Dad-and-kid teams all get a double take
By Will Hoover
Advertiser Staff Writer
For dental technician Brian McMillan, 30, and his daughter Carissa, 5 months, winning yesterday's annual Daddy/Baby Look-Alike Contest at Ward Warehouse was simply a matter of following doctor's orders.
Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser
"Four days before we even heard about this, our doctor, Donna Mah, says: 'If you guys ever hear of a father/baby look-alike contest, you ought to get in it.' So, we took our doctor's advice."
Matthew Yuh enjoys a warm day by taking a dip at Ala Moana Beach Park with 2 1/2-year-old son Christian. Christian's mother and twin brother were also there for some family fun.
Rhodora McMillan cheered from the sidelines as her hubby and daughter edged out two dozen other duos to take top honors. The hip pair from Palolo Valley wore dark shades, jeans, T-shirts and identical denim jackets with Brian's own "2 Cool" logo on the back.
McMillan said he cut off his goatee for the occasion, though he briefly toyed with the idea of painting whiskers on his daughter's chin instead.
Robert Uchida and his wife, Bonnie, had no such qualms about drawing a mustache on their son Taiyo's 15-month-old upper lip to match the father's.
"Hey, I shaved my head — that was enough," said Robert, who, along with Taiyo, picked up a third-place trophy in the contest, which was held as a benefit for the March of Dimes' Hawai'i Chapter.
Cory Lum • The Honolulu Advertiser
Veteran daddy/baby watcher Sue Inouye, one of five judges, said that after years of picking winners, the process is still tough.
Mark Lowcher insists he cried like a baby when his wife messed with his hair to make it match daughter Karenna's for yesterday's look-alike contest at Ward Warehouse.
"It's hard to make a decision because they're all so cute," she said.
The cute factor, in fact, was much in play yesterday. When Raul Madela, 40, carried his look-alike daughter, Angel Nadia, across the stage, the crowd was reduced to oohs and aahs. Angel Nadia, born to Nora Madela seven days earlier, turned out to be the youngest baby in the event's 15-year history.
Sandra Chong, also a returning judge, said that when all is said and done, the eyes have it.
"It's the eye contact," she explained. "You can tell a good dad instantly that way. There's an interaction between father and baby that's important. I take that into consideration."
Most contestants, such as Chris Chun, 39, and his son, Colby, 6 months, opted for matching outfits. Donna Chun admitted the idea of dressing her son and husband in look-alike black aloha shirts with tan shorts and work boots was her own. But daddy balked at the notion of strapping on a matching blue bib.
Cory Lum • The Honolulu Advertiser
"I'll only go so far," he said.
Robert Uchida shaved his head to match son Taiyo's. The 15-month-old boy, in turn, allowed his folks to draw a fake mustache on his face, just like dad's. The father-son team won the third-place trophy.
However, according to Mark Lowcher, 40, "You've got to go the extra mile." Thus, he and his 17-month-old daughter, Karenna, both came to the contest with their hair pulled and tied in identical tassels.
"My wife, Julia, did my hair," said Lowcher. "I cried like a baby."
Incredibly, there was no crying by any of yesterday's babies. Most displayed none of the customary contest jitters. Moments before the announcement that Carissa McMillan and her dad had won, the kid was snoozing casually in her father's arms.
Her indifferent demeanor was momentarily betrayed, though, when she awoke to the news of her special achievement, and she flashed — ever so slightly — a two-toothed grin.
