For our season finale, we are joined by the wonderful Dr. Kalena Kaopuuokalani Lanuza, who is a doctorally prepared Certified Family and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and Certified Lactation Counselor. She specializes in reproductive psychiatric mental health and cares for Native Hawaiian and Pasifika wāhine (women) in Hawai'i and throughout the diaspora in Washington, Oregon and California.

Dr. Kalena opens up to us in this episode about her own journey to becoming a mother, after years of being an NICU nurse, only to discover the difficulties of postpartum anxiety and postpartum OCD. This pushed her into her current work, where she is able to provide perinatal support for other makuahine, or mothers, especially kanaka maoli or Native Hawaiians--like herself.

She graciously shares with us about the history of oppression and colonialism in the islands of Hawai'i and how this generational trauma plays a huge role in the perinatal care of many Native Hawaiian and Pasifika women, whether in Hawai'i or on the mainland. We learn about the importance of cultural congruency especially in perinatal mental health care, how to both honor and understand where we come from and how it plays a role in our current mental health.

This rich episode also teaches us how to be respectful stewards of the lands we live on, remembering the history of those before us and what was lost, from both a physical home to erasure of language and culture.

Find more of Dr. Kalena at:

• Mana Mental Health
• Instagram: @mana_mental_Health

Resources from this episode:

• Kalauokekahuli: https://www.kalauokekahuli.org/
• Pale wāhine & La'au Lapa'au: Pua O Eleili Pinto of Ēwe 'Oia'i'o: IG @eweoiaio 
• Perinatal Nutrition:  Ke'alohi Naipo of Naipo Nutrition: https://kealohi-naipo.mykajabi.com/
• Northern CA: Mana Pasifika: https://www.sisterweb.org/mana-pasefika
• Washington: Pilimakua Family Connections: https://www.hummingbird-ifs.org/programs/pilimakua
• Washington: Pacific Islander Health Board of Washington: Doula's/ lactation/ pregnancy support groups

This episode is dedicated to Jasmine Del Mar. A hui hou. We miss you.

Special thank you to Dr. Tony Huynh, PharmD for helping us sound mix our introduction dedication. You can find him on Instagram @toneymixes.

Note: The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speakers' own. This podcast is not a replacement for therapy or professional/medical advice. If you need more support or advice, please reach out to your own medical professional who can answer your questions with your individual medical history and background in context.

Please RATE and REVIEW our show if you enjoy the episodes we bring to you! It helps others to find our show when you do. Thanks so much!

Support the show

✨ If you'd like to subscribe to our podcast for access to more bonus episodes, please click here for Buzzsprout Subscriptions! Once subscribed, you can use an RSS feed to listen from any of your podcast platforms. Thanks in advance for your support, as this really helps us keep the show going! ❤️ (Think of it like buying us a boba...to share! 😉🧋)