Miss Hawaii USA

For the state pageant affiliated with Miss America, see Miss Hawaii. For the state pageant affiliated with Miss World America, see Miss Hawaii World.

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.

Miss Hawaii USA

Formation	1952
Type	Beauty pageant
Headquarters	Honolulu
Location	Hawaii
Membership	Miss Universe (1952 – 1959) Miss USA (1960 – Present)
Official language	English
Executive Director	Alicia Michioka
Website	Official website

Breea Yamat of Oahu was crowned Miss Hawaii USA 2024 on April 21, 2024 at Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu.

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 8 Miss USA winners to become Miss Universe in the history of the pageant.

Gallery of titleholders

• 
  Teri Ann Linn, Miss Hawaii USA 1981 at her Punahou School reunion in June 2009
• 
  Leimomi Bacalso, Miss Hawaii USA 1990 in the 1989 Mililani Town Christmas Parade
• 
  Kelly Hu, Miss Hawaii USA 1993 and Miss Teen USA 1985, at a public event
• 
  Brook Lee, Miss Hawaii USA 1997, Miss USA 1997 and Miss Universe 1997
• 
  Chelsea Hardin, Miss Hawaii USA 2016
• 
  Savannah Gankiewicz, Miss Hawaii USA 2023 and Miss USA 2023

Results summary

Placements

• Miss USAs: Macel Wilson (1962), Tanya Wilson (1972), Judi Andersen (1978), Brook Lee (1997)
• 1st runner-up: Chelsea Hardin (2016), Savannah Gankiewicz (2023)^{[notes 1]}
• 2nd runner-up: Blanche Leialoha Maʻa (1979)
• 4th runner-up: Teri Ann Linn (1981)
• Top 6: Kelly Hu (1993)
• Top 8/10/11/12: Lois Wise (1975), Cely De Castro (1977), Vanessa Dubois (1982), Tina Machado (1985), Kym Digman (1991), Nadine Tanega (1994), Alicia Michioka (2003), Chanel Wise (2007), Angela Byrd (2011), Emma Wo (2015), Samantha Neyland (2020), Breea Yamat (2024)
• Top 15: Elithe Aguiar (1965), Judith Wolski (1966), Carol Seymour (1968), Stephanie Quintana (1969), Lacie Choy (2019)

Hawaii holds a record of 26 placements at Miss USA.

Awards

• Miss Congeniality: Ku'ualoha Taylor (1996), Michelle Kaplan (2000)
• Miss Photogenic: Kelly Hu (1993)
• Style Award: Lynn Vesnefski (1995)
• Best State Costume: Savannah Gankiewicz (2023)

Winners

Color key

•   Declared as Winner
•   Ended as runner-up or finalist
•   Ended as one of the semifinalists

