President Lynn Babington, Ph.D., says Chaminade is staying true to its values—even as it continues to expand and meet new community needs.
BOARD of REGENTS BOARD of GOVERNORS
CHANCELLOR
Rev. Oscar Vasquez, S.M.
CHAIR
Keiki-Pua Dancil, Ph.D.
FIRST VICE CHAIR
Rodney Harano, MBA ’84
SECOND VICE CHAIR
John Field, Jr., MBA ’84
SECRETARY
Eric Fujimoto, MBA ’94
Violeta Arnobit
Edward Barnabas
Gae Bergquist-Trommald
Carolyn Berry Wilson
Ismael Eustaquio, Jr. ’88
Lori Forman, Ph.D.
Melialani James
Estelle Kelley, JD-MBA, Ph.D.
Bro. Joseph Markel, S.M.
Lauren Nahme
Jean Rolles, MSJBS ’93
Alison Tanaka, MBA ’15
David Underriner
Bro. Edward A. Violett, S.M., Ph.D.
Vernon Wong, MBA ’92
EX OFFICIO
Lynn Babington, Ph.D.
Hans Chun, Ed.D.
Col. Christine Gayagas (Ret.), Ed.D.
Bro. Jesse O’Neill, S.M.
Rev. Oscar Vasquez, S.M.
EMERITUS
Gary E. Liebl, LHD
CHAIR
Col. Christine Gayagas (Ret.), Ed.D.
VICE CHAIR
Anton C. Krucky
SECRETARY
Blaine Rand Y. Lesnik, Psy.D.
Arnold M. Baptiste, Jr.
Richard J. Blangiardi
John C. Brogan
Sai Cheong Chui ’76, MBA ’78
Robert Eisiminger
William H. Garrett
AnneMarie Gumataotao, Ph.D.
Robert S. Harrison
Nancy Hayashi
Gary G. Hogan
Matthew D. Howard ’89
Michael F. Kerr, J.D.
Sondra L. Leiggi Brandon, DNP-MBA
Bryan Luke
Dawn O. MacNaughton, MBA ’93
Rear Adm. Joseph J. McClelland, Jr. (Ret.)
Matthew J. Morgan, M.Ed. ’02
Rear Adm. Kenneth P. Moritsugu (Ret.), M.D., MPH, FACPM, USPHS
Donald D. Rodrigues
Richard E. Tanaka
Vaughn G. Vasconcellos
Jeff Wagoner
Lt. Gen. Francis John Wiercinski (Ret.)
Albert S. Wong
Greg Young
EX OFFICIO
Lynn Babington, Ph.D.
Keiki-Pua Dancil, Ph.D.
LEADERSHIP
PRESIDENT
Lynn Babington, Ph.D.
PROVOST & SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
Lance Askildson, Ph.D.
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER & SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT Aulani Kaanoi
RECTOR & VICE PRESIDENT FOR MISSION
Bro. Edward Brink, S.M.
VICE PRESIDENT FOR ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT & ASSOCIATE PROVOST FOR STUDENT SUCCESS
Jennifer Creech, Ed.D.
VICE PRESIDENT, UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING
Lisa K. Furuta
VICE PRESIDENT, ADVANCEMENT
Jill Higashi
VICE PRESIDENT, STUDENT AFFAIRS & DEAN OF STUDENTS
Allison Jerome, Ed.D.
Aloha,
Ma ny st udent s see g raduat ion a s t he end of a t r u ly pivot a l c hapter t he complet ion of a n ac adem ic cou r se of st udy a nd deg ree. To be su re, when C ha m i nade st udent s gat her w it h loved ones a nd member s of ou r c a mpus com mu n it y i n May for Com mencement, t hey w i l l be celebrat i ng a n ac h ievement yea r s i n t he ma k i ng. Graduat ion, however, i s a l so t he st a r t of somet h i ng new. New oppor t u n it ies, advent u res a nd c ha l lenges to overcome. New way s to lead a nd to g row I ndeed, when I look out on a sea of ou r g raduat i ng st udent s at Com mencement, I see a br ighter f ut u re. A nd rat her t ha n t he end of a c hapter, I see t he beg i n n i ngs of so ma ny r ic h, v ibra nt stor ies.
A f ter a l l, t hose g raduat i ng Si lver s words l i ke a l l Si lver s words a re i n spi red by C ha m i nade’s t ra n sfor mat iona l m i ssion of ser v ice. A nd a s
t he Un iver sit y ma rk s it s 70 t h a n n iver sa r y i n 2025, it i s my pr iv i lege to u nder score t he i mpor t a nce of com mu n it y foc us a nd Ma r ia n i st fou ndat iona l va lues i n shapi ng ou r cou r se. I n t he cover stor y for t h i s i ssue of C haminad e Ma ga z ine (page 16), you w i l l f nd key i n sight s i nto ou r u nwaver i ng com m it ment to prepa re st udent s to ser ve a s leader s.
T he pages of t h i s edit ion a l so i nc lude cou nt less e x a mples of ou r m i ssion i n ac t ion t h rough t he t i reless work of st udent s, fac u lt y a nd st a f f, a lu m n i a nd com mu n it y suppor ter s. We a re t h r i l led to spot l ight Stephen L oga n ’ 89 (page 14), adjut a nt genera l of t he Hawa i‘ i Depa r t ment of Defen se, who ha s dedic ated h i s c a reer to publ ic ser v ice. On page 28, you w i l l a l so read about you ng ent repreneu r Haelee Ta l let t ’18, who sees her busi ness a s a way to bu i ld com mu n it y
A nd you w ill not want to miss our g reat piece (page 27) on Chaminade’s i n spi r i ng women’s vol leyba l l tea m, whose stor ybook 2024 sea son wa s a s muc h about per sona l w i n s a s it wa s about tea m ones. We a re so proud of how t hese Si lver s words represent C ha m i nade on a nd of f t he cou r t
I n 1955, when ou r Un iver sit y wa s fou nded, t he world wa s a ver y di f ferent place t ha n it i s today. C ha m i nade ha s g row n w it h t he dec ades a nd i s proud to of fer c ut t i ng- edge prog ra m m i ng, st ate - of-t he -a r t lea r n i ng spaces a nd i ndiv idua l i zed st udent suppor t ser v ices
W hat ha s rema i ned u nc ha nged i s ou r m i ssion of ser v ice. It i s cent ra l to ou r ver y ident it y a s a Un iver sit y com mu n it y. It i s woven i nto t he fabr ic of lea r n i ng at C ha m i nade. A nd most i mpor t a nt ly, it i s lived ac ross ou r globa l Si lver s word fa m i ly. A s we celebrate 70 yea r s, I wa nt to t ha n k you for bei ng a spec ia l pa r t of ou r ʻohana a nd for a l l
t he way s you g ive of you r sel f to help bu i ld a bet ter tomor row
Si ncerely,
Ly n n Babi ng ton, Ph.D. PRESIDENT
CHAMINADE UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE
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SEND CLASS NOTES TO: alumni@ c haminade.edu ON THE COVER St aying t he Cour se
A s Chaminade celebrates it s 70 th anniver sar y, the Univer sit y ’ s ser vice -focused mission remains at the core of ever y thing it does.
ChaminadeUni ver si t y
c haminade uni v
Chaminade - Uni ver si t y
A Life in Public Ser vice
Maj. Gen. Stephen Logan ’89 says public ser vice c an be tough, but is always rewarding
Silver s word Wins Pres t igious Milken Educ ator Award
A Chaminade alumna clinches a national award hailed as the “Osc ar s of Teaching.”
9 A ll for Communit y
Inspired by her family, this Silver sword is on a mis sion to build healthier communities.
26 CHAMPS!
The women ’ s volleyball team fnished the 2024 season as Pacifc Wes t Conference champions but that ’ s only half the s tor y.
31 50 Year s!
