COMMUNITY RESOURCE: LA LECHE LEAGUE OF HAWAII

Community Resource: La Leche League of Hawaii

Charleen Kahapea
Kapiolani Community College

!1

COMMUNITY RESOURCE: LA LECHE LEAGUE OF HAWAII

!2

Community Resource: La Leche League of Hawaii

La Leche League International (LLLI) is a non-profit and nonsectarian (they are not
affiliated with any religion) organization founded by seven women. These seven women had
given birth ranging from three to eleven children. They wanted to be able to share their
experiences of breastfeeding and educate other mothers. Their mission is to help mothers
worldwide to breastfeed through mother-to-mother support, encouragement, information, and
education, and to promote a better understanding of breastfeeding as an important element in the
development of the baby and mother (La leche league mission, n.d.).
The LLLI provides lactation support to all around the world, having over three thousand
groups throughout sixty-eight countries around the world. La Leche League United States of
America (USA) is a subsidiary of the La Leche League International. Then there is the La Leche
League of the Northern California and Hawaii which is a subsidiary of La Leche League USA.
In Hawaii there are La Leche League group meetings held on the island of Oahu, Maui, Big
Island, and Kauai.
For Oahu there are two meeting groups, one in Leeward at the Waikele Community Park
every 2nd Tuesday of the month at 10:15am and the other one on the Windward side at Kalama
Beach Park every 4th Wednesday of the month at 9:30am. Meetings are free of charge. led by
an accredited Le Leche League leader who has also breastfeeding experience. Those who attend
are usually the expectant, new, and experienced mothers. According to Holli Shiro, the La Leche
leader for Leeward, the meetings are a place for sharing experiences, giving suggestions,
offering support and encouragement to anyone interested (personal communication, February
26, 2015).

COMMUNITY RESOURCE: LA LECHE LEAGUE OF HAWAII

!3

La Leche League Internationals website is a one stop place to find information on

support for the pregnant and breastfeeding women. According to Holli Shiro, La Leche League
is about specializing in helping out working mothers, teen mothers, or mothers with multiples
(twins, triplets, or more) on every aspect relating to breastfeeding (personal communication,
February 26, 2015). Services and resources are available to anyone interested in breastfeeding
and parenting. The main website at www.llli.org is a great place to find contact information such
as phone numbers and other La Leche League country websites. The resources section of the
website has breastfeeding answers from topics such as maternal and infant or child breastfeeding
issues, family issues, and other breastfeeding topics including breastfeeding and the law. Other
resources available include Facebook pages, pod casts, publications such as books, and
magazines, and forums.
Facebook pages are available for La Leche League of Central Oahu, North Hawaii, and
Kauai. There you can find monthly group meeting information, inspirational stories, links to
articles, photos and inspirational quotes to name a few. Also, you can join and become a La
Leche League member for $40 which will help support breastfeeding mothers in Hawaii and
around the world.
Their popular guidebook The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding is a comprehensive and
supportive how to book on assisting from the early stages of labor to weaning the child from
breastfeeding. Besides teaching how to breastfeed, the book talks about many solutions to
common breastfeeding problems such as helping to increase milk supply, and tips on

COMMUNITY RESOURCE: LA LECHE LEAGUE OF HAWAII

!4

breastfeeding such as working and pumping. This book is available hard copy and electronic
version. A great resource book to enjoy and share with others.
It is important for women to know that there is available resources out there to help with
breastfeeding. La Leche League International provides all that support in one place. As stated
by Holli Shiro (personal communication, February 26, 2015), breastfeeding is natural, but it is a
learned art. From personal experience, I had trouble breastfeeding, I did not find out about
these resources till I was exhausted and had decided I would try again on my second child. As a
first time mother, everything is so new, exciting, and overwhelming at the same time. There is a
lot of resources out there on breastfeeding support. La Leche League International provides that
great resource for mothers that want to learn more about breastfeeding and learn that there are
others out there to help make breastfeeding easier. Everyone can benefit from a little help from
time to time, whether we are a novice or an expert at breastfeeding.

COMMUNITY RESOURCE: LA LECHE LEAGUE OF HAWAII

Reference
(N.A.). (N.D.). Breastfeeding Guide: Tips and Products 2012. In Resources. Retrieved from
http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/5c632362#/5c632362/1
(N.A.). (N.D.). La Leche League Mission. In About Us. Retrieved from http://www.llli.org/
mission.html?m=1,0,2

!5