A 19-year-old Hawaiian singer is building a music career rooted in family, while studying business to run it smartly — an upbeat, feel-good profile.

• Zaiah Lola Thai grew up surrounded by music, singing with her family over food and instruments at her grandma's house.
• She's earning a name as a young voice in Hawaiian soul music, and lets fans request songs through a weekly online feature.
• She's writing her own material and hopes to record and release an EP.
• She studies business marketing in college in Utah, aiming to handle the business side of music herself — the part many artists struggle with.

Outlook: She plans to keep music as a growing side pursuit while finishing school, with an original EP as her next goal.