SE C T IO NS
FROM THE HILL
8 Strong Foundations
Pre - Professional Oppor tunities Abound
12 Targeting Rural Healthcare Shor tage Doc toral Nur se Prac titioner Student s Seek to Ser ve
LEADING THE WAY
13 Data Science for Social Change Budding Dat a Scientis t s Tackle Social Jus tice Challenges
20 Inspiring Young Minds Dreaming of College in Fif th Grade
ON FAITH
22 Celebrating a Bridge to Education
A Centur y of Learning and Ser vice to O ther s
It ’s a blas t from the pas t as member s of the Clas s of 1974 reminisce on their time together at Chaminade
24 Learning Through Giving Chaminade Scholar s Embrace Ser vice Learning
SILVERSWORD PROFILES
10 C areer Goals Cody Kuge ’20 L aunches Soccer Arena
25 C ampus Mentor
Pamela Oda ’24, MSC JS ’25 Embraces Mentor ship Role
28 A Golden Oppor tunit y Haelee Tallet t ’18 Soar s with Glit ter y Enterprise
CHAMINADE ‘OHANA
31 Class of 1974: 50th Anniversar y
34 Class Notes
40 Alumni Happenings
CHAMINADE NEWS
CHAMINADE SHINES IN RANKINGS
Chaminade is a great value, but don’t take our word for it.
In the 2025 U.S. News & World Report “Best Colleges” rankings, the University clinched the No. 21 spot for “best value” among regional universities in the West.
The publication also recognized Chaminade as No. 33 in best regional universities in the West.
And Chaminade’s Nursing Program ranked in the Best Undergraduate Nursing category.
“WE ARE HONORED TO BE NAMED AMONG THE BEST REGIONAL UNIVERSITIES IN THE WEST BY U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT AND TO BE RECOGNIZED FOR OUR STRONG COMMITMENT TO AFFORDABILITY AND EXCEPTIONAL VALUE,” said Chaminade University President Lynn Babington, Ph.D.
“Our world-class programs, service-oriented mission, and focus on leadership development and academic excellence prepare our students for success after graduation, ensuring they can maximize their potential for making a positive impact in Hawai‘i communities,” Babington added.
LEARNING BY DOING
Students in Dr. Pamela Estell’s Human Resources Management course devoted much of the Fall semester to researching emerging trends in Human Resources, from mental health in the workplace to employee engagement to the popularity of the four-day workweek.
They pored over s tudies, spoke to exper t s, dug into the dat a, and wrote a research paper.
And then E s tell challenged them to t ake it one s tep fur ther: Take ever y thing you have learned about your topic, she told them, and create a fve -minute present ation for busy bank executives
Their hard work was on display at the Bank of Hawai ‘ i (BOH) headquar ter s in November.
The 25 Business students in Estell’s course took the podium at a BOH conference room and addres sed bank profes sionals, explaining that trending topic they ’ d inves tigated and showing of f det ailed infographic s The s tudent s also of fered three recommendations in their research area.
Estell explained the idea to have students deliver the present ations c ame out of a conver sation with a Bank of Hawai ‘ i gues t speaker “ She mentioned that they were using infographic s to present bite -sized information to employees that would be more interac tive than a simple email,” she said
“Hearing that they were looking for ways not jus t to collec t information, but also present information, really lit a fre in me to s t ar t building in some synergies. A s such, I redesigned my exis ting as signment to include the infographic and presentation por tion ”
On the day of the presentations, s tudent s were ner vous but excited
John Barayuga ’25 spoke to the BOH profes sionals about the impor t ance of
ment al health programming in the workplace. He said the as signment and subsequent present ation was a challenge that required him to think about the real-world applic ation of his chosen topic
“ This experience has bet ter prepared me for what it means to present on, and defend a meaningful subjec t to, an audience with var ying opinions and per spec tives,” Barayuga said, adding he was gratifed to t ake several insight ful and thoughtprovoking ques tions from the at tendees
Kyla C as tro ’25 focused her present ation on discipline and dispute management
She said the clas s as signment was tough, especially considering all the other things she was juggling in her schedule. “ With the present ation being at BOH, an ex tra pres sure was put on myself and my fellow clas smates to represent Chaminade Univer sit y,” C as tro said
For C as tro, the t akeaway les son was she’s c apable of pushing through. “ This present ation has not only reminded me of what I am c apable of,” she said, “ but it has also shown me where I need to improve, which will ultimately help me as I enter the fnal push into my profes sional c areer ”
L EF T: Chaminade s t udent s spent a semes ter s t udying new trends in human resources and then presented what they lear ned to Bank of Hawai ‘ i execu ti ves
A BOV E: A kukui tree, s ymbolizing k nowledge, was planted on c ampus to honor the f acul t y, s t af f and s t udent s of the School of Nur sing and H eal th Profes sions
CULTIVATING KNOWLEDGE
There’s a new addition to the indigenous fora on Chaminade’s verdant campus.
In a ceremony during the Fall term, Univer sit y President Lynn Babington, Ph D , joined School of Nur sing and Health Profes sions s tudent s, facult y and s t af f along with other s acros s the Univer sit y to plant a kukui tree and dedic ate a special plaque.
The inscription on the plaque begins with a Hawaiian proverb: “ Ka malu hālau loa o ke kukui ”
The saying, which means “ the long shelter of the kukui tree,” refer s to the way in which a healthy grove of kukui trees c an provide adequate shelter much like a house. Kukui, or c andlenut trees, are also a traditional symbol of knowledge bec ause the nut s were once used to burn for light
The plaque’s inscription continues: “ This kukui tree is planted in dedic ation to the facult y, s t af f and s tudent s within the School of Nur sing and Health Profes sions ”
Chaminade Provos t L ance A skildson, Ph D , said in planting the kukui tree, “ We are honoring the s trong foundations of Chaminade’s School of Nur sing and Health Profes sions while recognizing our shared responsibilit y to ensure it s continued succes s and grow th in the year s to come. ”
“At Chaminade, we are incredibly proud to be preparing nur sing and public health leader s who are inspired to ser ve their communities and help build a healthier Hawai ‘ i ”
A RECORD-BREAKING GIVING DAY
The Silversword community came out in force for Chaminade’s 2024 Giving Day, surpassing previous records for giving and the number of donors. And in a particularly exciting development, University employees drove this year’s generosity with more than 150 donors.
Giving Day 2024 was held on Halloween, which meant employee par ticipant s got to celebrate with a cos tume contes t and Halloween-themed treat s, says Direc tor of Annual Fund Kendra Sia. The day wrapped up with 325 gif t s and $115, 350 raised from the Chaminade communit y Heading into Giving Day, President Lynn Babington, Ph D , challenged cons tituent s to match gif t s dollar for dollar up to $5,0 0 0. The wave of donations unlocked a $20,0 0 0 challenge from Provos t L ance A skildson, Ph D , and his wife, Virginie Askildson, Ph D ; Regent Es telle Kelley, JD -MBA , Ph D ; and Board of Governor s member R ADM Joseph “Jim” Mc Clelland (ret ) Chaminade’s O f fce of Advancement thanked the communit y for the s trong showing, saying that annual increases in par ticipation and the amount raised on Giving Day under score the positive impac t of this special oppor tunit y to suppor t the Univer sit y ’ s mis sion and it s s tudent s
HELP CHAMINADE STUDENTS STUDENTS achieve their goals with a donation to the Chaminade Fund.
“ Her classroom serves as a model for new teachers entering the profession and we are very lucky to have an outstanding teacher like her leading the way.”
Keith Hayashi HAWAI‘I SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT
SILVERSWORD WINS PRESTIGIOUS MILKEN EDUCATOR AWARD
K indergar ten teacher K r is t y Inamasu ’12, M AT ’14 , s ays she is proud to ser ve as a mentor to young children, “ teaching them to be k ind, responsible humans ”
Kindergarten teacher Kristy Inamasu ’12, MAT ’14, loves fueling her students’ curiosity and joy for learning. It’s what inspires her to excel as an educator and positive role model.
“ It ’ s about teaching them to be kind, responsible humans who will eventually grow and make a positive impac t on our communit y, ” said Inamasu. “Being an educ ator, I c an help all s tudent s reach and exceed their potential and feel comfor t able t aking risks in school ”
Inamasu’s t ireles s wor k to hone her
c r af t , inspire and suppor t her young s t udent s, and of fer mentor ship to her colleagues was highlighted in Januar y when she was announced as a 2024 –25 rec ipient of t he pres t igious Milken Educ ator Award. Recipient s get a $25,0 0 0 unres tric ted award along with profes sional development oppor tunities
Inamasu was surprised with the award during an as sembly at her school, Kalihi Uka Element ar y Student s and teacher s gathered with Schools Superintendent
Keith Hayashi and Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke to celebrate the school ’ s ac ademic achievement. Milken Educ ator Awards Senior Vice President, Dr Jane Foley, then made the announcement, c alling Inamasu “nur turing and inspiring ” A s sembly at tendees erupted in cheer s and applause at the news and Inamasu couldn’t hold back her tear s of joy
Hayashi said Inamasu is an “exceptional educ ator who cultivates critic al thinking skills, communic ation, self-awarenes s and empathy ” He added, “Her clas sroom ser ves as a model for new teacher s entering the profes sion, and we are ver y luck y to have an out s t anding teacher like her leading the way.”
