A coach who builds tougher teams with softer hands. A singer who swapped liquid courage for real conviction. A Hawaii-born artist designing a sound that can live anywhere. That mix is Mahina—grounded, generous, and ready for the world.
We dive into her journey from playing shortstop and coaching high school softball to writing radio-ready songs that people can’t stop singing. She explains how standards changed since her playing days and why positive discipline, respect, and real-life accountability help young athletes grow into strong people. Then we trace her creative arc—from recording vocals in a bathroom with GarageBand to building a collaboration-first workflow with manager Romeo Valientine and producer Mad Mat, shaping hooks that travel and verses that feel true. The origin of “Stay With Me,” her DM to Tehani, and the leap from backyard studios to polished mixes show how persistence and community can turn a good idea into a charting single.
Faith and sobriety now sit at the center of her life. Mahina talks candidly about letting go of alcohol, shedding stage nerves, and trusting God to lead rather than bargaining for outcomes. That surrender changed her performances, clarified her choices, and fed her writing. The new single leans into betrayal and comes out brighter—pain reframed as fuel, a chorus that’s easy to carry, and verses that move from crying in the shower to laughing in the mirror. Call it “Mahina World”: a blend of R&B, pop, and island reggae that nods to old-school soul while reaching for global playlists. Offstage, she draws on years as a caregiver, where listening, patience, and presence became second nature—and where empathy turned work into family.
There’s more on the way: a 10-track album slated for next year, singles rolling out ahead of release, dream collabs, and shows where she’ll tease a few unreleased cuts. Until then, you’ll find her coaching, writing in notebooks, posting more consistently, and remembering why she started—to make music people feel and to help her community shine. If this story moved you, follow and subscribe, share the episode with a friend who needs the lift, and leave a quick review so more listeners can discover Mahina’s voice.