Mission
Advancing Excellence in Emergency Nursing
The mission of the Hawai‘i State Council of the Emergency Nurses Association (Hi-ENA) is to advance excellence in emergency nursing through education, advocacy, and collaboration. We are dedicated to enhancing patient well-being and promoting evidence-based practice to ensure the highest standard of emergency care. Our focus is on providing professional development opportunities, supporting evidence-based practice, and fostering a strong community committed to improving emergency care.
Guided by the values of aloha, kuleana, and teamwork, we connect nurses locally, nationally, and globally to share knowledge, promote best practices, and strengthen the profession of emergency nursing.
2025 -2027 Hawai'i State Council Board Members
2025 - 2027 President
Philip Higgins-Weimer
MBA, MHA, RN
Philip Higgins Weimer is an experienced registered nurse with over 23 years of dedicated service in the healthcare field. Beginning his career in oncology, Philip transitioned into the emergency room, where he found his true calling in providing critical care in high-pressure environments. He is currently a Clinical Coordinator at Kaiser Permanente Moanalua Campus in Honolulu, Hawaii, where he plays a pivotal role in educating and supporting nursing staff across several departments, including the Emergency Room, Clinical Decision Unit, and Ambulatory Treatment Center.
With a passion for leadership and nursing education, Philip is committed to enhancing the professional development of nurses in the emergency department and improving patient care. His responsibilities as Clinical Coordinator involve providing ongoing training, developing clinical protocols, and promoting a culture of excellence in patient care.
In addition to his work at Kaiser, Philip continually strives for professional growth. He is currently pursuing his third master’s degree through Kaiser, after already earning a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a focus on Healthcare and a Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) in Informatics. His extensive education allows him to bring both clinical and administrative expertise to the forefront, strengthening the integration of technology and data-driven decision-making in nursing practice.
As the President of the Hawaii State Council Chapter of the Emergency Nurses Association, Philip is dedicated to advocating for emergency room nurses across the state, fostering professional development, and supporting efforts to improve
2025 - 2027 Immediate Past President
TJ Donayri
MSHS, RN, CEN, TCRN, CPST
TJ Donayri is an emergency department (ED) nurse/trauma nurse by trade with over 22 years of experience at various Level 1 Trauma Centers. TJ graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Hawaii Pacific University and a Master of Science in Health Science from George Washington University. Currently certified as Faculty for Emergency Nurse Pediatric Course (ENPC), Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC), and Advanced Trauma Care for Nurses (ATCN). TJ Coordinates all the American College of Surgeon Courses at The Queen’s Medical Center Manamana. Including running these courses TJ also created a new trauma onboarding program at her current hospital to standardize trauma education. TJ works in partnership with the frontline ED Registered Nurses.
TJ transitioned into her current role six years ago as the Clinical Coordinator for Injury Prevention/Outreach & Education for the Trauma Service Department at The Queen’s Medical Center. One key component in this new position is tracking injury prevalence in the community, which is imperative to implement injury prevention activities in communities with a higher prevalence. Using the expertise of prior work experience TJ has been a key supporter in collaboration with outreach activities within the community and works collaboratively with many outside community and national organizations. TJ is passionate about community engagement to reduce health disparities.
2025 - 2027 Secretary/Treasurer
Ruthie Bilagot Clearwater
DNP, MSNED, BSN, CFRN, CEN, CCRN, TCRN
Ruthie Bilagot Clearwater is a dedicated nursing leader, educator, and clinician with extensive experience in emergency, trauma, and critical care nursing. With over two decades of experience in frontline patient care, education, and leadership, she brings a wealth of knowledge and passion for advancing nursing practice.
As Secretary/Treasurer of the Hawai‘i State Council of the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA), Ruthie plays a pivotal role in supporting the mission of advancing excellence in emergency nursing. Ruthie has held multiple leadership roles, including serving as a faculty member in nursing programs across Hawai’i, where she mentors future nurses and contributes to the development of nursing education tools.
A seasoned emergency and critical care nurse, Ruthie has many years of experience in air transport medicine, having served as a Flight Nurse, Base Manager, and Program Director for air medical transport services. Her expertise spans emergency department care, intensive care, trauma resuscitation, and home health nursing, demonstrating her versatility and dedication to high-quality patient care.
She serves as a Course Director and Instructor for Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS). Her commitment to trauma education is further demonstrated by her role as an Instructor for the Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC) and the Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course (ENPC).
As a lifetime member of the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) and past Director-at-Large of the Hawaii American Nurses Association (Hawaii-ANA), Ruthie is a recognized advocate for nursing excellence. She also serves as an Ambassador for the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN), supporting professional development initiatives.
Her commitment to fostering a supportive environment for nurses, promoting evidence-based practice, and ensuring high-quality patient care continues to shape the future of nursing in Hawai’i and beyond.
2025 - 2027 Board of Directors
Steven D. Hobbs
PhD, RN-BC, CEN, CCRN, TCRN
Dr. Hobbs is a semi-retired clinician and educator with over 54 years’ experience in a multitude of healthcare positions. Currently he is a Lecturer/Adjunct Faculty in the School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene, University of Hawai’i at Manoa. His area of focus is in clinical simulations. He is a lifetime member of The Emergency Nurses Association, active at both a state and national level.
Educationally, Dr. Hobbs holds an associate and bachelor’s degrees in nursing, a bachelor’s in biomedical science, a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership, and a Ph.D. in Nursing - focusing on Informatics in NCoursing. His clinical specialty is in the areas of Emergency, Trauma, and Education in Nursing. Professionally he has held staff/management/administrative positions in Chemical Dependency, Emergency-Trauma, Investigative Assistant to the Medical Examiner, Flight/Air Medical Services, Insurance, and Undergraduate/Graduate nursing basic and continuing education as well as EMT and Paramedic training. Dr. Hobbs is National Faculty for the Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC) and Emergency Nurse Pediatric Course (ENPC). He is a member/past officer of Sigma Theta Tau, Gamma Psi Chapter.
