# 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.
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
| Year | Name | Hometown | Age | 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 | 27 | Miss Wailea | 1st Runner-up | Best State Costume | Became Miss USA 2023 following the resignation of Noelia Voigt Previously Mutya ng Pilipinas Overseas Filipino Communities 2017 |
| 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 |
| 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 | Waialua | 21 | | | | Competed at Miss International 2015, representing Hawaii |
| 2012 | Brandie Cazimero | 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. 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 | did not compete | Originally first runner-up, assumed the title when Brook Lee crowned Miss USA 1997 Previously Miss Hawaii Teen USA 1987 |
| 1997 | Brook Lee | Pearl City | 26 | | Miss USA 1997 | | 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 | Miss Photogenic | 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 | 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 |
| 1977 | Cely De Castro | Honolulu | 23 | | Top 12 | | |
| 1976 | Brenda Texeira | Hilo | | | | | |
| 1975 | Lois Mililani Wise | Honolulu | 21 | | Top 12 | | |
| 1974 | Joan Ottensmeyer | Kaneohe | | | | | |
| 1973 | Camille Deubel | Kaneohe | | | | | |
| 1972 | Tanya Denise Wilson | Honolulu | 21 | | Miss USA 1972 | | Top 12 semifinalist at Miss Universe 1972 |
| 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 | | Top 15 semifinalist at Miss Universe 1962 |
| 1961 | did not compete | did not compete | did not compete | did not compete | did not compete | did not compete | did not compete |
| 1960 | Gordean Lee | | | | withdrew from competing in Miss Universe 1960 | withdrew from competing in Miss Universe 1960 | withdrew from competing in Miss Universe 1960 |
| 1959 | Patricia Visser | Honolulu | | | competed as a territory at Miss Universe | competed as a territory at Miss Universe | competed as a territory at Miss Universe |
| 1958 | Geri Hoo* | Honolulu | 18 | | competed as a territory at Miss Universe | 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 | competed as a territory at Miss Universe | competed as a territory at Miss Universe |
| 1956 | did not compete | did not compete | did not compete | did not compete | did not compete | did not compete | did not compete |
| 1955 | did not compete | did not compete | did not compete | did not compete | did not compete | did not compete | did not compete |
| 1954 | did not compete | did not compete | did not compete | did not compete | did not compete | did not compete | did not compete |
| 1953 | Aileen Lauwae Stone | Honolulu | | | competed as a territory at Miss Universe | competed as a territory at Miss Universe | competed as a territory at Miss Universe |
| 1952 | Elza Edsman | Honolulu | 19 | | competed as a territory at Miss Universe | competed as a territory at Miss Universe | 1st Runner-up at Miss Universe 1952 |