Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 28, Number 2, 1 February 2011 — MAKING PAGEANT HISTORY [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

MAKING PAGEANT HISTORY

Noel Soma is cpowned Miss lndian Nopthern Arizona Univepsity

By Melissa Moniz

\oel Kaleikalaunuoka'oia'i'o Soma is the first Native Hawaiian and non-American Indian to enter and win the crown of Miss Indian Northern Arizona University in the pageant's 20-year history. "For me to be a representative for Native Hawaiians and indigenous people is a huge honor and responsibility," says Soma. "When I won, a lot of people eame up to me and told me I made history. One of the things I want to do with this title is to spread the aloha spirit and show

how special we are." The scholarship pageant held in November at the NAU campus in Flagstaff, Arizona, is designed to promote cultural awareness and understanding of tribal/indigenous nations, represent Native Ameriean students at NAU, and assist in strengthening the recruitment and retention of Native American eollege students. Soma is the daughter of Dirk Soma, OHA's Community Outreach Manager, and his wife, Rachel. Noel Soma was born and raised on O'ahu and is a 2008 graduate of Sacred Hearts Academy. She is

working on her bachelor's degree in Applied Indigenous Studies and Poliheal Science at NAU. "I also work for the Applied Indigenous Studies Department," says Soma, who is 20. "My boss actually told me about the pageant and encouraged me to enter." In addition to the application, all contestants were required to eomplete an essay and participate in a series of interviews. The night of the pageant includes four categories of competition: contemporary wear, traditional wear, traditional talent and an impromptu question. "The contemporary outfit shows

your confidence level and what you see yourself as," says Soma. "For my contemporary wear, I wore my favorite prom dress. I spoke about how it made me feel confident and beautiful." For her traditional outfit, Soma dressed as a pā'ū rider and told the story of how Native Hawaiian women didn't want to ride side saddle so they created a new clothing style. "I wore a whole bunch of flowers in my hair, a purple skirt and a red klhei wrap - it was a very well put together outfit considering that my flowers were not Native Hawaiian flowers, whieh would have died during transport to Arizona," says Soma. For her traditional talent, Soma sought the help of her kumu hula Ardis Gomes of Hālau Hula O Kawaiha'o. She entered with an oli, followed by a hula kahiko using kala'au (sticks). After she was done, she changed into a blue, one-shoulder velvet holokū to perform a hula 'auana. She ended with a contemporary hula incorporating sign language. "I used the songs and my outfits to show the transition of time, so they could see how far hula has eome," says Soma. Crowned the 2011 Miss Indian Northern Arizona University, Soma received a scholarship of $1,600, a

custom-made shawl and sash, a trophy and use of the crown during her reign. She will spend the remainder of this year attending events such as the Native Americans United membership meetings and activities, Native American United Pow Wow, NAU homecoming, Native American Student Services semester barbecues, tribal fairs and other NAU marketing initiatives for recmitment. "I serve as the face for Native American organizations and students, so if there are things that they need help with, I step in," says Soma. "I also work on recruitment and retention of Native American students and NAU." "It is with great honor that I have been given the opportunity to represent the university and more so the indigenous women of the U.S. in higher education," she adds. "To serve and work alongside my indigenous brothers and sisters to ensure a better tomorrow is what I look to do in all aspects of my life." ■ Meīissa Moniz is a Contributing Writer for Ka Wai Ola. A former Associate Editor at MidWeek, she has chosen a new career path as a fuU-time mom to spend more quality time with her husband and two young daughters.

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THE T0P 0 F T H E I R GAME S T R I V E T 0 REACH THE SUMMIT

The newly crowned Noel Soma wilh Eudora Redhouse, Navajo, First Aftendant, and Fred Ami, Northern Arizona University Vice President for Research. - Photo: Courtesy ofHoel Soma