Alooooha!
My name is Alya-Joy Kanehailua and I am so proud to represent my hometown of Hilo! My Community Service Initiative (CSI) is titled "It's Okay to Not Be Okay: Spotlight on Mental Health". This initiative was born from a personal and ongoing experience witnessing a loved one struggle with untreated Bipolar 1 disorder. The main reason they haven't sought treatment is because of perceived stigma associated with mental illness. This initiative aims to fearlessly bring mental illness into the spotlight (a nod to my extensive theater background), spread resources and stomp out stigma so that no one ever has to suffer in silence again, be it a loved one or friends and family of a loved one.
I am a native Hawaiian performer disciplined in theater and hula. I have been performing for over 15 years. I am currently a Mistress of Ceremonies for a lū'au on Hawai'i Island and in my free time I serve on the board of a non-profit community theater group called the Hilo Community Players and have taught Shakespeare to underserved youth in Hilo every summer for the past five years. I am a proud advocate for the arts, and they are proven to play a crucial role in the management of mental health. I am a first-generation student and hold an A.A.S. Degree in Advertising from the Fashion Institute of Technology, a B.A. in Linguistics and a TESOL certificate from the University of Hawai'i at Hilo.
It is an honor to be part of the Miss Hawai'i Organization and to be in the running for the title of Miss Hawai'i 2025. Please consider voting for me for People's Choice and helping me secure a Top 8 spot!
The Miss Hawaii Organization is a registered 501(c)(4) non-profit organization and an official state program of the Miss America Opportunity. Scholarships are administered by Choice For All, a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