O f ten c alled the “Osc ar s of Teaching,” the Milken Educ ator Awards recognize truly out s t anding educ ator s who not only ser ve as role models to their s tudent s, but to their colleagues. Inamasu is jus t the 83rd Hawai ‘ i recipient of the Milken Educ ator Award since the Aloha St ate joined the program in 1990, and the only 2024 –25 Hawai ‘ i honoree.
FOUNDERS’ WEEK HONOREES
As part of the annual Founders’ Week festivities, three members of the Chaminade community were honored in January with Heritage Awards for their strong commitment to Marianist values.
The recipient s were recognized at a special Founder s’ Day Mas s at the Mys tic al Rose Orator y Founder s’ Week of fcially kicked of f Januar y 17, with a lei- draping ceremony and prayer ser vice at the Father Chaminade s t atue on the Univer sit y ’ s Front L awn. The week celebrates the founder s of the Marianis t Family: Father Chaminade, Mother Adele, and Marie -Thérèse de L amourous
DR. KOREEN NAKAHODO
Dr Koreen Nakahodo, an as sis t ant profes sor of English, received the Chaminade Award for embracing Marianis t values in educ ation and under t aking “ the intellec tual life as a form of ser vice in the interes t of jus tice and truth ” Several colleagues nominated her for the honor, saying that her work with s tudent s acros s c ampus and with the communit y is impres sive and impac t ful
“ I have been privileged to work with Dr. Nakahodo for more than t wo dec ades,” one Chaminade profes sor wrote in his nomination let ter. “ She is a true example of Fr. Chaminade’s dic tum that our progres s is like a brook, c ares sing obs t acles, gaining depth and breadth In the fullnes s of time, the brook over fows the obs t acles and moves for ward. Sh per sis tent, undaun by obs t acles.”
JACKELINE SANQUI
Ac ademic Af fair s Program Manager Jackeline Sanqui received the Marianis t Award for her unwavering suppor t of Chaminade’s vision and mis sion Marianis t Award honorees are full-time suppor t s taf f members who live Marianis t values of family spirit, hospit alit y and opennes s
In a nomination let ter, one of Sanqui ’ s super visor s said she creates a welcoming, inclusive environment for ever yone
“Jack y ’ s commitment to Chaminade’s mis sion ex tends beyond her immediate responsibilities. She is a vit al suppor t in programs that ser ve under ser ved populations,” the nominator wrote, adding she is an es sential member of the Chaminade family
Finally, Noelani Tugaoen ’25 was honored with the Founder s ’ Award, which is given to a Chaminade s tudent who has exhibited the Marianis t values of generosit y, respec t and a spirit of faith Recipient s are also recognized for ser ving as positive role models for the Silver sword family
Tugaoen is a s tudent ambassador, ac tive in the Ka Ipu Kukui Me Ka ‘ ie ‘ ie (Hawaiian) Club and C ampus Minis tr y. A Chaminade s t af f member who nominated Tugaoen said the senior is a true ser vant leader who “want s people to feel loved and know they each have a place.”
The nominator continued, “ In ever y sphere she has been in, Noe has always been a vibrant and joyous per son, cons t antly looking for ways to meet s tudent s and their families and bring a sense of belonging to ever yone present. The atmosphere changes when Noe enter s a space.”
A BOV E: T his year ’ s H er i t age Award honorees wi th f ai th leader s af ter Founder s ’ Day Mas s . T he awards recognize member s of the Chaminade communi t y who embr ace Mar ianis t values
BELOW: Dr. Koreen Nakahodo, who recei ved the Chaminade Award, get s a war m hug f rom a colleague af ter Founder s’ Day Mas s
NOELANI TUGAOEN ’25
Hands-on research opportunities. Internships. Advising and workshops on leadership development, test preparation, and more. Plus, a growing list of articulation agreements with leading institutions, from Boston University School of Medicine to the University of Dayton, that permit early admission to health and law professional programs for qualifed applicants.
he Undergraduate Research and PreProfes sional Programs at Chaminade have a wide variet y of of ferings designed to prepare s tudent s for advanced s tudy and c areer s in healthc are, scientifc research and law. The goal: get s tudent s s t ar ted early on pathways to cut ting- edge profes sions and then help them build the confdence and skills they need to excel
A s sis t ant Provos t Amber C aracol Noguchi, Ph D , says af ter bols tering programming for pre -health s tudent s, the of fce is now working to of fer more oppor tunities for s tudent s seeking to pur sue a c areer in law In one par ticularly exciting
development, Chaminade recent l y signed i t s fr s t law -focused ar ticulation agreement with St. Mar y ʻ s Univer sit y School of L aw in Texas
“A s a sis ter school, they are of fering our Chaminade s tudent s an oppor tunit y to apply for guaranteed admission, which is what they of fer to their own St. Mar y ’s Univer sit y s tudent s,” she said. “ We hope to develop these par tner ships wi t h more law s c hools, espec ially those with similar mis sion and vision for ser ving underser ved and disadvant aged communities.”
Kobe Young ’23 c an speak fr s thand about how the
Undergraduate Research and Pre - Profes sional Programs at Chaminade helped him clinch accept ance into A T. Still Universit y ’s School of Os teopathic Medicine in Arizona. In fac t, Young returned to campus in Januar y to do jus t that. His workshop for s tudent s interes ted in healthc are c areer s explored his own journey and how Noguchi’ s of fce and her suppor t helped him achieve his goals
Young took advant age of Chaminade’s early admis sion ar ticulation agreement with A T. Still Univer sit y. He said he also gained invaluable clinic al experience through Chaminade’s par tner ship with the COPE Health Scholar s Program at Adventis t Health C as tle.
“ You basic ally get to rot ate in all of the dif ferent depar tment s of the hospit al,” Young told workshop at tendees “ It ’ s good bec ause you get your hands deep into how the hospit al works ”
He also of fered advice to s tudent s seeking pre -health c areer s, saying that it ’ s critic al to be pas sionate about ser ving the communit y. “For medic al school and graduate programs, it ’ s ver y rigorous, so they want to know that you’re qualifed, but also that you’re not going to burn out,” he said. “ They want to know what is your ‘why ’ for wanting to go into this profes sion.”
For Young, answering that ques tion was easy
“ I always cherished the oppor tunities I was for tunate enough to receive, including to help run kids’ basketball clinic s at loc al Boys & Girls Clubs around O‘ahu when I was playing for Chaminade,” he said
“By continuing my educ ation to become a physician, it will allow me to come back home to Hawai ‘ i and give back to the medically underser ved as well as the entire loc al population.”
ARTICULATION AGREEMENTS
Ar ticulation agreement s permit early admis sion for qualifed applic ant s to health and law profes sional programs Chaminade
Univer sit y has formal agreement s with:
A T. Still Univer sit y–A rizona School of Health Sciences
A T. Still Univer sit y–Kirk s ville College of Os teopathic Medicine
A T. Still Univer sit y–Mis souri School of Dentis tr y and Oral Health
A T. Still Univer sit y–School of Os teopathic Medicine in A rizona
Bos ton Univer sit y School of Medicine
Pacifc Univer sit y
Samuel Merrit t Univer sit y
Tuf t s Univer sit y School of Dent al Medicine
Univer sit y of Day ton
Wes tern Univer sit y School of Health Sciences
St . Mar y ’s Univer sit y School of L aw
LEARN MORE about Undergraduate Research and Pre-Professional Programs at Chaminade.