In the community, Dr. Hobbs is a former Cub Scout and Boy Scout leader and a Brotherhood of the Order of the Arrow. He is a member of St. Ann’s Catholic Church and of the Knights of Columbus. While born in Minnesota, he’s lived on island for 33 years with his R.N. wife and extensive family in Kahalu’u, Hawai’i. Their interests include traveling and raising their Samoyed dogs.
2025 - 2027 Board of Directors
Maria Moreno-Chow
DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, CEN, CPEN
Dr. Maria Moreno-Chow is a native of Delano, California. She is an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner. She graduated in 1992 from Hawai′i Loa College Kaneohe Hawai′i with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. In 1999 obtained a Bachelor’s in Premedical Studies from Hawai′i Pacific University. In 2005 attained a Master of Science degree in Nursing and 2017 a Doctorate in Nursing Practice degree from the University of Hawai′i at Mānoa School of Nursing. In 2023, she completed a certificate in Global Health and Global Health Engagement from the Uniform Services University.
Dr. Moreno-Chow’s civilian employment includes Family Nurse Practitioner at Waimanalo Health Center and Adventist Health Castle Medical Center Hawaii. Staff nurse in the Emergency Department and educator as Director/Instructor Trauma Nursing Care Course, Advanced Cardiac Life Support, and Pediatric Advanced Life Support for Castle Medical Center and American Medical Response Hawaii. She is a board member for the Hawai′i State Council of the Emergency Nurses Association and member of the Coalition for Tobacco Free Hawai′i Public Health Institute Policy Workgroup.
CAPT Moreno-Chow was commissioned as an ensign in the Navy Reserve Nurse Corps in 1994. Deployments as Family Nurse Practitioner to NATO Role 3 Multinational Medical Unit Kandahar, Afghanistan. Chief Nurse Officer Joint Task Force Guantanamo Bay Cuba Joint Medical Group. CAPT Moreno-Chow mobilized in support of Operation DoD Response COVID-19 Javits New York City and Navy Medicine Readiness Training Command Great Lakes Illinois. Her shipboard experience includes Pacific Partnership, USNS Mercy (T-AH 19), Continuing Promise USNS Comfort (T-AH 20), and Senior Medical Officer USNS Brunswick (TEPF-6). She currently serves as the Executive Officer for Navy Reserve Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Camp Lejeune.
2025 - 2027 Board of Directors
Jackie Thomas
DNP, MSN, RN, CFRN, CEN
Dr. Jackie Thomas is a dedicated emergency and critical care nursing professional with a distinguished career in flight nursing, emergency and critical care nursing, nursing education, and nursing leadership.
With over four decades of experience in emergency, critical care and transport nursing, she has been instrumental in advancing clinical education, patient care, and leadership within high-acuity environments. She has contributed to developing and implementing emergency and trauma education programs for flight and emergency nurses, ensuring competency in critical care decision-making, resuscitation, and transport medicine. As a regular manuscript reviewer for Air Medical Journal, she evaluates and promotes research that enhances emergency nursing protocols, clinical guidelines, and best practices.
Through her current faculty roles Dr. Thomas mentors doctoral, master’s and prelicensure nursing students in leadership, emergency and trauma care, pediatrics, healthcare policy advocacy and simulation.
Dr. Thomas holds a doctorate in nursing from Duquesne University, as well as a master’s in nursing and a bachelor’s in healthcare management. She is a Certified Flight Registered Nurse (CFRN) and Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN), demonstrating her commitment to the nursing profession and to excellence in emergency and critical care. She is a co-editor and contributing author of Critical Care Transport Core Curriculum and the Critical Care Transport Certification Review Manual, resources that support emergency and transport nurses in advancing their certification, clinical expertise, and professional growth.
2025 - 2027 Board of Directors
Ivan 'Kapena' W. Clute III
BSN, TCRN
Ivan “Kapena” Clute is a dedicated emergency and trauma nurse with nearly two decades of experience in high-acuity trauma and critical emergency care. He began his nursing career in 2007 at Molokai General Hospital before transitioning to The Queen’s Medical Center in 2010, where he has remained a key member of the emergency department.
Kapena holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and is board-certified in Trauma Nursing (TCRN). As part of the Core Trauma Nurses team, he specializes in managing severe trauma cases, ensuring critically injured patients receive expert and timely care. Beyond bedside nursing, Kapena is a passionate mentor, dedicated to guiding and educating graduate nurses as they adapt to the fast-paced and demanding field of emergency nursing.
In addition to his clinical expertise, Kapena is actively involved in professional nursing advocacy. He serves as a board member for the Hawaii State Council Chapter of the Emergency Nurses Association and contributes to advancing emergency nursing by supporting the goals and objectives. His commitment to patient care, education, and professional development makes him a valued trauma and emergency nursing leader.
2025 - 2027 Government Relations Chair
Erich M. Weldon
EdD, BSN, RN, NE-BC
Dr. Erich Weldon is a passionate healthcare leader whose journey began in 1996 as a paramedic and evolved through hands-on nursing in high-pressure areas like medical oncology, neurotrauma, and emergency care. He earned his doctorate in Organizational Change and Leadership from USC and holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Texas at Arlington.
Dr. Weldon has advanced into leadership roles, steering teams and programs that drive change and excellence in healthcare environments. Beyond his professional work, Erich has devoted time to volunteer initiatives, supporting community events and healthcare services, which reflect his ongoing commitment to making a positive impact.
