Meet the founders of Waiū by VHM.

Founder & Chief Executive Officer

Hilinaʻikamakanaliʻiliʻi Kane

Founder & Chief Executive Officer

Hilinaʻikamakanaliʻiliʻi Kane is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Waiū by VHM. She is a Native Hawaiian mother, entrepreneur, student, and community advocate whose leadership is grounded in faith, ʻohana, culture, and service.

Her vision for Waiū grew from her lived experience with pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, caregiving, and raising her children. In 2018, during a period when families were struggling to access infant formula, Hilinaʻi donated breast milk to nourish the babies of three mothers she had never met. That experience deepened her commitment to maternal health and inspired her to create Waiū, a wearable breast pump designed to better support mothers through the many responsibilities they carry.

Since founding VHM Enterprise in 2022, Hilinaʻi has led the company’s overall vision, corporate governance, administrative infrastructure, organizational development, community engagement, manufacturer and vendor relationships, and commercialization strategy. Her work includes coordinating business documentation, developing partnerships, communicating with community stakeholders, and guiding Waiū’s growth toward manufacturing and the medical device regulatory process.

Hilinaʻi brings a diverse professional background in insurance, executive assistance, administrative operations, document preparation and management, regulatory compliance, confidential information handling, scheduling, client relations, and customer service. Through her work in the insurance and hospitality industries, she developed strong skills in professional communication, organization, financial accuracy, conflict resolution, and working effectively in fast paced, high pressure environments. Her experience as a stay at home mother further strengthened her leadership, problem solving, time management, caregiving, and ability to coordinate multiple responsibilities with purpose and care.

She is also the Founder and President of Hoʻōla ʻŌiwi Foundation, where she works alongside families, educators, cultural practitioners, and community partners to advance culturally grounded initiatives in maternal health, education reform, and community development. Her community advocacy has included supporting efforts related to Native Hawaiian culture, land, housing, family well being, and the preservation of Native Hawaiian rights.

Hilinaʻi is currently pursuing studies in Political Science and Hawaiian Studies, expanding her knowledge of public policy, Indigenous governance, Hawaiian history, law, and community centered leadership. Through Waiū and her broader community work, she is committed to creating responsible, culturally rooted solutions that strengthen mothers, uplift families, and build lasting opportunities for future generations of Hawaiʻi.

Co-Founder & Chief Operating Officer

Mahie Kalamau

Co-Founder & Chief Operating Officer

Mahie is the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Waiū by VHM, helping guide the company’s day-to-day development from early concept toward a strong and sustainable maternal health platform. Her work centers on regulatory planning, research, grants, healthcare partnerships, and building the internal systems needed to move Waiū forward responsibly.

With more than six years of professional experience in healthcare, Mahie brings firsthand knowledge of patient care, clinical environments, and the importance of creating products that are practical, thoughtful, and easier for families to access. Her background allows her to approach Waiū from both a healthcare and operational perspective.

At Waiū, Mahie helps oversee the FDA pathway, technical documentation, funding preparation, organizational planning, and future hospital and DME partnerships. She works closely across each area of development to help ensure the company grows with intention while remaining aligned with the people it was created to serve.

Her perspective is also shaped by her own experiences with motherhood and breastfeeding, giving her a clear understanding of how cost, convenience, and access can influence a mother’s options.

For Mahie, Waiū represents more than creating a breast pump. It is about using innovation as a way to expand access, support maternal health equity, and create better possibilities for mothers throughout their journeys.