It was supposed to be Tarrell K. Reid's crowning moment, literally.

He and two other babies were being honored Saturday at a Kahala Mall ceremony as the top three vote-getters in the 2009 Hawaii's Cutest Baby contest. And as the grand-prize winner, Tarrell was supposed to don a gold paper and red-velvet crown.

But he just wasn't having it — knocking it off his own head, and wriggling out of his mom's arms so he could stroll around and explore his environs rather than sit still to bask in the camera flashes and glory of his reign as Hawaii's Cutest Baby.

That was typical for the super-active, tousle-headed 19-month-old who loves to dance and "play kick" with the soccer ball, said his parents, Kenneth and Wendy Reid. "He just goes and goes," Wendy said of her son's high energy.

When she was able to hold Tarrell still in her lap for about 30 seconds for picture taking, he flashed the contagious grin that made him the top pick in a field of nearly 6,000 photos entered in the Hawaii's Cutest Baby contest.

In the contest presented last month by www.HawaiiMomLikeMe.com, a panel of judges chose 14 finalists, who were then put to public vote via a voting page on the Web site. As the grand-prize winner, Tarrell received a $500 gift certificate from Kahala Kids, a children's boutique in Kahala Mall that sponsored all the winners' prizes. He also will receive a professional photo session from the store.

Tarrell had never won any contest before. His mom didn't even know about it until about three days before its end. To celebrate their win, they held a small cookout at home for family and friends.

The other winners:

• First runner-up: Nixyn Hepuawehiwa Palmer, daughter of Chad and Valli Palmer of Kapolei. Nixyn won a $250 gift pack from Kahala Kids.

• Mia Macy Katayama, daughter of Jonathan and Jessica Katayama of Honolulu. Mia won a $100 gift pack from Kahala Kids.

The other finalists were: Maile Yee (parents Tony and Kaori Yee), Katie Christian (David Christian and Nicole Teixeira), Mikaela Sayuri Namakaokalani Takeya (Gavin Takeya and Amber Wong), Kai Noeau Kennison (Danny and Darlene Kennison), Kaylie Hinds (Kaipo Thornton and Janelle Hinds), Jada Naomi Igawa (Zaida Igawa), Shelby Pomaika'i Bloom (Lori Bloom), Thayleah Kealohapau'ole Hall (Donald and Jody Hall), Sofia Sinnett (Scott Sinnett and Cindy Murillo), Lexi Ashlyn Colobong (Marx and Cynthia Colobong), and Chase Walter Eveleth (Dutch and Lisa Eveleth).

They received a gift bag from Hawaii MomsLikeMe.com and Kahala Kids.

All entrants who posted photos in the contest by the deadline, Feb. 15, received a coupon for Kahala Kids. (If you entered the contest, you must follow these instructions to claim your coupon: Log in to Hawaii.Moms LikeMe.com; accept the private invitation on the upper right side of your screen to join a special contest "group." You will receive your coupon via private message from the group.)