Sonya Niess

Ashley and Wren sit down with birth worker and advocate Sonya Niess to explore maternal care and birth options in Hawaiʻi. Sonya explains the roles of doulas and midwives and how the midwifery model of care centers emotional, physical, and community support throughout pregnancy and postpartum. The conversation highlights how Hawaiʻi’s maternal health system faces shortages of providers and structural barriers that make it difficult for many families to access the care they need.Ashley and Wren also discuss the policy and cultural shifts shaping birth in Hawaiʻi today. Sonya shares her work with the Pacific Birth Collective and the challenges midwives face navigating licensing, insurance, and regulation. The episode explores how collaboration among birth workers, healthcare providers, and families could improve outcomes while restoring agency and dignity to the birth experience. Together they reflect on how strengthening maternal care systems can better support mothers, families, and communities across the islands.Socials: @pacificbirthcollective | LinkedInShow Notes:Pacific Birth Collective Committee on the Status of Women, County of MauiMaui 2023 midwifery law (Act 32)Mālama I Ke Ola Health Center Subscribe to hear more stories from change-makers in Hawai‘i: https://www.pilalipodcast.org/subscribe