Meet The Team

Malia was born on Maui; raised in Waiehu, ‘Iao Valley, Kipahulu and Kaupo. After 13 years at Kamehameha Schools Maui she graduated and went on to complete a Bachelors in Science from University of Hawai’i at Hilo. With generations of her ‘ohana deeply involved in critical issues facing our lahui, she's always felt passionate about making positive change. She’s gained valuable nonprofit experience with Hui O Na Wai Eha, Maui Tomorrow and Olowalu Cultural Reserve over many years. Malia is now a wife and homeschooling mother to two mini mana wahine. Alongside her mom, Malia ran a mama and baby centered business complete with educational workshops, doula services and a retail brick and mortar full of local small business items and free mama and baby clothing and gear. After a few years it was clear the best way to serve these same mamas was through nonprofit work. Malia is wholeheartedly invested in this hana aloha and the ‘ohana that Kalauokekahuli serves.

Keeley Mantanona 

lives in Kapolei, Oʻahu with her ʻohana. A māmā of four keiki, she knows firsthand the strength and transformation birth can bring. After experiencing home birth herself, she felt called to support other wāhine as they navigate pregnancy, birth, and postpartum with confidence.

She is currently completing her doula certification through ʻIlihia Maternity Care while continually learning through cultural classes, workshops, and mentorships grounded in ʻike kūpuna.

As the first generation of her maternal ʻohana to grow up away from Hawaiʻi, Keeley is deeply committed to reclaiming the ʻike interrupted by distance and helping preserve traditional birth knowledge for future generations. Her greatest hope is that every māmā feels seen, supported, and empowered throughout her journey into motherhood.

• tyramaukaa@gmail.com

• Breastfeeding Hawaiʻi - Executive Administrator

• Indigenous Lactation Counselor, birth & indigenous Postpartum Doula 

• Kanaka Maoli, mama of 3 

• Serves and supports prenatal, postpartum & breastfeeding education in the community

Cheleigh Clarabal is a mama of two, wife, and proud Lānaʻi girl who carries a deep love for her ʻohana, her ʻāina, and the moʻolelo that shaped her. When she’s not serving ʻohana, you can find her on a little holoholo sesh up mauka or down makai with her keiki by her side—exploring, connecting, and creating memories.

Cheleigh serves as a koʻokua with Kalauokekahuli, helping create welcoming spaces where mamas, makua, and ʻohana can gather, learn, and kakoʻo one another while honoring Native Hawaiian values, traditions, and ʻike passed down from our kūpuna.

As a mama herself, she understands the importance of being held, heard, and supported during one of life’s most sacred transitions. Her kuleana is to walk alongside mamas and ʻohana with aloha, humility, and intention—centering their voices, their choices, and their mana within the birth space and beyond.

Through her work, Cheleigh hopes to help strengthen culturally grounded maternal care for our rural island communities, mālama ʻohana, and create spaces where our mamas feel empowered, cared for, and deeply rooted in their connection to ʻāina and one another.

Stacey Alapa'i lives in Makawao, Maui with her husband and son.  After graduating from Kamehameha Schools Maui, she earned her BA in Communication Studies from the University of San Francisco and built up her professional experience in digital marketing and grant management while living on the continent.. She returned home to Maui in 2020, gave birth to her son in 2022 with a Kalauokekahuli Doula by her side, and recently joined our board to expand her advocacy work into encouraging healthy growth of Kanaka and Pacifika 'ohana.

As a proud Denver, Colorado native, with roots from O’ahu, Alana’s deeply committed to serving the community through leadership, culture, and advocacy. She practices Native Hawaiian traditions through hula and  ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi , embracing the values of cultural preservation, respect, and connection. As a devoted mother to her keiki, she strives to lead by example through strong character, integrity, and compassion. Professionally, she serves as a Program Coordinator at the University of Colorado while also balancing the role as Co-Chair of the Denver Asian American Pacific Islander Commission, advocating for the AAPI community and working to increase awareness, equity, and access to resources that benefit all. As a ko’kua, she would like to bring more awareness to Native Hawaiian birth practices and resources to the diaspora, starting with Colorado. Through personal, professional, and civic endeavors, she is dedicated to building stronger, more inclusive communities for future generations.

