HAWAI'I AFFILIATE OF THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF NURSE-MIDWIVES
Annette Manant, PhD, APRN, CNM - President
Annette Manant has been a RN since 1976 and a CNM since 1983, long before some of you were born! RN BSN California State University, Fresno, 1976. Graduated in the second Midwifery Program USC, LA County Hospital in 1983. She worked in L&D, did Hospital, Birth Center, and Home Births. She has a PhD from UH Manoa as a Nurse Educator and has taught BSN students at HPU and UH Hilo. She retired from a Community-Based Health Center, Hamakua-Kohala Health on the Big Island, providing direct care to women, in March, 2021.
Annette has supported ACNM since becoming a midwife and was our Affiliate Secretary when Roxanne Estes, CNM from Puna District took the HAA reins and continued as Secretary under Colleen Bass, CNM from Kauai. In her retirement, she made a decision to continue her support of ACNM and HAA by volunteering to be the President of HAA. She lives in Honoka`a on the north-east side of the Big Island. She lives with her husband, Michael; they were married in 1980. She is a mother of 2 grown children and 2 grand-babies. She likes to hike, snorkel, and practice yoga. She doesn't like to garden.
Connie Conover, CNM, MSN - Vice President/Treasurer
Connie Conover, CNM, MSN - Vice President Connie graduated from Oregon Health Science University Midwifery Program in 19965. Her first job was with the CNMS at the University of New Mexico Hospital (1995-1998) - then was romanced to Hawai’i in 1998. She worked at Kalihi Palama Health Center, attending births at Kapiolani Medical Center from 1999-12010. She then joined the Kaiser CNMS in 2010 where she continues to joyfully practice.
Side jobs throughout the years included teaching Women’s Health at the University of Hawai’i and was also a Clinical Coordinator with Frontier University. Connie enjoys time and travel with her family, cooking (and then sharing with friends), hiking, reading, and learning how to play the cello!
Margaret has been visiting family on the Big Island since childhood. Through midwifery practice and advocacy, she hopes she can give back to family, community, and the plants and animal ancestors of this sacred region. Her latest offering is 'Ōhi'a Midwifery & Wellness, LLC a midwifery clinic in Kealakekua (South Kona) and homebirth collective. It is also her hope to support the next generation through by precepting future midwifes and expand the CM credential pathway in Hawai'i.
Her unique approach to midwifery care is informed by a background in contemplative movement, performance, fine art, and having spent 8 years in practice in India, yogic philosophy. Margaret is also a Certified Havening Practitioner®, a psychosomatic modality for mental health needs to address generational, birth, & sexual trauma.
Margaret completed her Masters in Midwifery through SUNY Downstate, graduating in 2018. Her first position was at the Brooklyn Birthing Center, working through the height of the pandemic. Margaret was also part of the opening of the Jazz Birth Center. Her next position was with Hamptons OB/GYN affiliated with Stonybrook Hospital in Southampton, NY.
Her volunteer and advocacy efforts continue as a member of the HAA board, the Committee for the Advancement of the CM Credential, NYSALM, NYC Midwives, and the ACNM Oregon Affiliate, and cross-credential advocacy for expanded access to midwifery care and the growth of the art and science of midwifery.
Margaret Ragen, CM, LM, MS - Secretary/Affiliate Legislative Contact