All for All Community
at a‘ u it a f ā Temu k i sa ata‘uitafā Temukisa
Solomona-Fa ia i ’15 say s Solomona-Faiai ’15 says she’s st udy i ng publ ic she’s studying public hea lt h at Ya le Un iver sit y health at Yale University for her mot her a nd mother and g ra nd mot her, her n ieces a nd nephews, grandmother, nieces and a nd for a l l t he you ng people of A mer ic a n and for all the young of American Sa moa, where she wa s bor n a nd ra i sed a nd Samoa, she was born and raised and ha s now ret u r ned to conduc t resea rc h has now returned conduct research.
Solomona-Fa ia i i s pu r su i ng a doc tora l Solomona-Faiai is pursuing doctoral deg r e e at Ya le i n c h r on ic d i s e a s e e pide degree at Yale in chronic disease epidem iolog y. She completed her bac helor of miology. She her bachelor of sc ience deg ree i n cel lu la r a nd molec u la r science degree in cellular and molecular biolog y f rom C ha m i nade w it h a m i nor i n biology from Chaminade with a minor in E ngl i sh, a nd st i l l keeps i n touc h w it h English, and still in touch with mentor s she ga i ned at t he Un iver sit y. mentors gained at the University.
Solomona-Fa ia i say s her doc tora l Solomona-Faiai says her doctoral di sser t at ion resea rc h i s foc used on diabetes dissertation research is focused diabetes a nd h igh blood pressu re i n t he adolescent s and high pressure in the adolescents of A mer ic a n Sa moa. She hopes to cont i nue of American Samoa. She hopes to continue her work a s a postdoc tora l resea rc h fel low, her work as a postdoctoral research fellow, foc used on c a rdiomet abol ic hea lt h i n focused cardiometabolic health in Pac i fc yout h. Pacifc youth.
Or iginally f rom Leone, A mer ican Samoa, Originally from Leone, American Samoa, Solomona-Fa ia i say s she cont i nues to d raw Solomona-Faiai says she continues to draw
i mpor t a nt lesson s f rom t he l i fe a nd legac y important lessons from the life and legacy of her late g ra nd mot her, a long t i me publ ic of her grandmother, a longtime public hea lt h nu r se. “ She wa s ver y pa ssionate health nurse. “She was very passionate i n her work i n publ ic hea lt h, i nc ludi ng in her work in public health, including i m mu n i zat ion a nd home v i sit s i n t he immunization and visits in the v i l lages,” Solomona-Fa ia i sa id. “It i n spi red villages,” Solomona-Faiai said. “It inspired me to t h i n k beyond my sel f a nd my fa m i ly ” me to think myself and family.”
It wa s t hat sa me c a l l to ac t ion t hat led It was that same call action that Solomona-Fa ia i to C ha m i nade more t ha n a Solomona-Faiai Chaminade more than a dec ade ago. decade ago.
Solomona-Fa ia i sa id she appl ied to Solomona-Faiai said she applied to C ha m i nade bec ause she wa s sea rc h i ng for Chaminade because she was searching a u n iver sit y t hat of fered a ha nds- on a nd a university that offered a hands-on and r igorous biolog y prog ra m, but t hat wa sn’t rigorous biology program, but that wasn’t too fa r f rom home. She a l so wa s hopi ng to too far from home. She also was hoping to f nd a n i n st it ut ion where she wou ld n’t get fnd an institution where she wouldn’t get over whel med or feel lost. overwhelmed
T hat ’s why Solomona-Fa ia i wa s so That’s Solomona-Faiai was so del ighted to qu ic k ly f nd mentor s at t he delighted quickly fnd mentors at the Un iver sit y. A mong t hem: Dr. Helen Tu r ner, University. Among them: Dr. Helen Turner, who now ser ves a s t he resea rc h di rec tor now serves as the research director at C ha m i nade’s Un ited Nat ion s CI FA L Chaminade’s United Nations CIFAL Honolu lu Center, a long w it h Dr s. Cla i re Honolulu Center, along with Drs. Claire Wr ight a nd Jolene Cogbi l l, bot h i n t he Wright and Jolene Cogbill, both in the Biolog y prog ra m Biology program.
com m it tee. committee.
a l so ac t ive also active. for g row t h. for growth.
g iv i ng bac k giving back.
belong i ng ” belonging.”
Career Goals
Young soccer players square off in a friendly game at Urban Soccer Hawaii, the brainchild of Cody Kuge ’20.
CODY KUGE ’20
ody Kuge ’ 20 doesn’t just love ’20 doesn’t love soccer; he sees it a s a veh ic le sees it as a vehicle for bu i ldi ng com mu n it y for building community.
Kuge, who played soccer Kuge, soccer for C ha m i nade wh i le major- for Chaminade while i ng i n Busi ness Ad m i n i st rat ion, i s fou nder ing in Business Administration, is founder a nd ow ner of Urba n Soccer Hawa i i t he and owner Urban Soccer Hawaii—the st ate’s f r st c lub -neut ra l i ndoor soccer state’s frst club-neutral indoor soccer a rena. O pen i ng t he busi ness wa s a d rea m arena. Opening the business was a dream yea r s i n t he ma k i ng, a nd he’s a l ready look years in the making, and he’s already i ng a head to new g row t h ing ahead to new growth.
W h i le r u n n i ng a new enter pr i se i s never While running a new enterprise is never ea s y, Kuge say s a l l t he hou r s of pla n n i ng easy, Kuge says all the hours planning a nd prepa rat ion a re wor t h it when he sees and preparation are worth it when he sees a g roup of you ng soccer player s enjoy i ng a group young soccer players enjoying t hem selves on t he feld. “ My v i sion for t h i s themselves on the feld. “My vision for this place i s I wa nt it to be a com mu n it y center is I want it to be a community center for soccer,” he sa id. for he said.
Kuge did n’t pic k up soccer h i m sel f u nt i l didn’t pick himself until he wa s a f resh ma n i n h igh sc hool. Once he he was a freshman in high school. Once he did, he wa s hooked. A f ter s w itc h i ng f rom did, he was hooked. After switching from ba sketba l l, Kuge cou ld be fou nd ma ny basketball, Kuge could be found many a f ter noon s i n h i s bac k ya rd, hon i ng h i s afternoons in his backyard, honing his foot work . “I wa s a rea l ly late bloomer, so I footwork. “I was a really so I t ra i ned a lot,” he sa id. trained a he said.
Kuge g raduated f rom K a i ser H igh Kuge graduated from Kaiser High Sc hool i n E a st Honolu lu. He selec ted School in East Honolulu. selected C ha m i nade bec ause he wa nted to rema i n Chaminade because he wanted remain i n Hawa i‘ i a nd wa s look i ng for a col lege in Hawai‘i and was looking a college
e x per ience where he cou ld bu i ld st rong experience where he could build strong con nec t ion s w it h h i s professor s w it hout connections with his professors without get t i ng lost i n t he c rowd. getting in the crowd.
He a l so ju mped at t he oppor t u n it y He also jumped at the opportunity to play a s a Si lver s word for t he men’s to as a Silversword for the men’s soccer tea m soccer team.
At C ha m i nade, Kuge a l so wa nted to At Chaminade, also wanted to hone h i s busi ness a nd leader sh ip sk i l l s. hone his business and leadership skills.
t he spor t of a l l ages to play i n a f u n, the sport—of all ages—to in a fun, no -st ress env i ron ment. no-stress environment.
T hat ’s why Urba n Soccer Hawa i i i s c lub - That’s Urban Soccer Hawaii is clubneut ra l. Kuge sa id it wa s i mpor t a nt to h i m neutral. Kuge said it was important to him to of fer a n oppor t u n it y for you ng people to offer an opportunity young f rom ac ross c lubs to play w it h one a not her, from across clubs to with one another, whet her to sha r pen t hei r sk i l l s or to just whether to sharpen their skills or to just have some f u n. Kuge a l so of fer s c la sses, have some fun. Kuge also offers classes, pr ivate rent a l s, a nd even space for pa r t ies. private rentals, and even parties.
Oh, a nd t he best pa r t? Player s c a n c atc h Oh, and the best part? Players can catch a ga me rega rd less of t he weat her a game regardless of the weather.
“ T he player s, t hei r pa rent s t hey just “The players, their parents—they lo ok h appy he r e ,” Kuge s a id. “ T h at ’s look happy here,” said. “That’s t he poi nt ” the point.”
