Your ultimate Miss USA state pageant resource
Take a trip back into the history of the Miss Hawaii USA and Teen USA pageants, from the first winner to the most recent. Get to know every single Miss and Teen titleholder with a full listing, hometown map and extensive photo archive, with state pageant photos, Miss USA and Teen USA competition photos and more.
Miss Hawaii USA history is unique, as Hawaii competed at Miss Universe prior to statehood – much to the chagrin of the first Miss Hawaii USA Elsa Edsman (as you can read in the news clipping below). Their first entrant at Miss USA, Macel Wilson, won the 1962 title. Hawaii is home to Miss Universe 1997 Brook Lee, two more Miss USA winners, and two Miss Teen USAs, including actress Kelly Hu. Despite the concentration of winners from Oahu, the local system established in Hawaii in recent years has lead to a resurgence of winners from other islands, including the 2023 winners Savannah Gankiewicz and Noelani DeNisi who are the first duo both from Maui. Delve into the archives with old pageant photos, news clippings, a collection of Miss USA and Teen USA competition photos and more.
26 • Pearl City
USA’s sixth Miss Universe
19 • Honolulu
Semi-finalist
at Miss Universe
22 • Honolulu
Semi-finalist
at Miss Universe
20 • Honolulu
1st runner-up
at Miss Universe
16 • Honolulu
18 • Kapaa
20 • Honolulu
Top 15
at Miss USA
24 • Honolulu
Top 10
at Miss USA
26 • Honolulu
27 • Honolulu
27 • Kihei
Winner
Macel Wilson (1962), Tanya Wilson (1972), Judi Andersen (1978), Brook Lee (1997)
1st runner-up
Chelsea Hardin (2016)
2nd runner-up
Blanche Leialoha Maa (1979)
4th runner-up
Teri Ann Linn (1981)
Top 5/6
Kelly Hu (1993)
Semi-finalist
Judith Wolski (1966), Carol Ann Seymour (1968) Stephanie Quintana (1969), Lois Mililani Wise (1975), Celita De Castro (1977), Vanessa DuBois (1982), Tina Machado (1985), Toni Costa (1986), Kym Digmon (1991), Nadine Tanega (1994), Alicia Michioka (2003)
Top 8/10/11*
Chanel Wise (2007), Angela Byrd (2011) Emma Wo* (2015), Samantha Neyland (2020),
Top 15/16/20*
Lacie Choy (2019)
* Where the semi-finalists are cut in multiple stages before the top 5 or 6
Congeniality
Ku’ualoha Taylor (1996), Michelle Kaplan (2000)
Photogenic
Kelly Hu (1993)
Other Awards
Style Award • Lynn Vesnefski (1995)
| IMAGE | YEAR | NAME | HOMETOWN | AGE | PLACEMENT | AWARD | NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 2023 | Savannah Gankiewicz | Kihei | 27 | |||
 | 2022 | Kiana Yamat | Honolulu | 27 | |||
 | 2021 | Allie Chu^ | Honolulu | 26 | Previously Miss HI 2016; sister of Miss HI USA 2018 Julie Chu | ||
 | 2020 | Samantha Neyland* | Honolulu | 24 | Top 10 | Previously Miss HI Teen USA 2013 (SF Miss Teen USA) | |
 | 2019 | Lacie Choy | Honolulu | 20 | Top 15 | ||
 | 2018 | Julie Chu* | Honolulu | 26 | Previously Miss HI Teen USA 2010; sister of Miss HI USA 2021 Allie Chu | ||
 | 2017 | Julie Kuo | Honolulu | 23 | |||
