Island Air Official Airline Sponsor of 2018 Miss Hawai‘i USA Pageant

Island Air will serve as the Official Airline Sponsor of the 2018 Miss Hawaiʻi USA and Miss Hawaiʻi Teen USA pageants.

Island Air Q400. Courtesy photo.

As part of its sponsorship, the airline will provide interisland flights valued at more than $22,000 to enable pageant contestants from the neighbor islands to travel to O‘ahu for appearances and other preparations leading up to the state pageants on Nov. 19, 2017 at the Hawai‘i Convention Center.

The 2018 State titleholders also will be able to utilize the flights when they travel interisland for appearances during their yearlong reign as Miss Hawaiʻi USA and Miss Hawaiʻi Teen USA. In the past, contestants were responsible for covering their transportation costs, which often deterred participation.

“Island Air is proud to be the first official airline sponsor of the Miss Hawaiʻi USA and Miss Hawaiʻi Teen USA program, and to support local young women throughout our state as they pursue their dreams and develop confidence and character that will help advance their careers and make a difference in our communities,” said David Uchiyama, president and CEO of Island Air.

“Being born and raised on Kauaʻi, I understand firsthand how much more challenging it is competing as a contestant from a neighbor island,” said Alicia Michioka, executive director of Miss Hawaiʻi USA & Miss Hawaiʻi Teen USA, who eventually went on to win Miss Hawaiʻi USA 2003.