Year	Name	Hometown	Age [notes 2]	Local title	Placement at Miss USA	Special awards at Miss USA	Notes
2024	Breea Yamat	Oahu	27	Miss Oahu	Top 10		Sister of Kiana Yamat, Miss Hawaii USA 2022
2023	Savannah Gankiewicz	Kihei[3]	27	Miss Wailea	1st Runner-up	Best State Costume	Became Miss USA 2023 following the resignation of Noelia Voigt[4][5] Previously Mutya ng Pilipinas Overseas Filipino Communities 2017[6]
2022	Kiana Yamat	Honolulu	27	Miss Waikiki			Sister of Breea Yamat, Miss Hawaii USA 2024
2021	Allison Chu	Honolulu	26	Miss Wailupe			Previously Miss Hawaii 2016 Sister of Miss Hawaii Teen USA 2010 and Miss Hawaii USA 2018 Julianne Chu
2020	Samantha Neyland	Honolulu	24	Miss Hawaii Kai	Top 10		Previously Miss Hawaii Teen USA 2013 and top 16 at Miss Teen USA 2013. First African American Miss Hawaii USA
2019	Lacie Choy	Honolulu	20	Miss Waikiki	Top 15
2018	Julianne Chu	Honolulu	26	Miss Honolulu			Previously Miss Hawaii Teen USA 2010. Sister to Miss Hawaii 2016 Allison Chu
2017	Julie Kuo	Honolulu	23	Miss Honolulu			Born in Taiwan[7]
2016	Chelsea Hardin	Honolulu	24	Miss East Oahu	1st Runner-up		Being crowned Miss Hawaii USA was her first pageant experience.
2015	Emma Wo	Honolulu	25	Miss Manoa	Top 11		Previously Miss Hawaii Teen USA 2008
2014	Moani Hara	Manoa	24	Miss Nuuanu			Previously Miss Hawaii's Outstanding Teen 2007
2013	Brianna Acosta[citation needed]	Waialua	21				Competed at Miss International 2015, representing Hawaii
2012	Brandie Cazimero[8]	Hawaii Kai	26
2011	Angela Byrd	Honolulu	18		Top 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				Previously Miss Hawaii Teen USA 1999
2008	Jonelle Layfield	Kaneohe	22				Sister of Ashley Layfield, Miss Hawaii 2007
2007	Chanel Wise	Honolulu	21		Top 10
2006	Radasha Hoʻohuli	Nanakuli	26				Miss Hawaii World 2001 and Represented Hawaii at Miss World 2001
2005	Jennifer Fairbank	Honolulu	25
2004	Justine Michioka	Kapaa	22				Sister of Miss Hawaii USA 2003, Alicia Michioka
2003	Alicia Michioka	Kapaa	24		Top 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	23			Miss Congeniality
1999	Trini-Ann Kaopuiki	Honolulu	26				Previously Miss Hawaii Teen USA 1991
1998	Tiffini Hercules	Kailua
1997	Leslie-Ann Lum	Honolulu	26		did not compete		Originally first runner-up, assumed the title when Brook Lee crowned Miss USA 1997 Previously Miss Hawaii Teen USA 1987
	Brook Lee	Pearl City	26		Miss USA 1997[2]		Miss Universe 1997
1996	Kuʻualoha Taylor	Hilo	25			Miss Congeniality
1995	Lynn Vesnefski	Honolulu	19			Style Award
1994	Nadine Tanega	Honolulu	26		Top 12		Miss Hawaii International 1990 and 2nd Runner-Up at Miss International 1990. Miss Hawaii World 1992 and 3rd Runner-Up at Miss World America 1992.
1993	Kelly Hu	Honolulu	24		Top 6[1]	Miss Photogenic[1]	Actress, previously Miss Hawaii Teen USA 1985 and Miss Teen USA 1985
1992	Heather Hays	Honolulu	20				Currently a newscaster at the Fox affiliate in Dallas (KDFW)
1991	Kym Lehua Digmon	Honolulu	25		Top 11
1990	Leimomi Bacalso	Ewa Beach	20
1989	Julie Larson	Honolulu	21				Mrs. Hawaii America 1991
1988	Paula Prevost	Honolulu
1987	Deborah Laslo	Haleiwa
1986	Toni Costa	Kailua	20
1985	Tina Machado	Waipahu	25		Top 10
1984	Puna Stillman	Honolulu
1983	Zoe Roach	Waipahu
1982	Vanessa DuBois	Honolulu	23		Top 12
1981	Teri Ann Linn[10]	Honolulu	20		4th Runner-up		Actress, starred in The Bold and the Beautiful.
1980	Carol Ching	Kaneohe
1979	Blanche Leialoha Maʻa	Kaneohe	20		2nd Runner-up
1978	Judi Andersen	Honolulu	20		Miss USA 1978		1st runner-up at Miss Universe 1978[11]
1977	Cely De Castro	Honolulu	23		Top 12
1976	Brenda Texeira	Hilo
1975	Lois Mililani Wise	Honolulu	21		Top 12
1974	Joan Ottensmeyer[12][notes 3]	Kaneohe
1973	Camille Deubel	Kaneohe
1972	Tanya Denise Wilson	Honolulu	21		Miss USA 1972		Top 12 semifinalist at Miss Universe 1972[13]
1971	Deborah Gibson	Honolulu
1970	Donna Hartley	Honolulu
1969	Stephanie Quintana	Honolulu	22		Top 15
1968	Carol Seymour	Waianae	24		Top 15
1967	Nancy Victoria Banks	Honolulu
1966	Judith Wolski	Honolulu	18		Top 15
1965	Elithe Aguiar	Kapaa	20		Top 15
1964	Wanda Byrd		18
1963	Susan Molina	Honolulu	18				Later Miss Hawaii World 1963 and Top 15 semifinalist in Miss USA World 1963
1962	Macel Wilson	Honolulu	19		Miss USA 1962[14]		Top 15 semifinalist at Miss Universe 1962
1961	did not compete
1960	Gordean Lee				withdrew from competing in Miss Universe 1960
1959	Patricia Visser	Honolulu			competed as a territory at Miss Universe
1958	Geri Hoo*	Honolulu	18		competed as a territory at Miss Universe		2nd Runner-up at Miss Universe 1958
1957	Ramona Tong		Honolulu		competed as a territory at Miss Universe
1956	did not compete
1955
1954
1953	Aileen Lauwae Stone	Honolulu			competed as a territory at Miss Universe
1952	Elza Edsman	Honolulu	19		competed as a territory at Miss Universe		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. "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. "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.

External links

• Miss Hawaii USA official webpage