Former Miss Hawai'i, Candes Meijide Gentry, holds a BA in Travel Industry Management from the University of Hawai'i, an MBA from the Shidler College of Business, and a Certificate in Healthy Living from Cornell University.  She has been recognized by the Shidler College as a featured community leader where she created an endowed scholarship for aspiring entrepreneurs.  Candes has served on several corporate boards at the Gentry Companies in addition to serving as past President of Gentry Pacific, Ltd. Candes has also served on the boards of the Boys and Girls Club of Hawai'i, Diamond Head Theatre, and Miss Hawai'i Organization, and acted as Co-Chair of the Miss Hawai'i Princess Program. Currently, Candes serves on the Board of Diamond Head Theatre, the Outrigger Canoe Club, and Keiki Stories. Professionally, Candes dedicates herself to real estate investment, having served as a Real Estate Associate licensed with the Hawaii Board of Realtors for 23 years. In 2023, Candes was a featured in Pacific Edge Magazine's Women in Business issue. 

     

Community service is a guiding principal in Candes’ life and thus she has been recognized by several local and national organizations for her contributions including the American Heart Association CorVitae Heart Society, National Psoriasis Foundation, as a volunteer and fundraiser for Diamond Head Theatre, Punahou School (Parent Leadership Giving Council), and Unity Preschool among others. Candes’ first cookbook with her son Poet, self-published under the label Poetic Productions, is entitled Eat Pono. Candes focuses her philanthropic efforts on education and the Eat Pono principles of Source Locally, Eat Nutritiously, and Live Sustainably through her Eat Pono Fund of the Hawai'i Community Foundation.

 

Onstage performances at Diamond Head Theatre have included productions of GiGi, You Somebody, Follies, GYPSY, and the Ilima Awards. Under her label, CMG Records, Candes has recorded and produced eight musical albums, two of which were nominated for Hawaii Music Awards, and one which won for best Christmas Album. Candes has served as a spokesperson for several local sporting events including the Xterra Triathlon, International Triathlon Union, and the Honolulu Triathlon. Her live performance resume includes extensive convention work for MC&A Productions and singing the National Anthem for the Great Aloha Run, the Honolulu Century Ride, and change of command ceremonies for the US Army. Candes was also selected to performed the title song from the musical Pearl Harbor for the US Presidential Dinner at the HHV, and was a member of a USO show aboard the USS Missouri.

 

Candes is an accomplished athlete who has competed in multiple world championship off-road triathlon events, the Kona Ironman, and completed over 15 marathons, including the ABBOTT World Marathon Majors: Boston, Chicago, New York, Berlin, London and Tokyo City Marathons. Candes is a three-time winner of the Honolulu Marathon Kama’aina Award, and multiple age group award winner at the Double Rough Water and Xterra Trail Run World Championship events. She has also completed the 10,023 ft climb from Pai’a to the top of Haleakalā, 13,609 ft climb from Hilo to the summit of Maunakea, and swam across the AuAu, Pailolo and Kalohi channels between the islands of Maui, Moloka'i and Lanā'i.

 

Candes has one son, Poet Gentry.