 | 2016 | Chelsea Hardin | Honolulu | 24 | 1st runner-up | ||
 | 2015 | Emma Wo* | Honolulu | 25 | Top 11 | Previously Miss HI Teen USA 2008 | |
 | 2014 | Moani Hara° | Honolulu | 24 | Previously Miss HI's OT 2007 | ||
 | 2013 | Brianna Acosta | Waialua | 21 | |||
 | 2012 | Brandie Cazimero | Hawaii Kai | 26 | |||
 | 2011 | Angela Byrd | Honolulu | 23 | Top 8 | ||
 | 2010 | Renee Nobriga | Haleiwa | 26 | |||
 | 2009 | Aureana Tseu* | Mililani | 25 | Previously Miss HI Teen USA 1999 | ||
 | 2008 | Jonelle Layfield | Kane'ohe | 22 | |||
 | 2007 | Chanel Wise | Honolulu | 21 | Top 10 | ||
 | 2006 | Radasha Ho'ohuli | Nanakuli | 26 | |||
 | 2005 | Jennifer Fairbank | Honolulu | 25 | |||
 | 2004 | Justine Michioka | Kapaa | 22 | Sister of Miss HI USA 2003 Alicia Michioka | ||
 | 2003 | Alicia Michioka | Kapaa | 24 | Semi-finalist | Sister of Miss HI USA 2004 Justine Michioka | |
 | 2002 | Juliet Lighter | Honolulu | 26 | |||
 | 2001 | Christy Leonard | Lahaina | 22 | |||
 | 2000 | Michelle Kaplan | Kona | 23 | Congeniality | ||
 | 1999 | Trini-Ann Kaopuiki* | Honolulu | 25 | Previously Miss HI Teen USA 1991 | ||
 | 1998 | Tiffini Hercules | Kailua | 26 | |||
 | 1997 | Leslie-Ann Lum* | Honolulu | 26 | Succeeded Brook Lee as Miss HI USA; previously Miss HI Teen USA 1987 | ||
 | 1997 | BROOK LEE | Pearl City | 26 | Miss USA & Miss Universe | ||
 | 1996 | Ku'ualoha Taylor | Hilo | 25 | Congeniality | ||
 | 1995 | Lynn Vesnefski | Honolulu | 21 | Style | ||
 | 1994 | Nadine Tanega | Honolulu | 26 | Semi-finalist | ||
 | 1993 | Kelly Hu* | Honolulu | 25 | Top 6 | Photogenic | Previously Miss HI Teen USA & Miss Teen USA 1985 |
 | 1992 | Heather Hays | Honolulu | 25 | |||
 | 1991 | Kym Digmon | Honolulu | 25 | Semi-finalist | ||
 | 1990 | Leimomi Bacalso | Ewa Beach | 22 | |||
 | 1989 | Julie Larson | Honolulu | 21 | |||
 | 1988 | Paula Prevost | Honolulu | 20 | |||
 | 1987 | Deborah Laslo | Haleiwa | 24 | |||
 | 1986 | Toni Costa | Kailua | 20 | Semi-finalist | As Tina Machado's first runner-up, was briefly Miss Hawaii USA 1985 | |
 | 1985 | Tina Machado | Waipahu | 25 | Semi-finalist | Briefly dethroned for bing overage; regained title after a $5 million lawsuit | |
 | 1984 | Puna Stillman | Honolulu | 23 | |||
 | 1983 | Zoe Ann Roach | Waipahu | 24 | |||
 | 1982 | Vanessa DuBois | Honolulu | 23 | Semi-finalist | ||
 | 1981 | Teri Ann Linn | Honolulu | 21 | 4th runner-up | ||
 | 1980 | Carol Ching | Kaneohe | 21 | |||
 | 1979 | Blanche Leialoha Maa | Kaneohe | 20 | 2nd runner-up | ||
 | 1978 | JUDI ANDERSEN | Honolulu | 20 | Miss USA | 1RU Miss Universe 1978 | |
 | 1977 | Celita De Castro | Honolulu | 23 | Semi-finalist | ||
 | 1976 | Brenda Texeira | Hilo | 19 | |||
 | 1975 | Lois Mililani Wise | Honolulu | 21 | Semi-finalist | ||
 | 1974 | Joan Ottensmeyer | Kaneohe | 21 | Succeeded Agnes Lum as Miss HI USA 1974 | ||
 | 1974 | Agnes Lum | Disqualified prior to Miss USA as she was 3 days underage | ||||