H i s mot her wa s a n ent repreneu r, r u n n i ng
His mother was an entrepreneur, running a n i n novat ive er ra nd ser v ice for t he an innovative errand service the elderly long before t he advent of U ber the advent of Uber E at s or I n st ac a r t. Kuge sa id he wa s eager Eats or Instacart. Kuge said he was eager to fol low i n her foot steps a nd he’s done to follow in her footsteps—and he’s done just t hat. that.
I n fac t, wh i le he wa s st i l l a st udent at In fact, while he was still a student at C ha m i nade, Kuge lau nc hed a sma l l aç a i Chaminade, launched a small açai bowl busi ness vent u re, t appi ng i nto a n bowl business venture, tapping into an aç a i hea lt h c ra ze. He a l so ra n a weddi ng açai health craze. He also ran a wedding v ideog raphy busi ness h i m sel f. A nd wh i le videography business himself. And while he wa s seei ng success, he rea l i zed he wa s he was seeing success, he realized he was m i ssi ng somet h i ng i mpor t a nt: pa ssion. missing something important: passion.
T hat ’s how he a r r ived at Urba n Soccer That’s arrived Urban Hawa i i a nd a “c ra z y idea” to lau nc h a n Hawaii—and a “crazy to launch an i ndoor a rena indoor arena.
Kuge sa id t he space wa s modeled a f ter Kuge said the space was modeled after a rena-st yle i ndoor soccer felds t hat he’d arena-style indoor soccer felds that he’d come ac ross i n Eu rope du r i ng t ravel s to come across in Europe during travels to play t he spor t. H i s overa l l goa l wa s to the sport. His overall goal was to c reate a n oppor t u n it y for ent husia st s of create an opportunity enthusiasts of
Kuge, who wa s a n a ssi st a nt soccer who was an assistant soccer coac h at C ha m i nade, sa id t he Un iver sit y ’s coach at Chaminade, said the University’s st rong m i ssion of ser v ice a nd g iv i ng bac k strong mission of service and giving back cont i nues to resonate w it h h i m. He sa id he continues to resonate with him. He said wa nt s to cont i nue to e x pa nd h i s busi ness, wants to continue to expand his business, c reat i ng a net work of a rena s a nd felds for creating a network of arenas and felds for people to play a nd con nec t and connect.
Kuge say s a not her foc us of h i s i s says another focus of his is push i ng t he i mpor t a nce of ment a l hea lt h, pushing the importance of mental health, espec ia l ly for st udent-at h letes. T hat ’s why especially student-athletes. That’s he u nder scores ment a l t ra i n i ng a nd i nju r y he underscores mental training and injury prevent ion for player s prevention players.
To help h i m ma nage h i s busi ness, Kuge To him manage his business, Kuge ha s brought on t h ree C ha m i nade soccer has on three Chaminade soccer player s to r u n c la sses or help you ng people players to run classes or young hone t hei r sk i l l s. Cla ra L iu ’ 25, L ela Gi ’ 26 hone their skills. Clara Liu ’25, Lela Gi ’26 a nd Ruben A g u i n iga ’ 25 a l so sha re Kuge’s and Ruben Aguiniga ’25 also share pa ssion for usi ng soccer a s a way to bu i ld passion for using soccer as a way build com mu n it y a nd relat ion sh ips community and relationships.
Ne x t up for Kuge i s open i ng addit iona l Next Kuge is opening additional fac i l it ies ac ross O‘a hu what he c a l l s “ l it t le facilities across O‘ahu—what calls “little com mu n it y center s ” for soccer. “ T hese community centers” for soccer. “These wou ld be com mu n it y hubs. T hat ’s so would be community That’s so i mpor t a nt to t he v i sion,” he sa id. important to the vision,” he said.
BELOW: T he member s of Chaminade’s newes t D oc tor of Nur sing Pr ac tice (DN P) cohor t pose for a photo (below) on c ampus . T he progr am is designed to addres s cr i tic al shor t age areas in heal thc are
Chaminade’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is specifcally designed to address critical shortage areas for advanced healthcare professionals, especially in medically underserved communities across the state, says DNP Director Pamela Smith, Ed.D., APRN, FNP-BC.
ural areas even on Oʻahu have a limited number of provider s and clinic s, ” she said. “Patient acces s to c are c an be fur ther hindered by transpor t ation, fnancial burden, and homeles snes s ”
One key s trategy: par tnering with healthcare providers in rural areas to coordinate clinic al rot ation placement for program par ticipant s It ’ s an approach that ’ s paying of f, giving s tudent s like Army veteran and longtime nur se Kailyn
Ander son, DNP ’26 (above), new oppor tunities to advance their c areer s while ser ving Hawai ‘ i communities that need the mos t help
Ander son ’ s clinic al rot ation is with Waianae Coas t Comprehensive Health Center in Leeward O‘ahu Her fas t-paced day begins at 7:30 a m. with
her fr s t patient s, many of them coming in for well- child checks Clinic visit s include chat s with c aregiver s about development al miles tones. “A large par t of the well- child appointment is spent on health promotion,”
Ander son said. “ Things like newborn and infant feeding schedules, sleeping safet y, c ar safet y and helmet safet y ”
Ander son also t ackles acute c are visit s with children and their c aregiver s.
“My pas sion is in educ ation,”
Ander son said. “ I love the newborn, infant and young family visit s. The newborn time c an be s tres s ful for families, whether it is their fr s t, second, or four th child. They are s till introducing a new per son into their family dynamic s ”
Providing suppor t during this impor t ant time in a child ’ s life, she said, pays lifelong dividends
“My other pas sion lies with empowering patient s to t ake owner ship of their health and wellnes s. Our health and
wellnes s is on a continuum, and if we c an teach and learn healthy habit s earlier in life, the patient and family decreases their incidence of disease and risk.”
Ander son, who is in the DNP program’s Pediatric Nur se Prac titioner (PNP) track, s t ar ted her nur sing c areer in the Army and ser ved in milit ar y hospit als around the world. Af ter leaving the milit ar y in 2017, she worked in pediatric intensive c are. And when she decided to advance her c areer, she turned to Chaminade, seeking a program that incorporated ac ademic excellence with ser vice -minded values “Chaminade provides a holis tic experience,”she said
“ It ’ s all about ‘ohana and ser vice, which is what nur sing and pediatric s is all about ”
The DNP program launched at Chaminade in Fall 2021, and added the Pediatric Nur se Prac titioner track in 2023
The program ’ s other tracks are Family Nur se Prac titioner, Psychiatric Ment al Health Nur se Prac titioner, and the E xecutive Leader program
Chaminade Pediatric Nur se Prac titioner Track Coordinator Linda Malone, DNP, APRN, CPNP, an as sociate profes sor of Nur sing, said adding the
pediatric track makes sense in today ’ s medic al landsc ape. “PNPs treat millions of patient s acros s the countr y each year in a variet y of prac tice set tings and with diver se populations,” she said, adding Hawai ‘ i has one of the nation’s mos t acute shor t ages of primar y healthc are profes sionals especially in rural areas of the s t ate.
The situation is poised to only wor sen given the graying of the healthc are work force.
While there’s lot s of work to be done, Smith and Malone are optimis tic about the future and excited about training highly skilled nur sing leader s Ander son is optimis tic, too Af ter graduation, she hopes to work with families as a pediatric nur se prac titioner
“ I truly love educ ation and per sonally believe we c an change the health of our future nation with early health educ ation and promotion,” Ander son said “Empowerment teaches patient s and c aregiver s how to navigate the healthc are sys tem at an early age so they are ready to make independent health choices when they are older.”
“Absolutely amazing.”
