Our Team
We bring different perspectives to the table, but we're united by a shared mission—ensuring every keiki in Hawaiʻi has access to the nourishment they deserve.
Marissa D. Jacobs, BSN, RN, IBCLC
Hi, nice to meet you! I'm from the North Shore of O'ahu, now living in Mililani. I've been a Pediatric RN for 20 years and have two daughters. Despite helping moms breastfeed professionally, I struggled with my first child—mostly pumping and supplementing with formula. My second journey was completely different: exclusively breastfeeding my late preterm baby for 6 months, then continuing for 20 months! Those experiences led me to become a Lactation Consultant. My mentor Mariko and I always talked about the need for a milk bank in Hawaii. When an injury sidelined me for three months in 2025, I made lemonade—and in July 2025, Hānai Waiū Milk Bank was born! We're so excited to be creating a place to help facilitate optimal nutrition for babies throughout Hawaii!
Board President & Founder
Mariko Fong, RN, IBCLC
Aloha, I’m from Kāneʻohe, Hawaiʻi, and have dedicated the past 18 years to supporting mothers and infants as both a NICU Nurse and Lactation Consultant. My passion lies in advancing maternal and infant health at both the clinical and community levels. In addition to my nursing background, I hold a degree in Public Administration with a focus on Disaster Management and International Humanitarian Aid. Through work with nonprofit organizations locally and abroad, I have witnessed the critical importance of resilient, community-based systems that support families during times of need. My journey has led me to the Milk Bank, where I am honored to help empower families through the gift of human milk and advocate for optimal infant nutrition. I am passionate about strengthening infant food security and supporting the development of a sustainable local milk bank that serves Hawaiʻi’s unique and geographically isolated island community.
Board Vice President & Founder
Board TreasurerChrista Cieslak, RN
Christa currently serves as the Treasurer on our Board of Directors. Her background includes emergency and pediatric emergency nursing, pediatric sedation and community health nursing with a focus on vulnerable pediatric populations. Most importantly, she is a mom. Her dedication to the success of Hānai Waiū Milk Bank stems from her own parenting journey and struggles with providing breastmilk as a new mom. She understands the desire to provide optimal nutrition for our keiki and is proud to work as part of our founding team.
Board SecretaryJoneau Melancon, RN
Aloha! My name is Joneau Melancon. I was born and raised on the North Shore of Oʻahu and currently reside in the community of Mililani. I am a registered nurse with 20+ years of experience caring for Hawaiiʻs mothers and newborns in the inpatient hospital setting. Throughout my career, I have been dedicated to supporting families during the postpartum period, providing education, promoting evidence-based newborn care, and helping mothers achieve their infant feeding goals. My professional experience is complemented by my own personal breastfeeding journey, which gave me firsthand insight into both the rewards and challenges of infant feeding. As a board member of Hānai Waiū Milk Bank, I am excited and honored to support efforts that increase access to safe donor human milk and help improve outcomes for Hawaiʻi's most vulnerable infants.