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Education, support and advocacy for births and wellness choices across Hawai'i

Community Birth Project  

Providing access to pregnancy, birth, & postpartum support to Maui families.

Are you a family in need of birth or postpartum support? Can you demonstrate financial or circumstantial need?

This program connects Maui families with birth and postpartum doula services, midwifery care, and lactation support.

Our current Goal dependent on ongoing funding is to be able to provide supplemental support for 2 Midwife births, 2 Doula services (Birth or Postpartum), and 2 lactation support (up to 3 visits each) PER Month to Maui Families in need.  

How it Works 

Applications are accepted during the first three weeks of every month. In the final week, the application will close. They will be evaluated based on a set criteria based on need including Maui fire impact (including displacement and job loss), financial need, and extenuating circumstances. Grants consist of $100 per visit for lactation visits (up to three visits), $1000 for doula care, and $2000 for midwifery care. Since costs for midwifery care are more than the grant covers, this grant works as a supplementary scholarship and the applicant will need to pay any remainders as determined by the practitioner. Upon completion of care, PBC pays the practitioners directly for services provided.

Families apply directly to Pacific Birth Collective and if granted, choose from a list of providers below for care. Families are required to fill out a pre- and post-survey and to sign a contract. Support is limited to one service per family. Families can apply more than once if not granted. 

Apply now for care (click to view form)

Types of Care

A doula is a professional labor assistant who provides physical and emotional support for pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period. There are typically two types. A birth doula helps birthing people prepare for childbirth and attends labor to support the mother and partner if one is present.  Birth doulas are not medical professionals and do not perform medical assessments or procedures, and attend births at the hospital or at home with a midwife present. A postpartum doula does not accompany labor but instead cares for families family during the postpartum period with things like meal preparation, caring for the mother, caring for the infant and any siblings, and nursing assistance. 

A midwife or pale keiki is a healthcare provider who is an expert in pregnancy, childbirth, newborn care, and postpartum health. They tend to be more holistic and supportive of natural approaches to pregnancy and birth. Midwives are trained to give physical, emotional, and practical support during childbirth. People often choose a midwife when they want to give birth at home. They can do prenatal care, order tests, provide education on nutrition and lactation, attend births, and care for the mother and infant after birth. 

A cultural practitioner offering birth support is a professional trained via the apprentice model on supporting women and families through the rites of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum with a focus on incorporating cultural wisdom, such as protocol and la'au lapa'au, into practice. They give physical, emotional, spiritual, and practical support during childbirth. People often choose a cultural practitioner when they want to give birth at home. 

Lactation support is given by professionals who have specialized training in breastfeeding. They help mothers establish good milk supply, offer guidance on nursing positions, and give advice on latching and pumping. Some lactation experts are IBCLCs, which stands for International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. 

Meet your community birth professionals…

Midwives & Cultural Practitioner Birth Support

Whitney Harrelson

Midwife

Whitney holds a Bachelor of Science in Midwifery from the Midwives College of Utah. She is a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) through the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM). She is a Licensed Midwife with the state of Hawaii (MW-28).
​Whitney began midwifery training in 2012, and has attended clinical rotations around the country and US territories gaining experience in birth centers and homebirth practices. ​​She has 2 children who were born at home.
​Whitney is also a trained childbirth educator, doula, and placenta preparation specialist.
​Maui Midwifery has a consulting and collaborative working relationship with Dr. Nathan Riley MD FACOG, Beloved Holistics PCA

Contact info for Whitney here.  

Ki'i Kaho'ohanohano

Midwife

Ki‘i is a cultural practitioner of Lomi Lomi, La'au lapa'au, ho'oponopono and pale keiki who has been blessed to work with multiple kupuna before their passing.
Ki'i apprenticed and practiced with Maui midwives Tina Garzero and Kadi Mourningstar for more than a decade. She is currently practicing as a cultural practitioner with a focus on healing multi-generational trauma. She teaches ongoing classes supporting upcoming practitioners and families on the island of Maui.
As a mother of five home birth babies, she is committed to reproductive justice and advocacy in Hawaiʻi.

Contact info for Ki'i here. 



Yessie Calagias

Midwife


Yessie is a homebirth midwife. She has been serving families as an active participant in the homebirth setting for 17 years. She has been licensed and practicing since 2013 and has welcomed over 250 babies earth side.  Yessie meets her clients where they are at and serve them in the best way possible. She believes that everyone deserves a midwife and the care and education they offer. She feels the most important work she can do as a midwife is empower and educate families and create an environment for shared decision making. "Not only babies are born but mothers and families are too!" 