 | 1973 | Camille Deubel | Kaneohe | 19 | |||
 | 1972 | TANYA WILSON | Honolulu | 21 | Miss USA | SF Miss Universe 1972 | |
 | 1971 | Deborah Gibson | Honolulu | 18 | |||
 | 1970 | Donna Hartley | Honolulu | 22 | |||
 | 1969 | Stephanie Quintana | Honolulu | 23 | Semi-finalist | ||
 | 1968 | Carol Ann Seymour | Nanakuli | 24 | Semi-finalist | ||
 | 1967 | Nancy Banks | Honolulu | 18 | † 2013 | ||
 | 1966 | Judith Wolski | Honolulu | 18 | Semi-finalist | ||
 | 1965 | Elithe Aguiar | Kapaa | 20 | |||
 | 1964 | Wanda Byrd | Honolulu | 18 | |||
 | 1963 | Susan Molina | Honolulu | 20 | |||
 | 1962 | MACEL WILSON | Honolulu | 19 | Miss USA | SF Miss Universe 1962 |
| YEAR | NAME | HOMETOWN | AGE | PLACEMENT | AWARD | NOTES | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 1959 | Patricia Visser | Honolulu | 21 | |||
 | 1958 | Geri Hoo | Honolulu | 18 | 2nd runner-up | † 2007 | |
 | 1957 | Ramona Tong | Honolulu | 19 | † 2020 | ||
| 1956 | Did Not Compete | ||||||
| 1955 | Did Not Compete | ||||||
| 1954 | Did Not Compete | ||||||
 | 1953 | Aileen Lauwae Stone | Honolulu | 20 | |||
 | 1952 | Elza Kananionapua Edsman | Honolulu | 19 |
| YEAR | NAME | HOMETOWN | AGE | PLACEMENT | AWARD | NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Savannah Gankiewicz | Kihei | 27 | |||
| 2022 | Kiana Yamat | Honolulu | 27 | |||
| 2021 | Allie Chu^ | Honolulu | 26 | Previously Miss HI 2016; sister of Miss HI USA 2018 Julie Chu | ||
| 2020 | Samantha Neyland* | Honolulu | 24 | Top 10 | Previously Miss HI Teen USA 2013 (SF Miss Teen USA) | |
| 2019 | Lacie Choy | Honolulu | 20 | Top 15 | ||
| 2018 | Julie Chu* | Honolulu | 26 | Previously Miss HI Teen USA 2010; sister of Miss HI USA 2021 Allie Chu | ||
| 2017 | Julie Kuo | Honolulu | 23 | |||
| 2016 | Chelsea Hardin | Honolulu | 24 | 1st runner-up | ||
| 2015 | Emma Wo* | Honolulu | 25 | Top 11 | Previously Miss HI Teen USA 2008 | |
| 2014 | Moani Hara° | Honolulu | 24 | Previously Miss HI's OT 2007 | ||
| 2013 | Brianna Acosta | Waialua | 21 | |||
| 2012 | Brandie Cazimero | Hawaii Kai | 26 | |||
| 2011 | Angela Byrd | Honolulu | 23 | Top 8 | ||
| 2010 | Renee Nobriga | Haleiwa | 26 | |||
| 2009 | Aureana Tseu* | Mililani | 25 | Previously Miss HI Teen USA 1999 | ||
| 2008 | Jonelle Layfield | Kane'ohe | 22 | |||
| 2007 | Chanel Wise | Honolulu | 21 | Top 10 | ||
| 2006 | Radasha Ho'ohuli | Nanakuli | 26 | |||
| 2005 | Jennifer Fairbank | Honolulu | 25 | |||
| 2004 | Justine Michioka | Kapaa | 22 | Sister of Miss HI USA 2003 Alicia Michioka | ||
| 2003 | Alicia Michioka | Kapaa | 24 | Semi-finalist | Sister of Miss HI USA 2004 Justine Michioka | |
| 2002 | Juliet Lighter | Honolulu | 26 | |||
| 2001 | Christy Leonard | Lahaina | 22 | |||
| 2000 | Michelle Kaplan | Kona | 23 | Congeniality | ||
| 1999 | Trini-Ann Kaopuiki* | Honolulu | 25 | Previously Miss HI Teen USA 1991 | ||
