75th CBF Queen Contestant Application

CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL

P.O. Box 1105 Aiea, Hawaii 96701
www.cbfhawaii.com
Aloha Prospective Queen Contestant!

Thank you for your interest in becoming a Queen Contestant in the 75th Cherry Blossom Festival. The Cherry Blossom Festival is proudly sponsored by the Honolulu Japanese Junior Chamber of Commerce (HJJCC) and is one of the longest, continually running ethnic festivals in Hawaii. The Festival is an important cultural event in our local community, with the support of numerous businesses, generous individuals, and dedicated volunteers.
Please review all materials carefully and fill out the Application Form completely.
- Qualification Requirements
- Instructions for Completing the Application
- Estimated Time Commitment
- Sample Queen Contestant Schedule
- Queen Contestant Application Form
- Document Submission
- Application Fee
You are required to submit:
- Copies of necessary birth certificates;
  If your birth certificate does not clearly identify you as having at least 50% Japanese ancestry, please refer to the 'Instructions for Completing the Application' page for additional birth certificate requirements;
- Copy of Hawaii driver's license or Hawaii State ID (as proof of Hawaii residency);
- Documentation evidencing United States citizenship (if not stated on birth certificate);
- Application Fee - Applications submitted by June 30, 2026, will pay an early application fee of $15.00.
  Applications submitted between July 1, 2026 and August 1, 2026, will pay an application fee of $30.00.
A Queen Contestant Application will not be considered complete until all documents have been submitted. Deadline to submit is August 1, 2026.
We look forward to receiving your application. Should you have any questions, please email the Contestant Search Committee at cbfsearch@hjjcc.com.

Sincerely,
75th Cherry Blossom Festival
Contestant Search Committee

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

75th Cherry Blossom Festival
Applicants must meet all of the following qualifications to be eligible as a Queen Contestant Candidate:
1. Have at least 50% Japanese ancestry.
2. Be an United States citizen and Hawaii resident for two (2) consecutive years prior to September 1, 2026. Some exceptions may apply.
3. Be female by birth.
4. Be at least 19 years of age as of September 1, 2026, and not older than 28 years of age as of April 1, 2027.
5. Be a high school graduate.
6. Has never been married and does not intend to marry before April 1, 2027.
7. Has never given birth and does not intend to become pregnant before April 1, 2027.
8. Be of good moral character.
9. Has served in community service organizations or has an interest in serving in community service organizations.
10. Able to provide their own transportation to and from all Cherry Blossom Festival events, cultural classes, and rehearsals.
11. Has access to device and internet connectivity.
12. Is not a current or potential title holder for any cultural festival or pageant between August 3, 2026 through April 1, 2027.
13. Is not a member of the Honolulu Japanese Junior Chamber of Commerce (HJJCC) and has never served on the HJJCC Board of Directors or Cherry Blossom Festival Steering Committee.
14. Is not an immediate family member of and/or dating a Honolulu Japanese Junior Chamber of Commerce member, a Cherry Blossom Festival Steering Committee member, and a current Cherry Blossom Festival Court member.
15. In the event that the applicant is selected to the 75th Cherry Blossom Festival Court, she is able to maintain the additional year of commitment to the festival and continue to adhere to the above requirements throughout their year on Court (March 2027-March 2028).
I acknowledge that I have read above and meet all qualifications to apply as a Queen Contestant for the 75th Cherry Blossom Festival. *

INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING THE APPLICATION

75th Cherry Blossom Festival
1. Provide all requested information. Applications received without a signature will be considered incomplete and ineligible for consideration.
2. Your completed application and all required documents must be submitted no later than August 1, 2026.
3. Only applicants of at least fifty-percent (50%) Japanese ancestry will be accepted as prospective candidates. We will be using your birth certificate to verify your ancestry. If this information is not indicated on your birth certificate, please include a copy of your biological mother's and/or biological father's birth certificate.
4. Any application that is received without a birth certificate will be considered incomplete and ineligible for consideration. However, if you are in the process of filing for a duplicate birth certificate for yourself, your parents, or grandparents, you must include a copy of your receipt from the Department of Health or other government agency. All birth certificates must be submitted by August 1, 2026; otherwise your application will be ineligible for consideration.
5. Copy of Hawaii driver's license or Hawaii State ID (as proof of Hawaii residency).
6. Documentation evidencing United States citizenship (if not stated on birth certificate).

These are the possible combinations that will qualify you as having at least 50% Japanese ancestry:

	Parent 1	Parent 2	Birth Certificates Needed For
1.	Full Japanese	Full Japanese	Either Parent 1 or 2
2.	Other ethnicity	Full Japanese	Parent 2
3.	50% Japanese	50% Japanese	Both Parents 1 and 2

Important Note: If the birth certificate(s) submitted do not clearly identify you as having at least 50% Japanese ancestry, please contact the Contestant Search Committee at cbfsearch@hjjcc.com for assistance.