That’s how Dr. Rylan Chong ’10, director of Chaminade’s Data Science Program, described the University’s showing in the most recent Advanced Computing for Social Change Challenge.
i ve Sil ver s words par t ic ipated in t he event , held in Atlanta November 16 –21, joining s tudent s from acros s the countr y for a bootc amp -t ype experience full of learning and c amaraderie
It ’s the six th year Chaminade s t udent s have par t ic ipated, using their skills in dat a analysis, comput ational thinking and the lates t techniques in dat a v isualiz at ion to ex plore a social challenge and consider dat a-informed solutions. A key component of the challenge is a present ation so par ticipant s c an learn how to ef fec tively communic ate their fndings to the general public
Tallen Vidal ’28, who is majoring in Dat a Science, bec ame the fr s t freshman to complete the challenge. In his projec t, he focused on the impac t of COVID -19 on the homeles s population of O‘ahu and put together recommendations aimed at bet ter protec ting the vulnerable group
While Vidal is jus t beginning his univer sit y journey, he is already inspired about how he might deploy dat a science for the public good. “ I believe dat a science c an prove to be a power ful driver for social change bec ause of how informative the dat a c an be,” Vidal said
He noted that qualit y, trus t wor thy dat a is impor t ant for creating s trategies to “at t ack the problems of today, which gives us a clearer plan for the mis sion of tomorrow. It c an also be used to spread awarenes s so that more people c an unders t and the presence of various social problems ”
Chong said the advanced computing challenge begins with par ticipant s selec ting a research ques tion and collec ting key fgures from large publicly available dat a set s. From there, they use the Texas Advanced Computer Center supercomputer to analy ze it and produce result s
Kahoali ‘ i Keahi-Wood, cultural engagement specialis t at Chaminade, was among the facult y and s t af f member s who traveled to the challenge with s tudent s Keahi-Wood said the event ’ s core t akeaway is to “show that dat a comes in all forms and c an be visualized in many ways ” Chong noted the challenge also s tresses communit y connec tions, which is why several s tudent s previously presented their projec t s in Hawaiian to a large audience of scientis t s, engineer s and s t atis ticians At the mos t recent event, Olynann Taase ’25 presented her research in Samoan
Chong was also par ticularly proud of par ticipant s Anson Ekau ’25 and Ber ylin L au ’26, who completed their own work while also looking for ways to help their peer s. L au focused her projec t on cultural identit y while Ekau worked on a projec t about Hawai ‘ i ’ s economic challenges.
And in another bright spot for Chaminade, Dae’Onna Butler ’27 was of fered the honor of presenting her projec t fr s t “ bec ause of her advanced analy tic s, research projec t and spec t acular prac tice present ation,” Chong said. “ She went into the present ation helping other s tudent s under s t and the expec t ations, demons trating confdence, and set ting the tone.”
Two Chaminade s tudent s Upumoni Logologo ’25 and Kole Nagai ’25 also at tended the challenge as mentor s af ter having previously par ticipated O ver the week, they guided s tudent s with their research, helped them with computer coding and gave pointer s on present ations
“Dat a science has the potential to signifc antly
impac t social change by providing insight s and evidence -based solutions to complex societ al problems,” said Logologo, adding the challenge is not only a learning oppor tunit y but a chance to net work with organizations Vidal said while the challenge was tough, he walked away with new confdence, ideas and inspiration “My favorite par t of the event was get ting to meet and t alk to other s tudent s who were from all over the countr y,” he said, adding that he hopes to s t ay in touch with them. “ I was able to learn so much about each and ever y one of their cultures and places they are from ”
A Life in A P ublic Ser vice Public Service
Governor
promoted to adjutant general of the Hawai‘i Department of Defense at a ceremony in October 2024.
Maj. Gen. Stephen Logan ’89, pictured here with
Josh Green, was
s adjutant general of the Hawai‘i Department of Defense, Maj. Gen. Stephen Logan ’89 acknowledges a life of public service isn’t easy—or especially lucrative. But giving back to the community and looking for ways to make things better, he says, really is its own reward.
“My message to students is: Stick with it. You just don’t know where it’s going to take you,” he said.
Logan’s career certainly has been full of twists and turns. He was a Honolulu Police Department (HPD) helicopter pilot and military aviator. He deployed as a deputy commander to Afghanistan. During the pandemic, he lived for months in the Hawai‘i National Guard’s headquarters in Diamond Head. And when fames tore through Lahaina, he led a joint task force to aid in the response efforts.
All that happened before Logan took on one of the toughest jobs in Hawai‘i state government—overseeing the training and readiness of the Hawai‘i Army and Air National Guards as state adjutant general, a role he assumed in October 2024. At a moment’s notice, the Guard must be ready to assist with everything from natural disasters at home to conficts abroad.
Logan, 61, said his journey to being named state adjutant general was a circuitous one.
It began right after he graduated from high school on O‘ahu and joined
the military. When he returned, he enrolled in the police cadet program and started what would become a long career with HPD. About the same time, he applied to Chaminade University and started taking night courses as he was working during the day. Logan says he was grateful for the fexibility.
He studied Criminal Justice and says one of the things he enjoyed most about Chaminade was learning from experienced leaders in their felds and being encouraged to apply his skills in real-world situations. “It gives you the theory and then the practice,” Logan said.
For example, Logan added, his professors included a retired Circuit Court judge, high-ranking police offcers and a civil litigation attorney. Those experts gave him a fuller picture of the criminal justice system that would help him as a police offcer and military leader.
Logan comes from a family of public servants. His grandfather served as a police offcer in New York City. His father was in the Navy and the Army. And his two brothers are also veterans. In fact, brother Arthur Logan was previously the state adjutant general and is now Honolulu’s police chief.
“My parents were steeped in public service and giving back,” Stephen Logan said, adding he chose military service and law enforcement because he wanted the chance to help others. “There’s certain things on a regular workday where you can really help someone out,” he said.
“I used to tell my subordinates: When you take off your uniform, you can think that ‘I served a greater good.’ There’s simply no monetary value you can put to that. You can be proud of yourself.”
In the National Guard, Logan trained as a helicopter pilot and later became a test pilot. Later, at the Honolulu Police Department, he would fy HPD’s helicopter
to maintain his fight certifcations.
Over his years at the agency, Logan also climbed the ranks—and thought he would retire there.
But then a “dream job” opened up at the Hawai‘i National Guard—as state Army aviation offcer—and Logan jumped at the opportunity. He held the position for more than a decade, overseeing a massive aviation program amid a “revolving door” of Middle East deployments.
At the Hawai‘i Army National Guard, and later, at the State Department of Defense, Logan continued to embrace new challenges. In 2019, he was named deputy adjutant general, a role in which he helped the state respond to some of the biggest crises Hawai‘i has ever seen, from the COVID pandemic to the deadly wildfres that tore through historic Lahaina town.
After the fres, Logan traveled to Maui to help oversee the National Guard’s response. Guard members augmented FEMA recovery teams, assisted with relief efforts, and established a security zone. Logan said many of those who responded had just wrapped up an exhaustive training exercise. When he went to visit them, they’d say, “There’s no way I could stay home.”
“That’s what really swells my heart,” he said.
As state adjutant general, Logan also serves as director of the Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency. He said while the Lahaina disaster was a tragic wake-up call about the growing dangers of wildfres in a warming world, the state is more prepared now to respond to fast-moving blazes.
“The more we do now, the more responsive and effective we’re going to be later on,” Logan said, adding one of the best resources in the preparedness fght is human capital—a conscientious and talented workforce of people committed to serve. His advice to young people considering their future careers: “A life of public service is rewarding. You can give back—and that’s something.”
Staying the Course
PRESIDENT LYNN BABINGTON, PH.D., at tends
Silversword games f requent ly, but even she can’t ma ke it to a l l of t hem. So when she m i sse s a w i n, a n awa rd or even a g reat play, she’s su re to send a per sona l ema i l to t he tea m It ’s her way of let t i ng t hem k now t hey ’ ve got her suppor t “ T hey apprec iate bei ng recog n i zed T hey apprec iate bei ng apprec iated,” sa id Babi ng ton, sit t i ng i n her of fce on a su n ny November a f ter noon, her w i ndows of fer i ng a v iew of t he ent ra nce to C ha m i nade a nd st udent s com i ng a nd goi ng. “It ’s suc h a g i f t to be able to do t hat ”
For Babi ng ton, “c atc h i ng people doi ng good” i s cent ra l to her role at t he Un iver sit y a nd t he Un iver sit y ’s ow n work i n i n spi r i ng t he ne x t generat ion of leader s. It ’s why she reg ularly sits dow n to share lunc h w it h st udents; drops i nto c la ssroom s, labs a nd gat her i ng space s; a nd a sk s just about ever y body pa ssi ng by how t hei r day i s goi ng t hen ac t ua l ly pause s for t he a n s wer.
