I've never met anyone called
Mahalia, but the closely-related
Mahala is pronounced MAH-la (which is bourne out by the name it comes from,
Mahlah), and it would seem logical therefore that
Mahalia also did not have the middle 'a' emphasised.
♦ Chrisell ♦
All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us. - J.R.R. Tolkien.