| 1998 | Tiffini Hercules | Kailua | 26 | |||
| 1997 | Leslie-Ann Lum* | Honolulu | 26 | Succeeded Brook Lee as Miss HI USA; previously Miss HI Teen USA 1987 | ||
| 1997 | BROOK LEE | Pearl City | 26 | Miss USA & Miss Universe | ||
| 1996 | Ku'ualoha Taylor | Hilo | 25 | Congeniality | ||
| 1995 | Lynn Vesnefski | Honolulu | 21 | Style | ||
| 1994 | Nadine Tanega | Honolulu | 26 | Semi-finalist | ||
| 1993 | Kelly Hu* | Honolulu | 25 | Top 6 | Photogenic | Previously Miss HI Teen USA & Miss Teen USA 1985 |
| 1992 | Heather Hays | Honolulu | 25 | |||
| 1991 | Kym Digmon | Honolulu | 25 | Semi-finalist | ||
| 1990 | Leimomi Bacalso | Ewa Beach | 22 | |||
| 1989 | Julie Larson | Honolulu | 21 | |||
| 1988 | Paula Prevost | Honolulu | 20 | |||
| 1987 | Deborah Laslo | Haleiwa | 24 | |||
| 1986 | Toni Costa | Kailua | 20 | Semi-finalist | As Tina Machado's first runner-up, was briefly Miss Hawaii USA 1985 | |
| 1985 | Tina Machado | Waipahu | 25 | Semi-finalist | Briefly dethroned for bing overage; regained title after a $5 million lawsuit | |
| 1984 | Puna Stillman | Honolulu | 23 | |||
| 1983 | Zoe Ann Roach | Waipahu | 24 | |||
| 1982 | Vanessa DuBois | Honolulu | 23 | Semi-finalist | ||
| 1981 | Teri Ann Linn | Honolulu | 21 | 4th runner-up | ||
| 1980 | Carol Ching | Kaneohe | 21 | |||
| 1979 | Blanche Leialoha Maa | Kaneohe | 20 | 2nd runner-up | ||
| 1978 | JUDI ANDERSEN | Honolulu | 20 | Miss USA | 1RU Miss Universe 1978 | |
| 1977 | Celita De Castro | Honolulu | 23 | Semi-finalist | ||
| 1976 | Brenda Texeira | Hilo | 19 | |||
| 1975 | Lois Mililani Wise | Honolulu | 21 | Semi-finalist | ||
| 1974 | Joan Ottensmeyer | Kaneohe | 21 | Succeeded Agnes Lum as Miss HI USA 1974 | ||
| 1974 | Agnes Lum | Disqualified prior to Miss USA as she was 3 days underage | ||||
| 1973 | Camille Deubel | Kaneohe | 19 | |||
| 1972 | TANYA WILSON | Honolulu | 21 | Miss USA | SF Miss Universe 1972 | |
| 1971 | Deborah Gibson | Honolulu | 18 | |||
| 1970 | Donna Hartley | Honolulu | 22 | |||
| 1969 | Stephanie Quintana | Honolulu | 23 | Semi-finalist | ||
| 1968 | Carol Ann Seymour | Nanakuli | 24 | Semi-finalist | ||
| 1967 | Nancy Banks | Honolulu | 18 | † 2013 | ||
| 1966 | Judith Wolski | Honolulu | 18 | Semi-finalist | ||
| 1965 | Elithe Aguiar | Kapaa | 20 | |||
| 1964 | Wanda Byrd | Honolulu | 18 | |||
| 1963 | Susan Molina | Honolulu | 20 | |||
| 1962 | MACEL WILSON | Honolulu | 19 | Miss USA | SF Miss Universe 1962 |
| YEAR | NAME | HOMETOWN | AGE | PLACEMENT | AWARD | NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | Patricia Visser | Honolulu | 21 | |||
| 1958 | Geri Hoo | Honolulu | 18 | 2nd runner-up | † 2007 | |
| 1957 | Ramona Tong | Honolulu | 19 | † 2020 | ||
| 1956 | Did Not Compete | |||||
| 1955 | Did Not Compete | |||||
| 1954 | Did Not Compete | |||||
| 1953 | Aileen Lauwae Stone | Honolulu | 20 | |||
| 1952 | Elza Kananionapua Edsman | Honolulu | 19 |
