Baby Hui | A Lifeline for New Parents in Hawaii

A Lack of Family and Support

We moved to Hawaii to attend graduate school at UH Manoa ten years before having our first child. None of our friends had children. At that time, there was a surge of engagements and weddings, but we were the first to tackle parenthood.

It seemed necessary at the time, even a good idea, to move from town to a quiet house in Kaneohe.  At first, we were excited. We were surrounded by trees and if you looked in just the right spot, you could see the ocean from our house. It was a big change from apartment life.

In reality, however, we had one car, no neighbors, and nothing was within easy walking distance. Becoming a new parent is hard and we ignorantly chose to do it isolated and alone. That first year was a haze. If it wasn’t for the excessive photos I took, I honestly don’t think I would remember a thing.

A Light in the Tunnel

Before Micah was born, I signed up for Baby Hui, but there was no availability. Afterward, I was too exhausted to seek an alternative, and, honestly, I didn’t know how much I needed other new parents struggling with the same exact things.

When Micah was almost 18 months old, I received a call from Baby Hui telling me a new hui was starting in Kailua. We were each issued a binder and assigned homework which felt, well, insulting after 18 months of keeping my child alive on my own. So it was with great skepticism that I crowded onto the floor of our leader’s Lanikai home with the other moms and toddlers. It turns out that the binder was useful after all. It helped us through those first few awkward meetings. We quickly got to know each other and happily abandoned the script to plan our own playdates. That group ended up being my lifeline and we stayed in touch years later.

Current Support for New Moms

Baby hui dissolved by the time my second child was born, but I was fortunate to run into a group while walking around Kailua Beach Park. They kindly invited me to join their unofficial group and we had many fun adventures over the next year.

Since then, Family Hui has taken the spot of the Baby Hui along with a similar organization called Piko Pals. Reach out to one of those organizations if you’re a new parent looking for support.

Looking for Kid-Friendly Activities on Oahu?

Visit one of my favorite baby-friendly beaches, take a short hike or try something a little different. If you’re looking for monthly inspiration on what to do with your kids on Oahu, sign up for the Little Bird Post below.