Contact info for Yessie here.


Merrily Daly 

Midwife


Merrily provides complete home-birth care as a Primary Care Provider for pregnancy, birth and postpartum care through 8 weeks postpartum. 
Merrily educate couples throughout the pregnancy during prenatals which last 50-60 mins.
Over the last month Merrily goes over all labor and birth preparation making sure everything is in place for birth. She takes an experienced birth assistant to births. 

Contact info for Merrily here.


Connie Perkins

Midwife

Connie Perkins is a midwife, activist, mother and herbalist specializing in full spectrum trauma informed reproductive care. She has over 20 years of experience in supporting families through the childbearing years. Connie trained as a midwife through the apprenticeship model in a busy rural practice in Michigan and became a CPM in 2013. She later graduated Magna Cumme Laude with a bachelor of Science in Midwifery from Midwives College of Utah. She has a deep commitment to listening and sees her work as a midwife as participation in a radical movement back to honoring our bodies, our land and our sovereignty. Connie practices with Leilani Digmon, senior midwifery student and kanaka maoli haumanā pale keiki. Their practice centers Hawaiian and Pacific Islander families with place based, culturally rooted care. Connie carries mixed Niitsitapi and Settler ancestry. She spent her childhood split between coastal Virginia and the Menominee Indian Reservation in Northern Wisconsin. She has three home born children and currently resides in west Maui.

Contact for Connie here

Lactation Support

Natalie Healy


Hi, I am Natalie. I graduated from Azusa Pacific University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing in 2010. I initially worked as an RN in pediatric oncology for a year and a half before finding my true passion for moms and babies in 2012. I was introduced to the world of breastfeeding through a Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative course while working as a Labor and Delivery Nurse. I was amazed that there were so many amazing facts about breastfeeding that I was never taught in nursing school. I was fascinated by what I was learning and wanted to share it with the world. I decided to take the steps to become an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and help as many families as possible. In 2013, I completed my year long journey and proudly became an IBCLC. IBCLC’s are the only internationally recognized health care professionals that specialize in lactation care and I am proud to call myself an IBCLC.

In the summer of 2015 I moved to Maui. It was then that Maui Breastfeeding Support was born. I started it as a “passion project” to be able to help families breastfeed while I was working a job in the healthcare system. I realized that I wanted Maui Breastfeeding Support to be my only job, and not a side-gig. This is where my passion was and I loved helping families meet their breastfeeding goals. It took a while but I was finally able to make that happen and quit my nursing job in November 2021. Maui Breastfeeding Support has since expanded and now has an office location in Wailuku. Giving families the support and encouragement they need to meet their breastfeeding goals is one of my greatest joys. This is more than a job, it is a calling.

Contact info for Natalie here.

Yessie Calagias

Yessie is a licensed lactation consultant and homebirth midwife. She has been serving families as an active participant in the homebirth setting for 17 years. She has been licensed and practicing since 2013 and has welcomed over 250 babies earth side.  Yessie meets her clients where they are at and serve them in the best way possible. She believes that everyone deserves a midwife and the care and education they offer. She feels the most important work she can do as a midwife is empower and educate families and create an environment for shared decision making. "Not only babies are born but mothers and families are too!" 

Contact info for Yessie here.

Doulas

Makalani Franco-Francis

Birth & Postpartum Support


My name is Makalani Franco-Francis.  I am born and raised on Maui, a home birth mom of three keiki and a home birth assistant to the midwives of Sisterhood Midwifery. My excitement surrounding birth began with the birth of my daughter and has continuously grown. I have been a hula practitioner for 26 years. I am a Hawaiian Studies student at UHMC as well as a student of traditional healing practices. I love contributing to the empowerment of ohana and community through birth and aloha ʻĀina and I am honored to be a part of the Pacific Birth Collective.

Contact info for Maka here

Dani Langevin

Birth & Postpartum Support

I'm so excited that you're considering a doula for your birth, postpartum, or both! I provide birth doula services to families all around Maui for both home and hospital births, as well as postpartum doula services for families in South and Central Maui. I am extremely grateful to the families who choose to bring me into their family during such a vulnerable and transformational time.

