Meet the Facilitators
Leila Ryusaki
CLC, CBE, IBC, LMT
Leila Ryusaki joined Hui Mālama Ola Nā ‘Ōiwi in July 2017 to design and lead the Healthy Hāpai Perinatal Program Initiative. With a grant awarded from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA), Leila has developed and initiated an exciting new program titled Papa Lawe Hānai Kaiāulu - To Raise a Village of Perinatal Community Health Workers. Papa Lawe Hānai Kaiāulu is a haumana (student) mentorship training program designed for those who are interested in growing their knowledge in pregnancy, birth, postpartum care, newborn care, breastfeeding, and positive parenting. These haumāna (students) will be able to help serve childbearing women on Hawaiʻi island.
Sasha Williams
RN, IBCLC, LCCE
Sasha Williams has been working with mothers, fathers, babies, and families in Hawaiʻi since 2008. She began her perinatal career as a community health worker—and is delighted to bring that experience to serving as the Perinatal Clinical Nurse Specialist of the new Perinatal Community Health Worker Training program at Hui Mālama Ola Nā ʻŌiwi, Papa Lāwe Hānai Kaiāulu! She and Leila Ryusaki have worked and played together since 2012, and Sasha says this opportunity to work closely with Leila and Hui Mālama is “a dream come true!!!"