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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.

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, 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, 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)
• 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

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

• Miss USA state pageants
• Hawaii culture
• Women in Hawaii
• Recurring events established in 1952
• 1952 establishments in Hawaii
• Annual events in Hawaii