Makawao Girl Wins Maui Healthy Baby Contest

By Wendy Osher

Winner, Kelsey Quinabo with Parents Ramona Fernandez and Kanoa Quinabo. Photo courtesy Meadow Gold Dairies.

72 babies competed in the 12th Annual Meadow Gold Dairies Maui Healthy Baby Contest, held over the weekend at the 89th Maui Fair.

The Meadow Gold Dairies’ Healthy Baby Contest program has been an island tradition since 1953. Each Healthy Baby Contest held statewide gives proud parents the opportunity to showcase their healthy keiki in a setting that promotes the importance of proper health and nutrition beginning at an early age.

The 2011 grand-prize winner was Kelsey K. Quinabo, Makawao.  Kelsey is the daughter of Ramona Fernandez and Kanoa Quinabo.

The winner is the recipient of a two night stay at the Westin Ka’anapali Ocean Resort Villas.  Kelsey also received prizes from NPAC, Maui or Nutrition and Physical Activity Coalition, GEICO, a family pass to the Maui Ocean Center, $500 US savings bond, a years supply of milk, logo items and also POG and ice cream certificates from Meadow Gold Dairies.

The runner-up prizes for the 2011 Meadow Gold Healthy Baby Contest went to the following:

• 1st Runner Up: Jadene D. Mateo, Pukalani; Mom: Sarita Tranilla
• 2nd Runner Up: Kylie Lorraine Haleakala, Wailuku; Mom: Ashley Haleakala
• 3rd Runner Up: Loea Luapa Asuega-Stark, Kihei; Mom: Noe Asuega-Stark
• 4th Runner Up: Ariyanna K. Kekiwi, Haiku; Mom: Krystal K. Cabiles

Kelsey Quinabo and Lani Moo mascot from Meadow Gold Dairies.

All winners of the 2011 Healthy Baby competition received a variety of prizes including portrait-sitting from Photography by Irvin, merchandise certificates from Minit Stop and HFM Maui Petroleum, Takamiya Market, Ah Fooks Supermarket, Maui Ocean Center, Round Table Pizza and logo items, US savings bond and product certificates from Meadow Gold Dairies.

72 contestants received a goodie bag from Meadow Gold Dairies, a portrait-sitting from Photography by Irvin and prizes from Round Table Pizza, GEICO, and entry to the 89th Maui Fair for the parents.

There were six judges for the event, including two eleven-year veteran event judges.  The judging panel included: Joycelyn Victorino, Doug DeCambra, Dr. Colleen Inouye (Chief of Staff at Maui Memorial Medical Center and delivered in years past over 6,000 babies), Lehua Huddleston-Hofoka, Nani Watanab, and Lisa Varde.