The 75th edition of the Miss Hawaii, i.e. Miss Hawaii 2022, was held on Saturday night at the Ala Moana Hotel where Lauren Teruya was crowned the new queen. She succeeds and was crowned by Miss Hawaii 2021 Courtney Choy and will represent her state at Miss America 2023.

Lauren Teruya is 23 years of age and her talent includes musical theatre. Her social impact initiative was titled, ‘Arts for All’. Lauren is the sister of Kathryn Teruya Miss Hawaii Teen USA 2012 and Miss Hawaii 2017. Not new to the pageantry, Lauren was previously Miss Hawaii Teen USA 2017.

Passionate about arts education in the islands, Lauren Teruya says she’s looking forward to raising awareness on her social impact statement, “Arts for All.”

“Hawaii is one of 34 states that does not require arts education in our public school systems. Arts education makes a huge difference. Children are five times more likely to stay in school when they have access to arts education, and that’s why I think it’s so important that we get this moving”, Teruya said.

Lauren is a proud Iolani alumna who earned her B.A. Journalism and M.A. in Specialized Journalism from the University of Southern California. She also worked with several local news organizations including a previous internship at Hawaii News Now.

“It’s not about the exterior, its all about what you’re doing, what your heart is doing, what you’re giving to your community,” Teruya said. She will now prepare to represent Hawaii at the Miss America 2023 in Connecticut in December this year.

Congratulations to the newly crowned queen.