Education, Support, and Advocacy for Birth and Wellness Choices Across Hawai'i |
Staff
Becky Lind Director Becky Elizabeth Lind has studied Business Administration at the University of Hawaii and has over 10 years of experience in nonprofit administration and management. Becky works closely with the PBC Board, partners, and staff to ensure operations run smoothly. A Certified Festival & Events Executive (CFEE), Becky also sits on the Hāna Community Association Board as Treasurer, is Vice Chair of the Hāna Advisory Committee to the Maui County Council, and is Director of Hāna Arts. Becky has been living in East Maui for the past 18 years and is a mother of two home birth children. Lantana Hoke Staff Lantana was born and raised in Haʻikū. She came on board with Pacific Birth Collective in 2020, and her background is in education, community and youth development, non-profit work and program management. She holds a BA in English and Anthropology from Mary Baldwin College in Virginia and an MA in English from UH Mānoa. She is also a lecturer at the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College in writing and journalism. Lantana is passionate about uplifting the Maui community through education, advocacy, and connection, and enjoys supporting birth practitioners, birthing people, and families on Maui and is a proud mother to a sweet baby boy. |
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Board of Directors
Sonya Niess President Sonya has practiced as a doula and childbirth educator for 13 years. Her passion began when she was 18 and read the book the Red Tent, which sparked a passion to explore midwifery and birth in many contexts. She went on to get her Masters in Public Health, with special emphasis on Maternal and Child Health from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Upon returning home to Maui, Sonya continued her work as a doula, and also worked in both non-profit and private sectors promoting the health and well being of the community, primarily in policy and systems change and in technology. Sonya is honored to be the mother to two beautiful children. |
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Kiana Rowley Vice President Kiana is a Maui grown mother of two beautiful home birth daughters. She has had the honor of serving families during pregnancy, birth and postpartum on O’ahu and Maui since 2010 alongside many incredible Midwives, Nurses, Doula’s, and OB’s who have mentored and nurtured her practice. She is a co-founder of Pacific Birth Collective and she currently practices as a holistic community health care practitioner. She believes that health and resilience are rooted in strong relationship and community partnership. |  |
Kiʻinaniokalani Kahoʻohanohano Board Member Ki‘i is a direct-entry traditional birth attendant who has been supported and influenced mainly through her cultural practice and experience in traditional Hawaiian healing. She has been blessed to work with multiple kupuna before their passing. She also 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. |  |
Mariah Strong Board Member 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.
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Makalani Franco-Francis Board Member Born and raised on Maui, Makalani Franco-Francisa is a home birth mom of three keiki and a home birth assistant. Her excitement surrounding birth began with the birth of her daughter and has continuously grown. She has been a hula practitioner for 26 years and is a Hawaiian Studies student at UHMC as well as a student of traditional healing practices. She is passionate about contributing to the empowerment of ʻohana and community through birth and aloha ʻāina and feels honored to be a part of the Pacific Birth Collective. |
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Haley Rabago Callahan Board Member Born and raised on Maui, Haley is passionate about offering culturally relevant and holistic birth services to our unique island community, as well as support for all pregnancy experiences and family structures. Her greatest teachers over the years have been aunties and tutu, birthworkers, indigenous practitioners, and—above all—her own children. She is DONA-trained and experienced. Haley finds deep purpose and joy as a birth attendant and doula for home and hospital births, and provides full-spectrum physical, emotional, mental and spiritual support to families throughout pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period. She serves as a gentle guide, professional support person, and true believer in your ability to birth the way you desire. |
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Wyonette Wallett Board Member
Wyonette is native to North Shore Maui, where she also raised her family. She is currently doing community services and assisting families with two Maui birth keepers. Passionate about protecting women's rights, health care autonomy, and Hawaiian culture. |
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Kristina Statler Board Member Kristina.... |
Pahnelopi Mckenzie Board Member Pahnelopi.... |