Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 26, Number 8, 1 August 2009 — Former Rainbow Wahine crowned Miss Hawaiʻi 2009 [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Former Rainbow Wahine crowned Miss Hawaiʻi 2009

By ī. Ilihia Gionson Publications Editor

Raeceen Ānuenue Woolford spent her whole career as a University of Hawai'i Rainbow Wahine volleyball player in the back row, making her contributions to Hawai'i's legendary defense. But on lune 27, Woolford was right up front in the field of 30 contestants as she was crowned Miss Hawai'i 2009. It turns out that all Woolford's time as a Rainbow Wahine prepared her well to compete for and assume the role of Miss Hawai'i. "Five years playing definitely molded me into the person that I am today," Woolford said. "Perseverance and humility is key, as well as being able to drop your pride and sense of entitlement. Going through volleyball has prepared me spot-on for the role as Miss Hawai'i." Woolford's playing time was sporadic, she said, but the experience of being on the team

was well worth all the hard work. "Growing up in Hawai'i, if you're a young girl into volleyball, you want to be a Rainbow Wahine," she said. For Woolford, the transition from the gym floor to the pageant stage was strange, but surprisingly easy. "I first decided to run in a pageant in December 2007 when our season was over," Woolford said. "Volleyball was just one side of me, and with this, I was able to pursue my girly side." The Pearl City native and 2003 'Iolani grad won her first pageant, Miss Honolulu 2008. With that win she ran for Miss Hawai'i 2008 and placed third runner-up. But that didn't deter Woolford. "You just have to shake it off. Lose a volleyball game, lose a pageant, shake it off. You ean eome back more confident next time. If you dwell on it, you'll never move forward," she said. With that attitude, Woolford won the Miss Ko 'Olina pageant in Ianuary, and went on to win Miss Hawai'i in lune. In addition to her volleyball training, Woolford says that her Hawaiian heritage influences her successes in pageants and in life. "I'm a poi dog, but I identify most with my Hawaiian eulture," she said. "The Hawaiian culture, Hawaiian style, everything Hawaiian is incorporated into our daily lives. It's natural for me to use what

I've learned: how to treat others and how to carry myself into pageants and athletics." So what does the future hold for Miss Hawai'i? Her next big challenge will be competing at the Miss America pageant in Las Vegas on lanuary 30, 2010. She says she needs to sharpen up her interview skills and "be sharp" on what's going on nationwide and worldwide. She also needs to "practice and practice and practice" her hula - "that'll take me a good six months," she said. Woolford began dancing hula at age 7, and took a break to focus on sports. Now that those days are over, she relishes the opportunity to "rediscover what made hula so close to my heart" with her kumu, Keano Kaupu and Lono Padilla. After her year as Miss Hawai'i, Woolford plans to continue her studies with a master's degree in public heahh, then medical school. She hopes to become a pediatrician and practice in rural communities in Hawai'i. Win or lose at Miss America, Woolford hopes that her victory will inspire her fellow Hawaiians. "It just goes to show that Native Hawaiians ean do whatever we put our minds to do. That just gets me excited," she said. "It doesn't matter what you look like if you have that extra spark. It's exciting to represent our culture on a national level." ■

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Miss Hawūi i 2009 Roeceen Woolford doesn f lef her fifle get the best of her. Here, she grinds luneh ūt Ethel's Grill in Kolihi, O'ūhu. - Photo: ī. Ilihia Gionson