Contact info for Dani here

Alysha Higgins

Birth & Postpartum Support


Aloha radiant mama! I am a homebirth mother of 3. I love to support women during labor but also specialize in postpartum care, having been INNATE trained as well as trained in Ayurvedic Postpartum Care through The Sacred Window Studies. As a a licensed massage therapist, specializing in pregnancy and postnatal lomi lomi, I can help ease pregnancy discomforts, labor pains through supportive labor techniques, or support your body's healing via postpartum massage, opu massage, and abhayanga. Nutrition and diet are also very important, and I have experience providing weekly nutrient dense vegan friendly or meat lover meals. If you request labor doula support, I also include a pregnancy massage as part of the birth doula support package. I am currently finishing up a book entitled, " The Trini Postpartum Care Revival" detailing her family lineage postpartum traditions in Trinidad and Tobago.

Contact info for Alysha here.

Pahnelopi McKenzie

Birth & Postpartum Support


I am a home birth mother and caregiver for over 25 years. I am passionate about collaborative community based care that provides informed and accessible service to families. I have a deep reverence for Midwifery care, Birthing people, plants, and innate wisdom that is carried in the body. The support services I offer are rooted in genuine respect, reverence, and reclamation of your unique needs as a growing family. I would be honored to support you in your journey of pregnancy , birth, and postpartum time. I offer care island wide and flexible times day or night.

Contact info for Pahnelopi here.

Kadi Mourningstar

Birth & Postpartum Support


Aloha! I have been a midwife on Maui for over 40 years. I offer community-based traditional birth assistance, montrice and doula services and I'm available for home and hospital birth services.

Contact info for Kadi here.

Erika Fantop

Birth & Postpartum Support

Aloha! I serve as a birth assistant to community midwives. I also offer birth and postpartum doula services which include childbirth education, placenta medicine and meal services as needed.

I’m a mother of 5 children and currently a student midwife. My passion is to be in service to women. I strive to educate and empower women about their bodies through birth and beyond.

Contact info for Erika here.

Candace Angel-Franco

Birth and Postpartum Support


Aloha beautiful families! Each birthing person should feel empowered during their labor. When a birthing person is truly supported, they're able to experience the beauty that’s in birth. As a birth doula, it’s my role to make sure the birthing person feels safe, comforted, and confident. By doing so, the birthing person is able to experience how magical childbirth can be.  

My role as a doula is simple, I’m there to help. I massage, I do breath work, use essential oils, cook, clean, whatever it is that helps each family transition into parenthood or life with a newborn. The postpartum period is a time when the birthing person needs to be cared for and supported the most. They should take time to rest, heal, and be well fed. It brings me joy to use my passion for fresh, organic, and locally sourced ingredients to nourish families during postpartum. If you think I might be a good match for your family, I would be happy to get to know each of you. With love, Candace. 

Contact info for Candace here.

Bonnie Slater

Birth & Postpartum Support


What a honor it has been to have worked with families since 1996 while raising my own kids. Supporting the birthing and post partum family is sacred and precious role. I see each family as unique and listen to their personal needs and desires. Mothering the mother is very important as it lays a foundation for the next generation.

Contact info for Bonnie here.

Anna Diego

Birth & Postpartum Support

I am passionate about mother care with a focus on preparing for a calm, compassionate and nourishing pregnancy and birth. I stress the importance of the postpartum period where the mother’s health is the foundation of the family’s. I am very comfortable in both a home birth setting as well as hospital settings- I myself have experienced a birth without interventions as well as an emergency Cesarean. My husband and I have two young boys and we love Brazilian Jui-Jitsu, swimming, fishing and hunting. I enjoy making teas and herbal preparations and foods for our own apothecary as well as for moms in our community here in Hana.

Contact info for Anna here.

Jami Lehman

Birth & Postpartum Support

I am a grateful mama of 2 kids, and our family lives in Upcountry Maui. I have a love for and thrive in working with families as they prepare for birth, the transformation to parenthood, and their postpartum journey. I have been a birth and postpartum doula for 6 years and My doula training was obtained through Birth Arts International. My postpartum doula training was with PBC and I have completed a 3 day Spinning Babies course. I am constantly pursuing educational opportunities and experiences to further my knowledge, and to be able to better serve our community.

Contact info for Jami here.

Megan June

Postpartum Support


Newborn Nanny, Night-Nanny, Postpartum Doula. Infant, Child, and Adult CPR certified Offering Day & Night Newborn care. Whether you need more sleep during the night or help during the day. I offer loving, educated, and customized care for you and your family. As a professional newborn nanny I am trained and knowledgeable in normal newborn behavior, healthy sleep practices and sleep conditioning, breastfeeding, baby-wearing & soothing techniques.

Contact info for Megan here.

