The Punahou School graduate completed her degree in business administration and marketing at Loyola Marymount University last year.

The theme of this year's festival was kansha, or gratitude. To Yamamoto, kansha is "more than a word; it is the perpetuation of compassion and thankfulness expressed through action."

The rest of the court: First princess Tiffany Kimie Mitani and princesses Kara Haruyo Iwasaki, Tianne Chiemi Yamashita and Whitney-Reigh Kuni Sumie Asao. Asao was also Miss Popularity and Danika Leah Kim was Miss Congeniality.