Top Qs
Timeline
Chat
Perspective
Miss Hawaii USA
Beauty pageant competition From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Remove ads
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.
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
Remove ads
History
Summarize
Perspective
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.
Remove ads
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
Chelsea Hardin, Miss Hawaii USA 2016
Savannah Gankiewicz, Miss Hawaii USA 2023 and Miss USA 2023
Remove ads
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
Remove ads
Notes
- Savannah Gankiewicz was originally 1st runner-up at Miss USA 2023 but assumed title after the winner relinquished her title for personal reasons.
- Age at the time of crowning
- 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
External links
Wikiwand - on
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.
Remove ads