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 9
Miss USA winners to become
Miss Universe in the history of the pageant. ==Gallery of titleholders==