Now i n her eight h yea r at t he Un iver sit y ’s hel m, a f ter weat her i ng more t ha n a few stor ms, Babi ng ton is emphat ic t hat C ha m i nade’s foc us on engender i ng a st rong sen se of belong i ng, k uleana (or re spon sibi l it y), a nd pu r pose i n st udent s i s more i mpor t a nt t ha n ever a nd a s cent ra l to st udent g row t h a s en su r i ng t hey get t he r ight sk i l l s a nd c a reer development oppor t u n it ies
A s C ha m i nade celebrates seven dec ade s si nce it s fou ndi ng a nd ma rk s t he second yea r of a st rateg ic pla n t h at put s a du a l fo c u s on ac ade m ic e xc e l le nc e a nd fou ndat iona l va lue s, Babi ng ton i s con fdent t he Un iver sit y ha s set a pu r posef u l a nd st rong cou r se for t he f ut u re
She say s at a t i me when tec h nolog y i s adva nc i ng at a di zz y i ng pace a nd t he work force i s evolv i ng just a s qu ic k ly, C ha m i nade’s ser v ice -foc used m i ssion rema i n s key to prepa r i ng tomor row ’s leader s
“ We want to educate students who are deeply committed to giving back to their communities,” Babington said.
She cont i nued: “ We a re i n t he busi ne ss of educ at i ng a l l k i nds of people, a nd t hat i s what we have done. We have diver si fed ou r t u it ion revenue s by e x pa ndi ng who we a re educ at i ng, too. We have reva mped t he on l i ne por t ion for t he u nderg raduate popu lat ion a nd st a r ted profe ssiona l doc torates.”
T hat g row t h, Babi ng ton say s, ha s a l l been i n respon se to com mu n it y needs
I n 2019, for e x a mple, Babi ng ton a nd her tea m moved s w i f t ly to welcome t he Hawa i‘ i Sc hool of P rofe ssiona l Ps yc holog y a nd a l l it s st udent s, profe ssor s a nd st a f f a f ter it s pa rent organ i zat ion, A rgos y Un iver sit y, c losed it s door s. T he Doc tor of Ps yc holog y i n C l i n ic a l
P s yc holog y ( P s y D) i s now a sig n at u r e of fe r i ng at C h am in ade , pr e par ing cl in ic a l p s yc holog i s t s for h ig h-ne e d p o sit ion s ac r o s s t he s t ate .
Babi ng ton sa id t a k i ng on t he Ps yD prog ra m i n just t h ree wee k s wa s repre sent at ive of what it mea n s to be “ fe x ible a nd n i mble wh i le ma k i ng dec i sion s ba sed on ou r m i ssion ” C ha m i nade Boa rd of Regent s C ha i r Kei k i-P ua
Da nc i l, Ph D , ag reed, addi ng t he s w i f t pivot of fered a n i m mediate bene ft to t he st udent s who were a l ready mat r ic u lat i ng t h rough t he prog ra m
A nd i n t he long ter m, t he prog ra m’s adopt ion was a w in for Hawai‘ i. “Mental healt h is so impor tant t hese day s, espec ia l ly w it h what ’s goi ng on i n t he world. T he w ildfres on Maui, t he st rain on st udents and t heir families i n t he wa ke of COV I D. It ’s d r iven up need,”
Da nc i l cont i nued
Da nc i l say s she’s apprec iat ive t hat com mu n it y i s a lway s f ront a nd center when it come s to conver sat ion s about c reat i ng new prog ra m s, espec ia l ly adva nced deg ree s. C ha m i nade now of fer s seven ma ster ’s deg ree s, i nc ludi ng a newly added Ma ster of Sc ience i n Ma r r iage a nd Fa m i ly T herapy, a nd fve sepa rate doc tora l deg ree s i n E duc at ion, Nu r si ng a nd Ps yc holog y.
“ T he se doc tora l prog ra m s, t hey don’t nece ssa r i ly e x i st a ny where el se i n Hawa i‘ i,” Da nc i l sa id
C h a m i n ade i s a l s o a le ade r i n c ut t i ng- e dge a nd i n novat ive prog ra m m i ng, f rom it s Dat a Sc ience, A na ly t ic s a nd Vi sua l i zat ion prog ra m ( lau nc hed i n 2018) to it s
Un ited Nat ion s CI FA L Center ( lau nc hed i n 2022), t he on ly lea r n i ng hub of it s k i nd i n t he i sla nds.
THE ‘RIGHT FIT’
It ’s a Sat u rday i n late fa l l on c a mpus, but you wou ld n’t be able to g ue ss it by look i ng. People a re gat hered u nder la rge wh ite pa r t y tent s, c hat t i ng a n i mated ly; music i s
bla r i ng f rom spea ker s set up for t he gat her i ng. T h i s i s C ha m i nade P rev iew Day a c ha nce for prospec t ive st udent s a nd t hei r pa rent s to spend t he day on c a mpus a nd u nder st a nd what C ha m i nade i s a l l about
Spor t i ng a blue C ha m i nade polo a nd sen sible snea ker s, Babi ng ton i s ma k i ng t he rou nds
As she talks to attendees, Babington rattles off programs, st udent orga n i zat ion s a nd profe ssor na me s w it hout pause, u nder scor i ng C ha m i nade’s dept h a nd breadt h of prog ra mm i ng. But she a l so a l lows plent y of t i me i n her conver sat ion s to l i sten, gat her i ng va luable i n for mat ion about what prospec t ive st udent s a nd t hei r pa rent s a re look i ng to get out of a u n iver sit y i nve st ment
For ma ny st udent s a nd pa rent s, c a reer a nd prog ra mmat ic con siderat ion s a re top of m i nd. But “ r ight ft ” a nd wel l-bei ng a re a c lose second a nd Babi ng ton u nderst a nds t hat wel l. She say s you ng people today, a nd t hei r fa m i l ie s, wa nt to be pa r t of a c a r i ng com mu n it y t hat c ha llenge s t hem to get out of t hei r com for t zones, go for t hose big oppor t u n it ies a nd t h i n k about t hei r i mpac t
T hat ’s why Babi ng ton i sn’t wor r ied about t he nat iona l debate of whet her t he va lue of a col lege educ at ion ha s been over st ated. “A l l t he dat a shows t hat people who complete a bac helor ’s deg ree not on ly ma ke more money over t heir lifet imes, but g ive more to c har it y and volunteer more i n t hei r com mu n it ies. A l l of t hose t h i ngs a re a ha l lma rk of a C ha m i nade deg ree,” she sa id.
Babi ng ton added t hat a f fordabi l it y i s a l so a key considerat ion, whic h is why t he Universit y has ta ken sig ni fcant steps to en su re cost s a re kept dow n a nd st udent s g raduate on t i me or e a rly. T he Un i ve r sit y ’s H aw a i‘ i Gu a r a nte e matc he s t he resident t u it ion at Un iver sit y of Hawa iʻ i at Mā noa for Hawa iʻ i h igh sc hool sen ior s. St udent s at C h a m i n ade a l s o t a ke adv a nt a ge of g r a nt s, ne e d- a nd mer it-ba sed sc hola r sh ips, a nd st udent loa n s.
“I a m not wor r ied about t he va lue proposit ion conver sat ion, bec ause people w i l l rea l i ze t hat i mprov i ng you r sk ills and cont inuing to be a lifelong lear ner is going to get you a long way in life and br ing you more sat isfact ion,” Babing ton sa id. “O u r C ha m i nade st udent s u nder st a nd t hat ”
‘EVERYTHING STARTS WITH CHARACTER’
For Da nc i l, C ha m i nade’s re spon se to COV I D -19 i s a per fec t e x a mple of how t he Un iver sit y put s st udent s a nd it s m i ssion at t he center of ever y t h i ng it doe s. At t he height of t he c r i si s, t he c a mpus c a me toget her to ma ke su re st udent s did n’t m i ss a beat i n t hei r st udie s, she sa id
T hen, i n t he wa ke of t he pa ndem ic, t he foc us c ha nged to e n s u r i ng s t ude nt s (e s p e c i a l ly i nc om i ng f r e sh me n) r e c e i ve d ac c e s s to i nte n si ve t utor i ng i f t he y ne e de d
it . A c t i v it ie s on c a mpu s we r e br oug ht bac k a s e a rly a s possible to ma ke su re st udent s felt con nec ted, welcomed a nd engaged.
