We are thrilled to celebrate Moena D-M, a 7th grader at our HTA Kona campus, who was recently crowned Miss Hawai‘i Jr High 2027.
Humbled and excited for the road ahead, Moena will use her title to promote kindness, respect, inclusion, and positive connection among young people. As part of her title, she will advocate for the organization’s national anti-bullying platform, B.R.A.V.E. (Building Respect and Values for Everyone).
As a student in HTA’s technology-integrated learning environment, Moena experiences daily how digital tools can empower learning and connection. This makes her anti-bullying message especially relevant. Through her advocacy with B.R.A.V.E., she aims to promote positive digital citizenship, inspiring her peers to practice the same aloha and respect online as they do in person.
Moena is super busy in addition to her academics and pageantry. She is a year-round competitive soccer player and serves as a volunteer kumu with La‘i‘ōpua’s after-school Hawaiian enrichment program.
Having attended the program since kindergarten, Moena now returns to share her knowledge, time, and aloha with the next generation of keiki. Her dedication highlights her deep love for Hawaiian culture and her commitment to giving back to the community that shaped her.
Moena will represent the Aloha State on the national stage at the Miss Junior High School America pageant in Little Rock, Ark., early next summer.
Congratulations, Moena! We are so proud to have you repping HTA Kona!