Candace Angel-Franco

Birth and Postpartum Support


Aloha beautiful families! Each birthing person should feel empowered during their labor. When a birthing person is truly supported, they're able to experience the beauty that’s in birth. As a birth doula, it’s my role to make sure the birthing person feels safe, comforted, and confident. By doing so, the birthing person is able to experience how magical childbirth can be.  

My role as a doula is simple, I’m there to help. I massage, I do breath work, use essential oils, cook, clean, whatever it is that helps each family transition into parenthood or life with a newborn. The postpartum period is a time when the birthing person needs to be cared for and supported the most. They should take time to rest, heal, and be well fed. It brings me joy to use my passion for fresh, organic, and locally sourced ingredients to nourish families during postpartum. If you think I might be a good match for your family, I would be happy to get to know each of you. With love, Candace. 

Contact info for Candace here.

Mary Jane Bennett

Birth Support

DONA certified, CPSS IBCLC LCCE ECE.

I am an Internationally Trained and Certified Birth Doula, Perinatal Support Specialist, Childbirth/Breastfeeding Educator, and Lactation Consultant  I appreciate being considered to be your Birth Doula. I am a Mother of Four, and a Combat Veteran Spouse. I am very grateful to serve the Birthing Ohanas of Maui County. I have been an Internationally Certified Doula on Maui for over 18 ears, caring for 'ohanas of all walks of life. Through my own four birth experiences and one miscarriage before my fourth baby was born, and being a Maui Birth Doula for over 180 births, I have realized how important it is to feel secure in the care provided in the labor and birthing space environment. I have come to know, that when a Mother feels safe, heard, well informed and cared for with compassionate empathy and a kind listening heart throughout the process of labor and birth, makes a huge difference in preserving a positive memory, and having greater satisfaction with her Labor and Birth experience overall. I help create a calm, peaceful environment during labor and birth whether at Home or Hospital. I truly believe, “There is no right or wrong way to labor and give birth, only each individual unique woman’s way to labor and give birth in her own intuitive way and time.”  

Contact info for Mary Jane here.

Mariah Strong

Birth & Postpartum Support


Mariah is a co-founder of Pacific Birth Collective. She was born and raised in Haiku, Maui. Her mom, Kadi Mourningstar, is a home birth midwife, she was brought up surrounded by all things natural pregnancy, birth and postpartum. She moved to Northern California in 2009 and started an organic restaurant with her husband, further learning about health and nutrition. She attended an advanced doula and midwifery training in 2013. Which sparked multiple apprenticeships over the years in both Maui and California. She is currently enrolled in the National Midwifery Institute with the intention of becoming a CPM. Mariah is passionate about the rites of passage that are initiated around pregnancy, birth and the  postpartum periods. She is active in supporting the education of reproductive health, rights and advocacy within communities. Supporting to bring the power of childbirth back into the hands of the birthing person, their family and community. She birthed both of her daughters, Indie and Isla, at home.

Contact info for Mariah here 

Kerstin April 

Birth & Postpartum Support


Hi I’m Kerstin.  I’m a Matrona Foundation student studying quantum midwifery, an ocean voyaging sailor, and a homebirth abroad mama.  Maui has been my homeport since 2010.   I offer pregnancy, birth, and postpartum support island wide. It’s truly an honor and privilege to be invited into the most sacred, intimate, and transformative event of a woman’s lifetime.  I’m here to support the mamas creating and growing families to birth their babies in peace and power, on their own terms, as the authority of their body, their birth, and their baby.  And I’m here to support the dads in their journey to becoming the protector of the sacred birthing space.   My own birth experience instilled in me the belief that peace on earth begins with birth. Let’s chat about your dream birth and see if we feel aligned to walk this path together.

Contact info for Kerstin here.


Education, Support, and Advocacy for Birth and Wellness Choices Across Hawai'i

The information on this web site, including text, graphics, images and information, is for general information purposes only. Pacific Birth Collective makes no representation and assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of information contained on or available through this web site, and such information is subject to change without notice. You are encouraged to confirm any information obtained from or through this web site with other sources, and carefully review all information regarding any care provider, service or treatment.
Pacific Birth Collective does not recommend, endorse or make any representation about the efficacy, appropriateness or suitability of any  services, opinions, care providers or other information that may be contained on or available through this web site. Pacific Birth Collective is not responsible nor liable for any advice, course of treatment, diagnosis or any other information, services or products that obtain through this website.
Updated 9-1-22

PBC is a registered 501c(3) non-profit EIN 84-2562504 | © 2023 Pacific Birth Collective | Website design by HighlandCreative.com.au

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