Leaving California to go to college at Brigham Young University–Hawaii didn’t require much of a cultural adjustment for Nicole Holbrook. Hawaiian on her father’s side — he was born and raised here — Holbrook had spent time each summer with her Hawaiian relatives in the islands. That made living in Laie almost like coming home.
On June 15, Holbrook was crowned Miss Hawaii 2019 at the Hawaii Theatre Center. She is the 75th woman to hold the title. She is also the first to win the title under the new rules and procedures in which “contestants” are “candidates,” and there is no swimsuit/fitness component.
Holbrook, 19, will represent Hawaii at the 99th Miss America Pageant later this year in Atlantic City.
The official Miss Hawaii 2019 program identified you as Nicole Holbrook. The press release announcing the results referred to you as Nikki Holbrook. Do you have a preference?
My full name is Nicole Kehaulani Holbrook. But growing up there was always another Nicole in my classes, so I was always called Nikki.
In addition to winning the title, you won the talent award with your performance of Grieg’s “Piano Concerto in A Minor.” Obviously it was a good choice, but why did you choose it?
I wanted to do something that would be challenging and push me to being a better pianist. This piece has a lot of different elements, it is very difficult and really challenged me technically. I wanted to perform something that would show those skills. My piano teacher was a former Miss Oklahoma, and she’s been a mentor and a great piano coach in the process.
The biggest controversy involving the Miss America program since Vanessa Williams was forced to resign shortly before the end of her reign in 1984 was the decision last year to eliminate the swimsuit/fitness competition. One of this year’s Miss Hawaii candidates said she wouldn’t have participated if the pageant still included a swimsuit competition. Was the swimsuit component an issue for you one way or the other?
It wasn’t something that bothered me because I know how important it is to live a healthy lifestyle, and that’s something I value. I did swimsuit in the teen program (several years ago), and it was just another phase that I could work towards and another way that I could grow to be physically fit. But, at the same time, the Miss America organization is about furthering women’s education through service and scholarships, and so now that’s what people understand.
Your Miss Hawaii platform is S.N.A.P. (“Service Nurtures All People”). What’s the message beyond those four words?
The whole point of S.N.A.P. is to educate youth of why it’s so important to serve, and to dispel the misconception that “service just takes our time” or “service just takes our money.” Yes, it does take time, and you do have to put in effort, but no matter what way you want to serve, you’ll be receiving benefits too — and you can make a difference in people’s lives.
What is something about you that might surprise people who know you only as Miss Hawaii 2019?
I dance at the Polynesian Cultural Center and I’ve learned how to dance in the styles of all the different Polynesian islands.
What would you like to be doing in 2029?
Have graduated from college with my business degree, have my master’s in business administration as well, and be working on my career in business marketing. Of course having a family is very important at the right time.
Correction: The date of the 99th Miss America Pageant has not been announced. The date mentioned in an earlier version of this story and in Sunday’s print edition was the date of last year’s pageant.
