The Miss Hawaii Organization each year conducts the Miss Hawaii and Miss Hawaii’s Outstanding Teen competitions. It is an official preliminary to the prestigious Miss America Pageant, established in 1921, the single largest provider of scholarships for women in the world, having made available over $500 million in scholarship awards since 1945 when Miss America scholarships were first initiated.
Hawaii entered the Miss America Organization with its first contestant in 1948. Since then, Hawaii has placed in the top ten 14 times; has had one 1st Runner Up Finalist, Kanoelani Gibson, Miss Hawaii 2003; and has had two Miss America’s, Carolyn Sapp, Miss Hawaii 1991 and, Angela Perez Baraquio, Miss Hawai’i 2000.
Each year, Hawaii offers over $500,000 in cash scholarships and tuition grants to contestants in the state and preliminary competitions held throughout the Islands. Each year nearly 150 young ladies from throughout the State compete in 19 Local Competitions that lead to the Miss Hawaii Competition.
Because of the educational rewards, the emphasis in competition is placed upon a rigorous personal interview and a highly competitive talent presentation. In addition, each contestant must develop a personal “platform” for which she is an advocate during her year of service.
Unlike a “beauty” contest, the Miss Hawaii Organization has no paid staff and is conducted strictly by a committee of volunteers. At no level of competition is a contestant required to pay an entry fee, sell ads or purchase tickets.
In the 2004, the Hawaii State Legislature passed concurrent resolutions naming Miss Hawaii as the Official Honorary Hostess for the State, a title all future Miss Hawaii’s will hold. As the Aloha State’s Official Honorary Hostess, Miss Hawaii will continue to work closely with the State of Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism and the Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau to promote Hawaii’s products and the 50th State throughout the world as a visitor, business and event destination.
In 2005, the organization expanded its program to include a teen division which showcases the most Outstanding Teens in the nation. Miss Hawaii’s Outstanding Teen allows for teens ages 13 to 17 (Junior in High School) to also earn thousands of scholarships and is affiliated with the national competition, Miss America’s Outstanding Teen in Orlando Florida.
For more information, visit www.misshawaii.org
Miss Hawaii's Outstanding Teen 