Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition of Hawaii

My first encounter with this organization was simply for networking purposes as I was tasked with writing about the nonprofit sector as a reporter. I met with their Executive Director, Lisa, and was immediately drawn to their efforts. Where most nonprofits struggle, they were thriving. They are a small but mighty team, proving to be effective, efficient, and so clearly genuine in everything they do for the community. It wasn't long before I learned I was expecting my first child, and I found myself on the receiving end of their mission. My first impression couldn't have been more on point, and they proved to be a pillar of vital support for all things motherhood. Being military, I had to continue growing my family back on the East Coast, where I'm nowhere near a local chapter like this. Starting my motherhood journey in Hawaii with a resource like this, and then moving away from it, has only made me appreciate this organization more. I wish I would've gotten more involved while I was there. I still find myself turning to their resources for reference halfway across the country!I whole-heartedly believe that HMHB is one of the most impactful organizations you can get involved with because the strength of any community rests on the strength of its families. Thank you, HMHB crew, for bringing back the village! For reminding new mothers that we should never do this alone; for ensuring our keiki have the best start to life; and for being a strong, collective voice by advocating for families all the way from Honolulu to Capitol Hill.

We went for their 'Happy Mama's Happy Babies Massage Class' and I'm giving it two stars because it was just way too crowded to actually get much teaching about massage. There were about 17 couples on a Wednesday at 5:30PM with a husband and wife team that just couldn't handle the work load (they admitted in class they "didn't expect so many people"). It's a shame because this kind of class would actually be useful if there was time and resources to teach it properly. If you go and it's crowded ask for a refund to come back another time.

Wow! What an amazing non-profit organization serving Hawaii keiki and families, with impact that truly creates a healthy foundation for families and therefore impacts the community at large. My passion for this organization first started a couple years ago when Executive Director Lisa Kimura brought vital energy, awareness, and advocacy to the issue of Paid Family Leave, which affects everyone in the community. Fast forward to today and news of my first pregnancy led me closer to the resources of this organization. Lisa had just launched a brand new "Becoming A Mother Series," which equips women at all stages of life for motherhood. Being thousands of miles from family and with this being my first baby, I found this workshop to be incredibly valuable. The workshop surprised me and proved to be far more than just a discussion or presentation; it was a truly engaging session that provided hands-on coaching for how to tap into one's intuition and align the mind, body and spirit. I left the session no longer feeling anxious, but empowered, and the tools that this workshop provided me with will not only carry me through this pregnancy and the birth, but well into motherhood. With all of the information available on the Internet and the conflicting advice women receive, paired with the concerns of over-intervention in our health care system, I found myself growing more stressed by the day in preparing for this next stage of my life. Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition of Hawaii provides clarity and support that cuts through all of this noise, and I'm so grateful for all the work they tirelessly provide to women like myself!

The programs and staff at HMHB are just wonderful! They have numerous resources and programs for new families and you can tell that they really strive to provide positive experiences. I participated in the Piko Pals program and loved it! I highly recommend it to all new moms/parents. It helped me transition into my new parent role and is where I found my "village". Attend their programs, join a group or donate to this fabulous organization!