Representative Lauren Kealohilani Cheape traces her roots in Hawai'i back to 1859. She is the 6th generation to be born and raised in the islands, and is a member of the prestigious Daughters of Hawai'i. Her great-grandfather founded Peterson's Upland Farm in 1910, and the farm is celebrating its 103rd anniversary this year as a family-run business supplying fresh eggs to our communities.<BR><BR>
Lauren is a product of the Hawai'i public school system, having attended Mililani Waena Elementary School, Mililani Middle School, and Mililani High School. After graduating from Mililani High, Lauren spent time volunteering at an orphanage in Malawi, Africa. When she returned, Lauren attended the University of Hawai'i at Manoa. She earned a degree in Film Production from the Academy of Creative Media and minored in Business and Japanese. While in school, Lauren was a four year Division I scholar-athlete, playing Wahine Water Polo and serving on the Student Athletic Advisory Committee.<BR><BR>
After graduating from the University of Hawai'i, Lauren went on to win the title of Miss Hawai'i 2011. She represented our state at the Miss America pageant in Las Vegas, where she was a Quality of Life Finalist, won the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals Award for most money raised in the country (which benefitted Kapi'olani Medical Center for Women and Children), and won the Talent portion by performing a jump rope routine to the theme of Hawai'i 5-0. In her spare time, Lauren performs as a professional Hula dancer, an art that she has been studying for over fifteen years. Lauren's first experience with the Hawai'i State Legislature was with her documentary "Farm Grown," which aided in the passage of the Feed Subsidy Bill.  Lauren is committed to public service and is looking forward to being a dedicated and productive member of our Legislature.