‘Medical colonialism’: midwives sue Hawaii over law regulating Native birth workers

Synopsis

In an interview with The Guardian, reporter Ava Sasani follows Ki’i Kaho‘ohanohano, a native Hawaiian midwife, who could be prohibited from practicing Indigenous reproductive practices if Hawaii’s new licensure laws go into effect. This new licensure could impose requirements that exclude Indigenous midwives with decades of experience — including miscarriage management and abortion support — and hundreds of years of wisdom from family and community.

Rather than engaging in the Hawaiian custom of birthing as a sacred moment, the law forces midwives like Kaho‘ohanohano to avoid home visits, forcing pregnant Hawaiians to fly to Oahu for their care. Midwives are typically trained to closely monitor a patient’s health and safety throughout pregnancy, but by trying to outlaw this type of midwifery in Hawaii, patients are separated from their health care providers who best understand their needs.