Kapela is a native of Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.[1] Her father is Clifford Gaspar and her mother is Keahi Kapela.[2][1] She was raised by her maternal grandmother Barbara Kapela on a coffee farm in Captain Cook, Hawaii, where the family lived in poverty.[3][4]
In November 2013, Kapela won the Miss Kona Coffee title then competed in the 2014 Miss Hawaii pageant.[6][3][7] She performed a lyrical dance during the talent competition and her platform was "Support Our Students: Empowering Hawaii's Youth to Achieve Their Dreams".[6] Kapela was named was second runner-up for the state title.[8][2][9]
In October 2014, Kapela was crowned Miss Kaka'ako 2015 which made her eligible to compete at the 2015 Miss Hawaii pageant.[9][10][1] Entering the state pageant in May 2015 as one of 29 finalists, Kapela's preliminary competition talent was a lyrical dance routine to "My Heart Will Go On" as performed by Tioni Tam Sing.[9][11] She won both the talent and swimsuit portions of the competition.[2][9] Her platform, "Sex Trafficking: #ItEndsWithUs" is a campaign to raise awareness of human trafficking.[11] Kapela is the executive director of the non-profit organization UNITE! dedicated to preventing human trafficking.[3]
Kapela won the statewide competition on Saturday, May 30, 2015, when she received her crown from outgoing Miss Hawaii titleholder Stephanie Steuri.[9] Kapela dedicated her victory to the memory of her grandmother.[3][9] Kapela earned more than $30,000 in scholarship money and a new automobile from Cutter Ford for winning the state pageant.[2] As Miss Hawaii, her activities include public appearances across the state.
Kapela was Hawaii's representative at the Miss America 2016 pageant in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in September 2015.[11][12] In the televised finale on September 13, 2015, she placed outside the Top 15 semi-finalists and was eliminated from competition. She was awarded a $3,000 scholarship prize as her state's representative.[13][14] In addition, Kapela was awarded a $2,000 scholarship for her selection as Miss Congeniality by her fellow contestants.[15]
