Meet Our Breastfeeding Staff
Lisa Kahikina, MD IBCLC
Dr. Lisa Kahikina is a graduate of Kamehameha Schools, Kapalama Campus, and received her bachelors of arts in anthropology, with a concentration in medical anthropology, from the University of Pennsylvania. She completed her medical school degree at the John A. Burns School of Medicine at the University of Hawaii in 2005, and her pediatric residency with the University of Hawaii Pediatric Residency Program in 2008. She worked as a general pediatrician at Kapiolani Medical Center Outpatient Clinic, as a newborn hospitalist at the Kapiolani Medical Center, and as a pediatric consultant at Shriner’s Hospital for Children in Honolulu, from 2008-2017. She served as the Assistant Director at the Native Hawaiian Center of Excellence at the John A. Burns School of Medicine from 2015-2017. She opened up her comprehensive breastfeeding center in 2017. She is a Functional Medicine Fellowship candidate since 2019. She specializes in helping mothers manage general medical issues, for mother and baby, that may have an impact on nursing for the first 2 years of the baby’s life.
With an amazing new staff that specializes in assisting all mothers with breastfeeding issues, but especially complex breastfeeding cases, Dr. Kahikina has been able to additionally offer wider breadth of comprehensive breastfeeding service, including the use of nutritional guidance for moms and babies for preventive and treatment of health care issues, as well as child development guidance as it pertains to lactation issues and professional breast massage services for issues such as engorgement, plugged ducts, early mastitis, poor milk supply and poor milk flow.
In the picture above: Dr. Kahikina is pictured in the center, with her twin daughters, Kaua and Malie. In the picture below is her husband, Sean, and their son Makua.
Sean McNamara
Office Manager
Jodie Dresel
RN, IBCLC
Jodie Dresel is experienced in working with birth and lactation for over 20 years in Hospital Birthing Centers both on the mainland and Hawaii. She started her career as a International Board Certified Lactation Consultant at Mayo Clinic on the mainland before coming back to Hawaii in 2013. Jodie would love to help you and your family meet your personal feeding goals.
She specializes in supporting sucking skills, oral restrictions such as lip and tongue ties, low tone and body tension in the newborn. She has experience in working with all types of lactation concerns from simple to complex, including inducing lactation.
Jodie is a childbirth educator, prenatal yoga teacher, reiki practitioner and mama. In her free time she enjoys yoga, hiking, traveling and watching son surf and skate. She is pictured here with her husband and her son.
Aly Certo
RN, IBCLC
Aly has worked in both pediatric and postpartum clinical settings since 2005. She considers it a privilege to work with new families and strives to earn their trust and confidence by providing compassionate, evidence-based care. She has experience navigating a variety of breastfeeding challenges and enjoys supporting new parents as they gain confidence with their newborns. In addition to being an RN and IBCLC, Aly has completed coursework in perinatal mental health with Postpartum Support International and is a Bringing Baby Home Educator certified by the Gottman Institute in Seattle. She is happy to work with Mahinaona Pediatrics and expand the resources available to local families during their transition to parenthood.
Ikuko Harada
Professional Breast Massage, CLC
Ikuko makes a home with her husband and four children. She was born in Japan, but grew up in Western Michigan. She received her BA from Michigan State University and her MA from St. Joseph's University.
Ikuko’s journey as a birth worker began in 2005, after the birth of her first child. Her experience inspired her to receive her certification as a childbirth educator in order to provide evidenced based education and empower women to make informed choices. This passion for this field has led her to become certified as a birth and postpartum doula and a certified lactation counselor. She has trained under a midwife, specializing in Japanese breast massage. She is very honored to be part of Dr. Kahikina’s team and supporting families in their new chapter of life!
Lokelani Rodrigues
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Dionna Peralta
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Shelby Johnson
Our medical assistants are an integral and important part of our office staff and our work flow, without which our practice could not offer you with the comprehensive care we strive to provide.