{"id":212837,"date":"2025-03-27T07:30:34","date_gmt":"2025-03-27T17:30:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=212837"},"modified":"2025-03-27T09:36:09","modified_gmt":"2025-03-27T19:36:09","slug":"from-hilo-to-miss-hawaii-usa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2025\/03\/27\/from-hilo-to-miss-hawaii-usa\/","title":{"rendered":"From Hilo to Miss Hawai\u02bbi USA<\/abbr>"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
\"Mata
Issha Rose Mata, Miss Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> USA<\/abbr> 2025<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When Issha Rose Mata was crowned Miss Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> USA<\/abbr> 2025, it marked more than a personal milestone—it was a moment of pride for Hilo and the generations of ʻohana<\/span>, teachers and mentors who helped shape her journey. Mata grew up just across the street from the University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> at Hilo<\/a>, where she and two of her siblings studied.<\/p>\n

\"Mata
Mata in UH<\/abbr> Hilo Performing Arts Department\u2019s 2017 “Great Leaps” dance performance<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Island native began her studies in biology<\/a>, however the pull of the performing arts<\/a> proved irresistible. From a very young age, Mata remembers being surrounded by music and hula. By the time she reached college, her experience in theatre, music and dance made the shift feel natural.<\/p>\n

“You feel like everyone is watching you all the time but now I see it as a blessing,” Mata said. She credits her Hilo upbringing with giving her both confidence and kuleana (responsbility). It\u2019s that visibility, Mata claims, taught her accountability and purpose and fueled her passion for uplifting the very community that raised her.<\/p>\n

Deeply-rooted ʻohana<\/span><\/h2>\n

Her father, Gavien Mata, once performed with UH<\/abbr> Hilo\u2019s Repertory Singers, a respected program known for its classical and Hawaiian music outreach during the 1980s–90s.<\/p>\n

UH<\/abbr> Hilo Professor Emerita Jackie Pualani Johnson said the family\u2019s deep roots in performing arts made Mata\u2019s journey feel inevitable.<\/p>\n

“They understand stage presence, giving of yourself on stage—that warmth and charm that is very island style. So it does not surprise me at all that she had this dream—one she voiced ages ago—and worked hard to see it through,” Johnson said.<\/p>\n

Rising star<\/h2>\n
\"Headshot\"
Issha Rose Mata<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Mata entered her first pageant in 2019, Miss Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Island USA<\/abbr>, just three days before the event—and won. She later placed in the top 8 at Miss Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> USA<\/abbr>, earned two top 15 finishes at Miss California USA<\/abbr>, and represented Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> in Miss Filipina International. In 2025, she returned as Miss Hilo USA<\/abbr> and claimed the state crown.<\/p>\n

Guiding her through it all is the “Yes, and\u2026” mindset—an improv-rooted principle she embraced through years in theater. “You never close your own doors,” she said. “You just say ‘yes—and what\u2019s next?’” <\/p>\n

It\u2019s a philosophy that has guided her to take bold chances and move forward with grace, grit and heart.<\/p>\n

Follow Miss Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> USA<\/abbr> 2025\u2019s journey on Instagram<\/a> and TikTok<\/a>.<\/p>\n

—By Amy Kalili, interim director, University Relations at UH<\/abbr> Hilo<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Issha Rose Mata\u2019s journey to Miss Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> USA<\/abbr> 2025 is one of family, community, and creative legacy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[660,14],"class_list":["post-212837","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-people","tag-student-recognition","tag-uh-hilo","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t