When Issha Rose Mata was crowned Miss Hawaiʻi USA 2025, it marked more than a personal milestone—it was a moment of pride for Hilo and the generations of ʻohana, teachers and mentors who helped shape her journey. Mata grew up just across the street from the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, where she and two of her siblings studied.
The Hawaiʻi Island native began her studies in biology, however the pull of the performing arts 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.
“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’s that visibility, Mata claims, taught her accountability and purpose and fueled her passion for uplifting the very community that raised her.
Deeply-rooted ʻohana
Her father, Gavien Mata, once performed with UH Hilo’s Repertory Singers, a respected program known for its classical and Hawaiian music outreach during the 1980s–90s.
UH Hilo Professor Emerita Jackie Pualani Johnson said the family’s deep roots in performing arts made Mata’s journey feel inevitable.
“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.
Rising star
Mata entered her first pageant in 2019, Miss Hawaiʻi Island USA, just three days before the event—and won. She later placed in the top 8 at Miss Hawaiʻi USA, earned two top 15 finishes at Miss California USA, and represented Hawaiʻi in Miss Filipina International. In 2025, she returned as Miss Hilo USA and claimed the state crown.
Guiding her through it all is the “Yes, and…” 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’s next?’”
It’s a philosophy that has guided her to take bold chances and move forward with grace, grit and heart.
Follow Miss Hawaiʻi USA 2025’s journey on Instagram and TikTok.
—By Amy Kalili, interim director, University Relations at UH Hilo