Raised in Puna on Hawaiʻi Island and now raising her four keiki with her kāne on Kauaʻi, Kahealani Collins is a Koʻokua and Program Director for Kalauokekahuli. As a mama and birthworker, she's passionate about reclaiming ʻōiwi birth practices, decolonizing parenting, and cultivating mauli ola for the whole ʻohana. Kahealani believes that birthwork is ʻāina work and that a mama's first koʻokua is `āina and ʻohana. Guided by the philosophy that when wāhine are safe, keiki are fed, and kūpuna are comfortable, our lāhui thrives, she is committed to helping Kanaka `Oiwi and Pasifika `Ohana reconnect with ʻike kūpuna and build strong foundations for future generations.

Jaela Henderson was raised by the pali of Koʻolaupoko. She is a Kalauokekahuli māmā and Ka ʻĀmama graduate, raising her keiki in Kaʻū through ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi & ʻike kūpuna. A product of the unwavering love and courage from her aliʻi and kūpuna, she strives to protect land and language for the next generation through her role as a koʻokua to ʻohana Hawaiʻi. Professionally, she serves as the Operations Director with Wisdom Circles Oceania and the Operations Manager with Hawaiʻi Alliance for Progressive Action (HAPA). Outside of this, she is a proud makua advocate at Ke Kula o Nā ʻAʻaliʻi Kū Makani o Kaʻū. She is privileged to support the work of community builders and organizers for empowered families and toward a free Hawaiʻi.

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• iantonio@hawaii.edu

• No other board member affiliations

• Kanaka Maoli, 36 yr., wahine, māmā of 2 keiki

• I am of the community our organization serves

Born and raised in Molokai, a wife & mama to three boys, Sade has always been passionate about strengthening Hawaiʻi’s families by nurturing the health, well-being, and cultural identity of our keiki from the ʻōpū through adulthood. Rooted in the values of ʻohana and aloha, she is dedicated to creating spaces where families feel loved, supported, and empowered. Her heart is in creating connection through her work, striving to weave ʻike kūpuna, community, and early childhood development together, helping the next generation grow with healthy beginnings, and a deep sense of belonging.

Saysha Gandall is a Koʻokua who is deeply passionate about supporting māmā and ʻohana through pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum journey. Born and raised in Hāmākua on Hawaiʻi Island and now residing in Hilo with her husband and two daughters, Saysha brings both professional expertise and personal experience to the families she serves. She holds a Bachelor's  degree in Kinesiology and Exercise Science from the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo and a Master of Public Health from Hawaiʻi Pacific University. Her background in public health has strengthened her commitment to improving maternal and infant health while addressing barriers to culturally responsive care within Hawaiʻi's communities. Saysha's passion for birthwork was  inspired by her own transformative experience receiving the support of Kalauokekahuli during her second pregnancy. The compassionate, culturally grounded care she received empowered her to pursue birthwork so she could provide the same encouragement, advocacy, and support to other families navigating pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. She has a special interest in maternal health education, birth planning, breastfeeding support, postpartum wellness, and helping  families feel informed, confident, and empowered throughout their journey. She is dedicated to creating safe, respectful, and culturally grounded spaces where māmā and ʻohana feel seen, heard, and supported. By combining her public health background with the values of ʻike kūpuna, she is honored to walk alongside families as they welcome new life and strengthen the health and well-being of our lāhui.

Nikki Cristobal was born and raised on the island of Kauaʻi. She holds a Ph.D. in Educational Administration and Policy, an M.A. in Psychology, and a B.A. in Sociology and Women’s Studies. Her greatest and most proudest accomplishment is as the Mama of a toddler son. Nikki is a Lead Researcher and Advocate for the Missing & Murdered Native Hawaiian Women, Girls, Māhū movement. Nikki’s experience is in policy, grant writing, survivor advocacy, community-based research, and education. Nikki aspires to give back to the community that raised her and kōkua in protecting what’s most sacred to our places and people using the skill sets and experiences she’s acquired.