Yun Tau Chee, first Miss Hawai'i, dead at 73
By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer
Yun Tau Chee, the first Miss Hawai'i in 1948 who broke the color barrier at the Miss America pageant, died Feb. 21 in Kailua. She was 73.
Chee, a retired public school teacher, was born Yun Tau Zane in Kohala, on the Big Island, on March 27, 1928, the fourth of eight children. She graduated from Kohala High School and moved to O'ahu to attend the University of Hawai'i, where she majored in home economics.
Yun Tau Chee performed hula and was named Miss Congeniality when she participated in the Miss America pageant in 1948.
As a 20-year-old college junior, she entered the first Miss Hawai'i pageant, primarily to earn scholarship money.
She finished second in the contest at the 49th State Fair at Kapi'olani Park. But she was declared Miss Hawai'i after the winner disqualified herself because she had not met eligibility requirements.
Hawai'i had never before sent a representative to the Miss America pageant because "only girls of Caucasian races previously were admitted," according to newspaper accounts. Chee was the first Asian contestant, and with Irma Nydia Vasquez from Puerto Rico, the first non-Caucasians to participate in the Miss America pageant.
Chee said she was "in awe" when she arrived in Atlantic City. Under the tutelage of Winona Beamer, she performed hula for the talent contest.
Chee was named Miss Congeniality and won a $1,000 scholarship, which she used to attend the University of Wisconsin, where she earned her fifth-year teaching certificate.
She married Hon Ting Chee and had four sons. She taught kindergarten for 31 years and retired from Ma'ema'e School in 1986.
Yun Tau Chee also is survived by sons Darrick and Brandon; brothers Ah Chong, Warren and Y.S. Zane; and sisters Y.C. Tenn, Y.M. Okimoto, and Betty Henrickson.
Visitation is Thursday from 9:30 a.m. at Hawaiian Memorial Park Mortuary, with service at 10:30 a.m. Burial will take place Friday at 9 a.m. at Hawaiian Memorial Park Cemetery.
