Miss Hawaii USA

Last updated

Miss Hawaii USA
Formation1952
Type Beauty pageant
Headquarters Honolulu
Location
Membership
Official language
English
Executive Director
Alicia Michioka
Website Official website

The Miss Hawaii USA competition, previously known as Miss Hawaii Universe, is a beauty pageant that selects the representative for the state of Hawaii in the Miss USA pageant.

Contents

Issha Rose Mata of Hilo was crowned Miss Hawaii USA 2025 on March 22, 2025 at Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu. She will represent Hawaii at Miss USA 2025

History

Hawaii is the most recent state to participate in Miss USA, first competing in 1962. Prior to being admitted to full statehood in 1959, it sent delegates to Miss Universe. Despite the late start, it has been one of the most successful: Hawaii's first Miss Hawaii USA, Macel Wilson, won the Miss USA title. Four Miss USA winners came from Hawaii, one of four states with four titles (only second to Texas and California). Though many Miss USA winners and semifinalists came from Hawaii, relatively few have placed as runners-up. Two previously competed at Miss Teen USA. Kelly Hu, Miss Teen USA 1985, [1] became the first Miss Teen USA winner to win a Miss title, in 1993.

Many Miss Hawaii USA titleholders competed at a number of international pageants. Similar to Miss South Carolina USA, there was one Miss Hawaii USA that competed at Miss World. Another one competed at Miss International. Four of the winners competed at Miss Universe, after winning Miss USA. Six titleholders represented the United States or Hawaii at major international pageants, with Miss Hawaii USA 1997, Brook Lee, winning the title of Miss USA 1997 and capturing the crown of Miss Universe 1997, [2] one of only 9 Miss USA winners to become Miss Universe in the history of the pageant.

Results summary

Placements

Hawaii holds a record of 26 placements at Miss USA.

Awards

Winners

Color key
YearNameHometownAge
[notes 2] 		Local titlePlacement at Miss USASpecial awards at Miss USANotes
2025 Issha Rose Mata Hilo 29Miss HiloTBATBA
2024 Breea Yamat Oahu 27Miss OahuTop 10
  • Sister of Kiana Yamat, Miss Hawaii USA 2022
2023 Savannah Gankiewicz Kihei [3] 27Miss Wailea1st Runner-upBest State Costume
2022 Kiana Yamat Honolulu 27Miss Waikiki
  • Sister of Breea Yamat, Miss Hawaii USA 2024
2021 Allison Chu Honolulu 26Miss Wailupe
2020 Samantha Neyland Honolulu 24Miss Hawaii KaiTop 10
2019 Lacie Choy Honolulu 20Miss WaikikiTop 15
2018 Julianne Chu Honolulu 26Miss Honolulu
2017 Julie Kuo Honolulu 23Miss Honolulu
2016 Chelsea Hardin Honolulu 24Miss East Oahu1st Runner-upBeing crowned Miss Hawaii USA was her first pageant experience.
2015 Emma Wo Honolulu 25Miss ManoaTop 11
2014 Moani Hara Manoa 24Miss Nuuanu
2013 Brianna Acosta[ citation needed ] Waialua 21
2012 Brandie Cazimero [8] Hawaii Kai 26
2011 Angela Byrd Honolulu 18Top 8
  • Competed and won Miss LVIMS 2015. Competed and won Miss International Model 2016.
2010 Renee Mokihana Nobriga Pupukea 25
2009 Aureana Tseu Mililani 25
2008 Jonelle Layfield Kaneohe 22
2007 Chanel Wise Honolulu 21Top 10
2006 Radasha Hoʻohuli Nanakuli 26
2005 Jennifer Fairbank Honolulu 25
2004 Justine Michioka Kapaa 22
  • Sister of Miss Hawaii USA 2003, Alicia Michioka
2003 Alicia Michioka Kapaa 24Top 10
  • Sister of Miss Hawaii USA 2004, Justine Michioka. Later Mrs. Hawaii America 2010. [9]
  • Current director of Hawaii (both Miss & Teen) pageant
2002 Juliet Lighter Honolulu 26
2001 Christy Leonard Lahaina 22
2000 Michelle Kaplan Kona 23Miss Congeniality
1999 Trini-Ann KaopuikiHonolulu26
1998 Tiffini HerculesKailua
1997 Leslie-Ann Lum Honolulu 26did not compete
Brook Lee Pearl City 26Miss USA 1997 [2] Miss Universe 1997
1996 Kuʻualoha TaylorHilo25Miss Congeniality
1995 Lynn VesnefskiHonolulu19Style Award
1994 Nadine TanegaHonolulu26Top 12
1993 Kelly Hu Honolulu 24Top 6 [1] Miss Photogenic [1]
1992 Heather Hays Honolulu 20
  • Currently a newscaster at the Fox affiliate in Dallas (KDFW)
1991 Kym Lehua DigmonHonolulu25Top 11
1990 Leimomi BacalsoEwa Beach20
1989 Julie LarsonHonolulu21
1988 Paula PrevostHonolulu
1987 Deborah Laslo Haleiwa
1986 Toni Costa Kailua 20
1985 Tina Machado Waipahu 25Top 10
1984 Puna Stillman Honolulu
1983 Zoe Roach Waipahu
1982 Vanessa DuBois Honolulu 23Top 12
1981 Teri Ann Linn [10] Honolulu 204th Runner-up
1980 Carol ChingKaneohe
1979 Blanche Leialoha MaʻaKaneohe202nd Runner-up
1978 Judi Andersen Honolulu 20Miss USA 1978
1977 Cely De CastroHonolulu23Top 12
1976 Brenda Texeira Hilo
1975 Lois Mililani Wise Honolulu 21Top 12
1974 Joan Ottensmeyer [12] [notes 3] Kaneohe
1973 Camille Deubel Kaneohe
1972 Tanya Denise Wilson Honolulu 21Miss USA 1972
1971 Deborah GibsonHonolulu
1970 Donna HartleyHonolulu
1969 Stephanie QuintanaHonolulu22Top 15
1968 Carol SeymourWaianae24Top 15
1967 Nancy Victoria BanksHonolulu
1966 Judith WolskiHonolulu18Top 15
1965 Elithe AguiarKapaa20Top 15
1964 Wanda Byrd18
1963 Susan MolinaHonolulu18
1962 Macel Wilson Honolulu 19Miss USA 1962 [14]
1961 did not compete
1960 Gordean Leewithdrew from competing in Miss USA 1960
1959 Patricia VisserHonolulucompeted as a territory at Miss Universe 1959
1958 Geri Hoo*Honolulu18competed as a territory at Miss Universe 1958 2nd Runner-up at Miss Universe 1958
1957 Ramona TongHonolulucompeted as a territory at Miss Universe 1957
1956 Olan PeltierDid not compete (No shows) at Miss UniverseNo show at Miss Universe 1956.
1955 Audrey Jennie Yvonne GarciaNo show at Miss Universe 1955.
1954 Gertrude Kapi'olani MillerHonoluluNo show at Miss Universe 1954.
Previously Miss Hawaii 1954 and won a Non-Finalist Talent Award at Miss America 1955.
1953 Aileen Lauwae StoneHonolulucompeted as a territory at Miss Universe 1953
1952 Elza EdsmanHonolulu19competed as a territory at Miss Universe 1952 1st Runner-up at Miss Universe 1952

