When Mahina first entered the workforce, her biggest challenge was a lack of confidence. Negative experiences left her searching for a workplace where she could grow and find meaningful employment. She found that opportunity with Lanakila Pacific in 2017, when she was hired at Hickam Air Force Base’s Hale Aina Dining Facility, an inclusive workplace supported by SourceAmerica’s AbilityOne program.
At Hale Aina Dining, Mahina built confidence and learned teamwork, accountability, and even sign language to communicate with her largely deaf team. Supervisors invested in her growth, and she began supporting newer colleagues while developing her natural leadership skills. That foundation led to her current role as a job coach with Lanakila Pacific’s Employment Services team, where she now helps others recognize their potential.
Her advocacy extends beyond coaching. Mahina regularly testifies at the state capitol, sharing her own experiences to raise awareness about the importance of inclusive employment. “As job coaches, we also bridge the gap, working with employers to make it easier on them as well as easier on the individual.”
Mahina also shares how Lanakila Pacific’s investment in her has shaped her life. “I am a completely different person now,” she said. The skills she’s gained at work spill over into her personal life as she plans for her future goal of becoming a mother. “Working as a job coach with people who have disabilities has helped prepare me for that goal, because you have to be compassionate. You have to be more understanding. You have to have a lot of patience. It’s a requirement.”
Whether she’s mentoring others or speaking to the legislature, Mahina shows how the right support can help people thrive. As she reminds us, “It’s the individual who sets the limitation, not the disability.”