Queen Marissa Muraoka Marissa Muraoka, a junior at King Kekaulike High School, was crowned queen of the 57th Chrysanthemum Festival, sponsored by Maui's Sons and Daughters of the Nisei Veterans.

Muraoka, 16, is the daughter of Dwight and Karen Muraoka of Haiku.

The queen of the event is the candidate who raises the most funds for the sponsor.

The funds raised provide scholarships to Maui high school students through a program originated by the Maui AJA Veterans Inc. Additionally, some funds are used to support historical preservation programs on Nisei veterans artifacts, in collaboration with the Nisei Veterans Memorial Center.

The contestants represent area high schools. This year, the court included:

• Ashley Akima, 16, daughter of Truman and Carol Akima of Wailuku and a junior at Kamehameha Schools Maui;

• Nerissa Imada, 15, daughter of Alvin and Victoria Imada of Wailuku and a junior at St. Anthony Junior Senior High School;

• Lauren Naruse, 16, daughter of Wayne and Joyce Naruse of Wailuku and a junior at Seabury Hall;

• Bree Yokouchi, 17, daughter of Gerald and Joy Yokouchi of Wailuku and a senior at Baldwin High School.

The origins of the festival date back to 1952 when the veterans of the segregated Japanese-American Army units, including the 100th Infantry Battalion, 442nd Regimental Combat Team and Military Intelligence Service, organized a community event to raise funds for scholarships, youth sports leagues, and more recently, to support the Nisei Veterans Memorial Center.

With most members in their 80s and less active these days, the veterans turned over the festival to Maui's Sons and Daughters of the Nisei Veterans in 2008.

First Princess
Nerissa Imada

Second Princess
Lauren Naruse

Third Princess
Ashley Akima

Fourth Princess
Bree Yokouchi