The 2011 Hawaii Island Festival royal court. (Photo courtesy of Hawaii Island Festival)

Special to Hawaii 24/7

Food and music, two of the Big Island’s favorite things, dominated Waikoloa Beach Resort last weekend, in three islandwide competitions: the Ms. Aloha Nui Gala, the Poke Contest and the Clyde “Kindy” Sproat Falsetto & Storytelling Contest.

Winning singers, chefs and storytellers got their moment in the spotlight, as hundreds filled ballrooms at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa and Hilton Waikoloa Village.

Ms. Aloha Nui 2011 is Darcy Kathleen White of Holualoa. For her talent portion, White sang an original song, “Making Memories” in Friday night’s event.

Her competitors included Ruth Roseann Baker-Boggeln of Keaau, Betty Leinaala Jose-Brannam of Keaukaha — who brought the biggest fan club along — Nicole Ann Maragos of Kealakekua, first runner-up, and Jo Jeter of Waimea.

For her talent portion, Jeter, grandmother of 17 and great-grandmother of five, unexpectedly wowed the crowd with a belly dance.

On Saturday, the Poke Contest awarded prizes in six categories, but longtime favorite Alex Akau swept five of them in the Amateur Division (A), and Jayson Kanekoa, of Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, won three categories in the Professional Division (P).

Kealii Bertelmann took the honors for Hawaiian Language and Storytelling, winning first place in Saturday night’s 20th Annual Clyde “Kindy” Sproat Falsetto & Storytelling Contest.

Alicia Pokipala and Eugene Tagawa of Tiffany present the Alii Choice Award to Alex Akau. (Photo courtesy of Hawaii Island Festival)

The winners are:

* Ms. Aloha Nui 2011:

Darcy Kathleen White

* 2011 Poke Contest:

Poke with Shoyu: Faye Kuheana (A), Nolan Hing (P)
Cooked Poke: Alex Akau (A), Jayson Kanekoa (P)
Traditional: Alex Akau (A), Sansei Seafood, Steak and Sushi Bar (P)
Poke with Limu: Alex Akau (A), Peter Kaluna (P)
Alii Choice: Alex Akau (A), Jayson Kanekoa (P)
Presentation: Faye Kuheana (A), Jayson Kanekoa (P)

* 20th Annual Clyde “Kindy” Sproat Falsetto & Storytelling Contest

3rd place, Robert Pomaikai Krueger
2nd place, Micah Hoapili-DeAguiar
1st place, Keali’i Bertelmann

In conjunction with the annual Hawaii Island Festival — 30 Days of Aloha, the weekend also included Na Mea Hana Lima Craft Fair at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa and Monday’s Fall Fashion Show at Queens’ MarketPlace.

For more information, visit www.WaikoloaBeachResort.com

Kealii Bertelmann (Photo courtesy of Hawaii Island Festival)