I thank you again for coming.

It is events like these that make our community one of the best in the world.

Aloha,

Mayor Alan Arakawa