For your information, the Department of Health's Vital Records Department can process your Hawaii birth certificate request stating your ethnicity/race. Records that are readily available can be obtained by ordering online at https://vitrec.ehawaii.gov/vitalrecords, or by appointment or walk-in. Mailed requests may take up to 4-6 weeks. There is a fee of $12.50. If you have any technical questions, you may call the Department of Health at (808) 586-4539. This information is subject to change. Any cost incurred will be at the applicant's expense.
Applicants are asked to not disclose their status on any social media platform as a potential Queen Contestant candidate for the 75th Cherry Blossom Festival.
I acknowledge that I have read above and understand the instructions for the 75th Cherry Blossom Festival Queen Contestant Application. *

ESTIMATED TIME COMMITMENT

75th Cherry Blossom Festival
The Queen Contestant process is a very rich and fulfilling experience. As such, it requires a serious time commitment on the part of the Contestant.

The following is an example overall schedule to give you an idea of the time commitment necessary to be a Contestant. Both non-public and public events are mandatory. Please note that this is a sample schedule - not a final schedule or timetable.

Starting in September 2026 through April 2027, Contestants will be required to attend various meetings, classes, rehearsals, and other projects. On average, this may require two days a week, and on average three to four hours each day. The amount of events will vary each week. All non-public events are generally scheduled after normal work/school hours, and on weekends. All public events will be scheduled during weekends with the exception of the annual golf tournament which may be scheduled on either a Thursday or Friday.

If you are selected as a member of the 75th Cherry Blossom Festival Court, your commitment as a Court Member will continue for an additional year until the 76th Cherry Blossom Festival Court is crowned (March 2027-March 2028). Court members will be asked to attend various meetings, events, projects and trips throughout their time on Court as a representative of the Festival and the Japanese-American community of Hawaii.

SAMPLE QUEEN CONTESTANT SCHEDULE
I acknowledge that I read and understand the estimated time commitment for a 75th Cherry Blossom Festival Queen Contestant. *

QUEEN CONTESTANT APPLICATION FORM

PERSONAL INFO
Name:*

First NameMiddle InitialLast Name
Address:*

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState

Zip Code
Cell Phone:*
Format: (000) 000-0000.
E-mail Address:*
example@example.com
Birth Date:*

MonthDayYear
Date
Birth Place:*
YesNo
YesNo
Biological Father's Name:*
Biological Father's Employer:
Biological Mother's Name:*
Biological Mother's Employer:

QUEEN CONTESTANT APPLICATION FORM

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT
EDUCATION (PAST)*
EDUCATION (PAST)
EDUCATION (PAST)
CURRENT EDUCATION
CURRENT EMPLOYMENT*
EDUCATION/EMPLOYMENT SCHEDULE*

QUEEN CONTESTANT APPLICATION FORM

CULTURE AND ACTIVITIES
Cultural Organizations*
List all; if none, write "None"
Cultural Interests*
List all; if none, write "None"
Cultural Training or Instruction*
List all; if none, write "None"
OTHER ACTIVITIES (Charities, Community Service Organizations, Sororities, etc.)*
HJJCC MemberSocial MediaFormer CBF ParticipantPosterFamily Member/FriendNews/RadioWebsiteOther
If you chose "HJJCC Member", please list one: First Name Last Name
If you chose "Former CBF Participant", please list one: First Name Last Name

QUEEN CONTESTANT APPLICATION FORM
Tell us about yourself (250 words or less) in the space provided:*

0/250

QUEEN CONTESTANT APPLICATION FORM

DOCUMENT SUBMISSION
Required Documents
1. Copy of Hawaii driver's license or Hawaii State ID (as proof of Hawaii residency).
2. Documentation evidencing United States citizenship (if not stated on birth certificate).
3. Copies of necessary birth certificates.
Only applicants of at least fifty-percent (50%) Japanese ancestry will be accepted as prospective candidates. We will be using your birth certificate to verify your ancestry. If this information is not indicated on your birth certificate, please include a copy of your biological mother's and/or biological father's birth certificate.

These are the possible combinations that will qualify you as having at least 50% Japanese ancestry:

	Parent 1	Parent 2	Birth Certificates Needed For
1.	Full Japanese	Full Japanese	Either Parent 1 or 2
2.	Other ethnicity	Full Japanese	Parent 2
3.	50% Japanese	50% Japanese	Both Parents 1 and 2

Submit all required documents below:*

Cancelof
I acknowledge that I have submitted all the required documentation for the 75th Cherry Blossom Festival Queen Contestant Application. *

QUEEN CONTESTANT APPLICATION FORM

SIGNATURE AND APPLICATION FEE
I, First Name* Last Name* , hereby certify that all information provided in this application is true and correct. I have read and understand all the aforementioned terms and conditions and attest that I meet all Queen Contestant eligibility requirements of the Cherry Blossom Festival.
Signature*
Date/Time*
Should be Empty:

CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING THE APPLICATION

ESTIMATED TIME COMMITMENT

SAMPLE QUEEN CONTESTANT SCHEDULE

QUEEN CONTESTANT APPLICATION FORM

QUEEN CONTESTANT APPLICATION FORM

QUEEN CONTESTANT APPLICATION FORM

QUEEN CONTESTANT APPLICATION FORM

QUEEN CONTESTANT APPLICATION FORM

QUEEN CONTESTANT APPLICATION FORM