Our Team
Meet Our Staff
Get to know the dedicated individuals who make up the heart of Pacific Birth Collective. Each member brings unique skills and passion to support our mission of empowering families during the childbirth journey.

Morea Mendoza
Director of Leadership and Operations
Morea joined the PBC team in early 2024, eager to support the organization with her operational strategy experience and multidisciplinary leadership background. Morea graduated with Honors from the University of San Francisco, with a BA in Sociology with an emphasis in Ethnic Studies and is a HANO Fellow. Recently Morea coauthored "Building Systems of Care: Investment in Native Maternal Health Infrastructure" Congressional Policy Briefing and was named HANO's 2025 Emerging Leader. She is a born-and-raised Maui mother of two, a self-proclaimed “natural birth nerd" and is deeply passionate about empowering other local ‘ohana in their own birth sovereignty by enabling conscious connections between community and diverse birth practitioners.

Sara Cousineau
Director of Finance
Sara brings a unique blend of financial expertise and heart-centered leadership, shaped by over a decade in finance and accounting, alongside four years of experience as a birthworker. With a Bachelor of Commerce and a Graduate Diploma in Accounting from Queen’s University, a CPA designation through CPA Ontario, and a doula certification, her background bridges the corporate world and grassroots community care. Sara is deeply passionate about birth, maternal health, preserving Indigenous knowledge and traditions, and expanding sovereignty and choice within birth spaces. In her role, she is excited to offer a commitment to nurturing financial literacy, fostering collaboration, and creating sustainable systems that support the continued growth and mission of Pacific Birth Collective.

Mariah Strong
Director of Programs and Communications
Mariah is a co-founder of Pacific Birth Collective. She was born and raised in Haiku, and is the daughter of Kadi Mourningstar, a respected elder in the out-of-hospital community. She is also a student CPM, on track for licensure in Hawai'i, and is on the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM) board of directors. 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. She is the mother of two daughters, Indie and Isla, who were born at home.

Kiʻinaniokalani Kahoʻohanohano
Director of Culture and Outreach
Ki‘i is a cultural practitioner of lomi lomi, La'au lapa'au, ho'oponopono and pale keiki. She apprenticed and practiced with Maui midwives Tina Garzero and Kadi Mourningstar for more than a decade, as well as multiple kupuna before their passing. Ki'i is the founder of Malama Na Pua O Haumea, a former board member of the Hawai'i Home Birth Collective, and a Hawai'i Alliance for Progressive Action - Kuleana Academy Alumni. She was recently awarded the 2025 Women of Excellence Award from the County of Maui, Committee on the Status of Women.
Ki'i's work is strongly focused on healing multi-generational trauma. As a mother of five home birth babies, she is committed to reproductive justice and advocacy in Hawaiʻi.

Sonya Niess, MPH
Director of Policy and Partnerships
Sonya is a co-founder of Pacific Birth Collective and has served as board president for many years. She is a practicing doula and childbirth educator since 2006. Born and raised on Maui, Sonya received her Masters in Public Health, with special emphasis on Maternal 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. She sits on the board of the Maui Family YMCA, is the Vice Chair of the Committee on the Status of Women - Maui County, is a Ka Ipu Kukui Fellow, and is the mother to four beautiful children, all born at home.
