ELIZABETH KEHAU KEALOHA, RN, IBCLC, IBC

The CHAMPS National Virtual Breastfeeding Conference is coming up on September 17! Over the next few weeks, we’re celebrating the knowledgeable and passionate speakers as our CHAMPions of the Week.

Today’s CHAMPion Speaker is Elizabeth Kehau Kealoha, Registered Nurse, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), and founder of Mother’s Milk. Elizabeth Kehau has assisted families with providing breastmilk for their babies for over 20 years. She has been instrumental in implementing evidence-based feeding practices in the hospital setting.

Elizabeth Kehau has served as a staff nurse in labor and delivery, postpartum, and nursery units, and as a nurse manager at The Queen’s North Hawaii Community Hospital in the Family Birth Unit. At the hospital, Elizabeth championed the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, leading to Baby-Friendly designation in 2015.

In 2018, Elizabeth Kehau transitioned from the hospital setting to pursue private practice in lactation, founding Mother’s Milk LLC. Her journey has led to various opportunities to advance maternal-child health, including becoming credentialed with insurance companies and serving as Vice-President of Breastfeeding Hawaii, the state’s breastfeeding coalition. Additionally, Elizabeth Kehau is a passionate advocate for IBCLC coverage for the Medicaid population.

Elizabeth Kehau was introduced to CHAMPS National through Hawai’i Maternity Care Practices Project, a CDC-funded project working to design a recognition program that supports Hawaii’s 12 maternity care hospitals with their unique challenges and showcases their efforts towards implementing the Ten Steps. Elizabeth Kehau currently lives in Waimea, Hawaii, has been married for 33 years, and is a proud mother of four grown sons and grandmother to one.

We are inspired by Elizabeth’s dedication to advancing breastfeeding education and equity. We look forward to her session ‘Pacific Perspectives Panel: Guam, Hawaii, Palau’ at the CHAMPS National conference in September!

Are you a CHAMPS National hospital or community partner? Register for our upcoming conference today to attend breastfeeding sessions by Elizabeth Kehau Kealoha, Dr. Michelle Owens, Reaching Our Sisters Everywhere (ROSE), and other inspiring leaders in maternal-child health!