It was fabulous evening at the historic Hawaii Theatre in downtown Honolulu for the 2016 edition of the Miss Hawaii pageant with Allison Carol Nanea Chu coming away with the title.

Emcee Billy V navigated the largest contestant pool, 25, in Miss Hawaii history and whittled them down through the evening to 20, then 14, then 7, when the to five final places were announced. Ultimately, Chu took the crown and the place went nuts. In her first year of pageant competition, Chu at age 22, an opera trained singer since age 5, wowed the crowd with a rendition of “O Mio Babbino Caro,” an aria from Puccini’s “Gianni Schicchi” and apparently sealed it.

Pageant Director, Ryan Brown, has “worked with Allison since age six and couldn’t be happier to have Allison represent Hawaii.”

Chu gives lots of thanks to her older sister Julieann Chu. Julieann would be considered a pageant veteran and finished as the Miss Hawaii USA runner up. Just think, Had Miss Hawaii USA winner Chelsea Hardin won the Miss Universe title, Julieann would have assumed the title and we would have had dueling sisters. So close.

The state of Hawaii has had a great run so far this year with top showings in national and international events. While there are various circuits in the pageant system Hawaii folks are incredibly supportive of all the contestants that represent their home state. This year Miss Hawaii USA Chelsea Hardin was the Miss Universe Runner-up. Also Top Model Worldwide Grand Final men’s winner Noa Ah Nee and women’s first runner-up Kristie Thornburg showed Hawaii’s mettle on the international level in the modeling competition.

Allison will have the chance to add to Hawaii’s successes when she competes for Miss America 2017 at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on Sunday, September 11, 2016.

Aside from the contestant performances outgoing Miss Hawaii 2015 Jeanne Kapela joined the sisterhood with a dance number that included her dance students. Also 24-VII Danceforce, which has become a staple at Miss Hawaii performed flawlessly and as usual, did not disappoint.

Results and Awards:

Miss Hawaii 2016:   Miss Aloha Latina Allison Carol Nanea Chu

First Runner-Up:   Miss Kahala Chelsea Clement

Second Runner-Up:   Miss Diamond Head Tésia Melani Worley

Third Runner-Up:   Miss Kaka‘ako Hali‘a Parish

Fourth Runner-Up:   Miss Latina Hawaii Tiffany Johnson

Swimsuit:   Miss Kaka‘ako Hali‘a Parish

Talent:   Miss Aloha Latina Allison Carol Nanea Chu

Community Service Award:   Miss Lanai Michaela Owen

Miss America Academic Award:   Miss Chinatown Hawaii Tarah Driver

CMN Children’s Miracle Maker Award:   Tie, Miss Kaka‘ako Hali‘a Parish & Miss Garden Isle Sarah Manuel

Spirit Award:   Miss Kona Coffee Polanimakamae Kahakalau

Miss Congeniality:   Miss Kona Coffee Polanimakamae Kahakalau