A 17 year old Hilo High School senior, Kylyn Rapoza was crowned in November 2017. Kylyn Rapoza competed against 16 other contestants during the statewide pageant at the Hawaii Convention Center on Oahu.
She is the first Big Island winner since 1998. Rapoza is an aspiring pediatrician or pediatric nurse. She hopes to attend college on the mainland next year. Rapoza first competed in the Hawaii Island USA preliminary pageant hosted at the Grand Naniloa in July. She stands 170 cm tall.