Notes

  1. ↑ Savannah Gankiewicz was originally 1st runner-up at Miss USA 2023 but assumed title after the winner relinquished her title for personal reasons.
  2. ↑ Age at the time of crowning
  3. ↑ Agnes Lum was initially crowned, but later disqualified for being under the age requirements. Cf. Ottensmeyer v. Baskin Archived 2019-12-11 at the Wayback Machine

    References

    1. 1 2 3 "Hawaiian girl crowned as Miss Teen". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution . January 23, 1985. Retrieved 4 November 2010. Kelly Ann Hu of Hawaii was crowned Miss Teen USA 1985 on Tuesday night in Miami and won $100,000 worth of prizes that go with the title. "Michigan crowned Miss USA". The Wichita Eagle . February 20, 1993. Retrieved 4 November 2010. The other three were Miss Hawaii, Kelly Hu; Miss Pennsylvania, Kimmarie Johnson; and Miss New Jersey, Amy Fissel. Also earlier, Hawaii's Kelly Hu was named most photogenic.
    2. 1 2 "Miss USA is crowned the new Miss Universe". South Florida Sun-Sentinel . May 17, 1997. Archived from the original on November 7, 2012. Retrieved 4 November 2010. Brook Lee, a 26-year-old from Pearl City, Hawaii, was chosen from among 74 delegates. "Also noted..." San Jose Mercury News . February 6, 1997. Retrieved 4 November 2010. Miss Hawaii, Brook Lee, was crowned the new Miss USA on Wednesday night. Miss Idaho, Brandi Sherwood, was the first runner-up.
    3. ↑ "Maui native represented Hawaii at Miss USA, winning 1st place for an outfit honoring Lahaina". Hawaii News Now . October 16, 2024.
    4. ↑ "The Miss USA Organization is thrilled to announce that Miss Hawaii USA Savannah Gankiewicz is Miss USA 2023. She will be crowned in her native state of Hawaii in a celebratory coronation on Wednesday, May 15". Miss USA. May 9, 2024.
    5. ↑ ʻUfi, Elizabeth (May 9, 2024). "Miss Hawaii USA 2023 to be crowned as Miss USA". KHON2 .
    6. ↑ "FULL LIST: Winners, Mutya ng Pilipinas 2017". Rappler . 4 August 2017. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
    7. ↑ Everington, Keoni (16 May 2017). "Julie Kuo first Taiwanese-born woman to compete in Miss USA contest". Taiwan News.
    8. ↑ Miss Hawaii USA 2012 Brandie Cazimero - Hawaii News Now - KGMB and KHNL Home - Honolulu
    9. ↑ "Kapa'a native crowned 2010 Mrs. Hawai'i". The Garden Island . August 5, 2010. Archived from the original on February 3, 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2010.
    10. ↑ "TV People". Newsday . Jul 31, 1988. Archived from the original on November 7, 2012. Retrieved 4 November 2010. The actress was voted fourth runner-up.
    11. ↑ "Miss South Africa Wins Title". Los Angeles Times . July 25, 1978. Archived from the original on November 7, 2012. Retrieved 4 November 2010.
    12. ↑ "Ottensmeyer v. Baskin". FindACase. Archived from the original on December 11, 2019. Retrieved January 23, 2019. (Appeals case April 2, 1981)
    13. ↑ "Miss Australia Named As 1972 Miss Universe". New York Times . July 30, 1972. Retrieved 4 November 2010. Miss United States, Tanya Wilson, 21, of Honolulu, had been among the 12 semifinalists selected earlier tonight.
    14. ↑ "Miss USA is beauty from Hawaii". Chicago Tribune . July 13, 1962. Archived from the original on November 7, 2012. Retrieved 4 November 2010. Tears of joy stream down the cheeks of Macel Wilson, Miss Hawaii, as she is crowned Miss USA in a beauty pageant in Miami Beach.
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