Miss Hawaii USA
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.
| Formation | 1952 |
|---|---|
| Type | Beauty pageant |
| Headquarters | Honolulu |
| Location | |
Membership | Miss Universe (1952–1959) Miss USA (1960–present) |
Official language | English |
Exec. Director | Alicia Michioka |
| Website | Official website |
Kiana Yamat of Honolulu was crowned Miss Hawaii USA 2022 on February 19, 2022 at Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu. She represented Hawaii for the title of Miss USA 2022.
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
Results summary
Placements
- Miss USAs: Macel Wilson (1962), Tanya Wilson (1972), Judi Andersen (1978), Brook Lee (1997)
- 1st runner-up: Chelsea Hardin (2016)
- 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)
- Top 15: Elithe Aguiar (1965), Judith Wolski (1966), Carol Seymour (1968), Stephanie Quintana (1969), Lacie Choy (2019)
Hawaii holds a record of 24 placements at Miss USA.
Awards
- Miss Congeniality: Ku'ualoha Taylor (1996), Michelle Kaplan (2000)
- Miss Photogenic: Kelly Hu (1993)
- Style Award: Lynn Vesnefski (1995)
Winners
- Color key
- Declared as Winner
- Ended as runner-up or finalist
- Ended as one of the semifinalists
| Year | Name | Hometown | Age [notes 1] | Placement at Miss USA | Special awards at Miss USA | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA | ||
| 2022 | Kiana Yamat | Honolulu | 27 | |||
| 2021 | Allison Chu | Honolulu | 26 | Previously Miss Hawaii 2016, sister of Miss Hawaii Teen USA 2010 and Miss Hawaii USA 2018 Julianne Chu | ||
| 2020 | Samantha Neyland | Honolulu | 24 | 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 | Top 15 | ||
| 2018 | Julianne Chu | Honolulu | 26 | Previously Miss Hawaii Teen USA 2010. Sister to Miss Hawaii 2016 Allison Chu | ||
| 2017 | Julie Kuo | Honolulu | 23 | Born in Taiwan[3] | ||
| 2016 | Chelsea Keolani Hardin | Honolulu | 24 | 1st Runner-up | Being crowned Miss Hawaii USA was her first pageant experience. | |
| 2015 | Emma Wo | Honolulu | 25 | Top 11 | Previously Miss Hawaii Teen USA 2008 | |
| 2014 | Moani Hara | Manoa | 24 | Previously Miss Hawaii's Outstanding Teen 2007 | ||
| 2013 | Brianna Acosta[4] | Waialua | 21 | Competed at Miss International 2015, representing Hawaii | ||
| 2012 | Brandie Cazimero[5] | 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 |
| |
| 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 |
| |
| Brook Antoinette Mahealani 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[7] | 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[8] | |
| 1977 | Cely De Castro | Honolulu | 23 | Top 12 | ||
| 1976 | Brenda Texeira | Hilo | ||||
| 1975 | Lois Mililani Wise | Honolulu | 21 | Top 12 | ||
| 1974 | Joan Ottensmeyer[9][notes 2] | Kaneohe | ||||
| 1973 | Camille Deubel | Kaneohe | ||||
| 1972 | Tanya Denise Wilson | Honolulu | 21 | Miss USA 1972 | Top 12 semifinalist at Miss Universe 1972[10] | |
| 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 Patricia Leilani Wilson | Honolulu | 19 | Miss USA 1962[11] | Top 15 semifinalist at Miss Universe 1962 | |
| 1961 | did not compete | |||||
| 1960 | Gordean Lee | withdrew | ||||
| 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 Kananionapua Edsman | Honolulu | 19 | competed as a territory at Miss Universe | 1st Runner-up at Miss Universe 1952 | |
- Notes to table
References
- ^ a b c "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.
- ^ a b "Miss USA is crowned the new Miss Universe". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. May 17, 1997. 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.
- ^ Everington, Keoni (16 May 2017). "Julie Kuo first Taiwanese-born woman to compete in Miss USA contest". Taiwan News.
- ^ "Brianna Acosta Crowned Miss Hawaii USA 2013". Beauty Pageant News. January 21, 2013. Retrieved October 21, 2012.
- ^ Miss Hawaii USA 2012 Brandie Cazimero - Hawaii News Now - KGMB and KHNL Home - Honolulu
- ^ "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.
- ^ "TV People". Newsday. Jul 31, 1988. Retrieved 4 November 2010.
The actress was voted fourth runner-up.
- ^ "Miss South Africa Wins Title". Los Angeles Times. July 25, 1978. Retrieved 4 November 2010.
- ^ "Ottensmeyer v. Baskin". FindACase. Retrieved January 23, 2019. (Appeals case April 2, 1981)
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Miss USA is beauty from Hawaii". Chicago Tribune. July 13, 1962. 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