Hawaiian Tropic Pageant Sponsor H57 Hoodia Increases Prize Money from $4,000 to $20,000 at Last Minute During On-Stage Presentation!

Honolulu, HI – September 30th, 2006 – Oahu, Hawaii's luxurious Turtle Bay Resort and renowned leading sun care provider Hawaiian Tropic®, celebrated the 24th Annual Miss Hawaiian Tropic® International United States Pageant Finals sponsored by H57 Hoodia.

In a last minute surprise announcement on stage during the live filming of the Miss Hawaiian Tropic® International United States Pageant Finals, H57 Hoodia's C.E.O. Kelly Lockwood and his team increased the prize amount from $1,000 for each finalist to $5,000 for each! While holding the Prize check in the amount of $1,000 the H57 Team entered into a dialogue with the audience at the pageant asking if the prize amount should be a little bit more, and after going back and forth raising the amount a few times, the H57 Hoodia team raised the amount to a stunning $5,000 for each finalist!

"That was very classy to increase your cash contribution to each of the four winners; I liked that move on stage" Said Jeff Lalanne, Vice President of Corporate Partnership & Promotions at Hawaiian Tropic.

One hundred and two gorgeous contestants from across the country competed with charisma, charm and beauty as this year's theme took them "Under the Sea" The top four finalists will go on to represent the United States in the Miss Hawaiian Tropic® International Pageant to be held in Las Vegas, Nevada in May 2007.

H57 Hoodia has signed on with Hawaiian Tropic as presenting sponsor for 2006 and for the International finals in Las Vegas in May 2007 adding to their expanding list of National and International events at NASCAR, NHRA, ASA (action sports) and many more. "Look for H57 Hoodia to continue being a major presence nationally by helping people lose weight and get in shape says Kelly Lockwood, C.E.O. we plan on increasing our partnerships with great properties like Hawaiian Tropic to help get the word out about H57 Hoodia, the #1 selling South African Hoodia appetite suppressant."