Babi ng ton sa id t he foc us on st udent s never wavered
“It ’s about helpi ng ou r st udent s be successf u l by put t i ng t hei r needs f r st,” she sa id
Bro. E dwa rd Br i n k , S M , v ice pre sident for M i ssion a nd rec tor at C ha m i nade, say s c ha rac ter development
i s a l so a key piece of t hat conver sat ion at t he Un iver sit y “ We hope we c a n prov ide st udent s w it h t i me, space a nd a rea son to re fec t on i mpor t a nt que st ion s of l i fe t hat a re t i mele ss,” Br i n k sa id. Q ue st ion s l i ke, “ W hat i s t he pu r pose of my l i fe?” a nd, “How c a n I ma ke a di f ference?”
“One of t he g i f t s of a C ha m i nade educ at ion i s to help st udent s u nder st a nd t hat t he big que st ion s of l i fe a re com mon quest ion s a sked by people t h roughout t i me,” Br i n k sa id, not i ng t hat wh i le tec h nolog ic a l development s a re i mpac t i ng ever y cor ner of t he work force, t hey haven’t di m i n i shed t he i mpor t a nce of a st rong mora l c ha rac ter, c r it ic a l t h i n k i ng, a nd com mu n it y engagement
Da nc i l sa id per sona l development i s what she u nderscore s when she t a l k s to fa m i l ie s about i nve st i ng i n a col lege educ at ion, espec ia l ly at C ha m i nade. She’s proud of t he Un iver sit y ’s of fer i ngs when it come s to c a reer a nd leader sh ip development, i nc ludi ng robust con nec t ion s w it h orga n i zat ion s bot h i n Hawa i‘ i a nd nat iona l ly for i nter n sh ips a nd ha nds- on re sea rc h
But she say s t he h igh l ight for her of a st udent e x per ience at C ha m i nade rea l ly i s about st reng t hen i ng t hat mora l compa ss a nd sol id fou ndat ion for adu lt hood. “It g u ide s you a long t he re st of you r l i fe. T hat ’s t he center of it,” she sa id. “ W here ever y t h i ng st a r t s i s you r c ha rac ter ”
L ook i ng a head, Babi ng ton i s e xc ited about ongoi ng work to e x pa nd com mu n it y col laborat ion s, espec ia l ly i n work force shor t age a rea s, a nd ma x i m i zi ng t he posit ive di f ference st udent s c a n ma ke
She poi nted to t he Un iver sit y ’s recent pa r t ner sh ip w it h K a me ha meha Sc hool s on t he Mu‘o Sc hola r sh ip, prepa r i ng st udent s to ser ve a s ea rly educ at ion teac her s, a s a pr i me e x a mple of how C ha m i nade c a n tea m up to t ac k le bot h longst a ndi ng a nd new problem s head- on. T h ree st udent s i n t he i naug u ra l Mu‘o Sc hola r sh ip cohor t a re slated to g raduate i n May a nd beg i n t hei r c a reer s.
T hat ’s music to Babi ng ton’s ea r s.
Bec ause for her, st udent accompl i sh ment s l i ke t hose w i n s she sends cong rat u lator y note s about a re t he bu i ldi ng bloc k s of t ra n sfor mat iona l c ha nge. T hat ’s why t he Un iver sit y ’s m i ssion i s so i mpor t a nt, she sa id bec ause it ha s t he power to ma x i m i ze t he i mpac t C ha m i nade g raduate s c a n ma ke t h roughout t hei r c a reer s a nd l i fet i me s
“At Chaminade,” she said, “we are here to partner with the community to fnd out what they need and how we can be part of the solution.”
In celebr ation of Founder s ’
Week , a Chaminade team member ar r anges lei on the
Father Chaminade s t at ue at the entr ance to c ampus
Inspiring Young Minds
A BOV E: Fif th gr ader s par ticipated in hands- on clas ses at Chaminade as par t of the innovati ve “ I G o to College” event
I N G F R AC T I O N S , G R A M
S CI E N CE CO N CE P T S .
T hey may be yea r s away f rom dec idi ng what t hey wa nt to be when t hey g row up, but re sea rc h shows t hey ’re not too you ng to st a r t t a l k i ng about col lege or i mag i n i ng t hem selve s t here one day.
T hat ’s why C ha m i nade ha s pa r t nered w it h Hawa iʻ i
Cat hol ic Sc hool s to i nv ite element a r y sc hool st udent s to c a mpus eac h yea r for a day of lea r n i ng, f u n a nd e x plorat ion. Nea rly 4 0 0 f f t h g rader s pa r t ic ipated i n t h i s yea r ’s
“I G o to Col lege” event, held over t wo day s i n Febr ua r y W h i le on c a mpus, st udent s at tend ha nds- on c la sses put toget her by C ha m i nade profe ssor s. Du r i ng one cou r se t h i s yea r, a tea m f rom t he Foren sic Sc ience s prog ra m t aught st udent s how to t a ke f nger pr i nt s. Du r i ng a not her c la ss, st udent s pa r t ic ipated i n a “ poet r y wa l k . ” E ac h st udent ended t hei r day on c a mpus w it h a spec ia l “diploma” ceremony, ma rk i ng t hei r complet ion of t he prog ra m a nd, orga n i zer s hope, spu r r i ng t hem to t h i n k about pu r su i ng a col lege deg ree one day. “ T he ea rl ier you c a n t a l k about col lege, t he bet ter,” sa id K i m Ba x ter,
di rec tor of t he E a rly Col lege prog ra m at C ha m i nade
“ T he fac t t hat t hey c a n be on a c a mpus a nd v i sua l i ze what a c la ss m ight look l i ke i s just a rea l ly n ice t h i ng for t hem to see ea rly on what col lege i s about ”
Under Ba x ter ’s leader sh ip, C ha m i nade ha s sought to e x pa nd E a rly Col lege oppor t u n it ies espec ia l ly for st udent s who wou ld be t he f r st i n t hei r fa m i l ie s to pu r sue a n u nderg raduate deg ree. Her of fce fac i l it ate s pa r t nersh ips w it h severa l i sla nd h igh sc hool s, a l low i ng st udent s to seek h igh sc hool a nd C ha m i nade col lege c redit s at t he sa me t i me
T h i s May, 17 Sac red Hea r t s Ac ademy sen ior s w i l l be t he f r st E a rly Col lege st udent s to ea r n A ssoc iate of A r t s i n L ibera l A r t s deg rees f rom C ha m i nade. T he Un iver sit y a l so ha s E a rly Col lege st udent s who at tend Sa i nt L ou i s Sc hool, K apa‘a H igh on K aua‘ i a nd Sa i nt M ic hael Sc hool on O ‘a hu’s Nor t h Shore
B a x te r s a id wh i le t he du a l- c r e d it pr og r a m at
C ha m i nade a nd “I G o to Col lege” event obv iously t a rget ver y di f ferent age g roups, t hey sha re a foc us on u nderscor i ng t he bene ft s of complet i ng a col lege deg ree a nd i n spi r i ng you ng st udent s to env i sion t hem selve s a s col lege g raduates.
At t he end- of- day ceremony for t he “I G o to Col lege” event, C ha m i nade ad m i n i st rator s don ned t hei r ac adem ic rega l ia to ha nd st udent s diploma s a nd sha ke t hei r ha nds
Pa r t ic ipa nt s wa l ked ac ross t he st age a s “ Pomp a nd Ci rc u m st a nce” played just a s it doe s at g raduat ion
C ha m i nade P re sident Ly n n Babi ng ton, Ph D , sa id t he day i s mea nt to be ha nds- on a nd i n st r uc t ive “ T he you nger you c a n get c h i ld ren to come on c a mpus, t he more t hey c a n see it ’s a n open, welcom i ng env i ronment,” she sa id. “ T hey c a n say, ‘G ee, t h i s i s somet h i ng I c a n a spi re to ’ It ’s a per fec t t i me for t hem to be encou raged to st r ive h igh. We’re doi ng t h i s for t he whole com mu n it y, a nd we t h i n k ou r beaut i f u l c a mpus here i s a g reat way to showc a se what it ’s l i ke to go to col lege ”
“The younger you can get children to come on campus, the more they can see it’s an open, welcoming environment.”
Lynn Babington, Ph.D. PRESIDENT
Celebrating a Bridge to Education
In February, the Chaminade community joined the Marianist Center of Hawai‘i, Saint Louis School and Sacred Hearts Academy to mark a century since the construction of the bridge to Kalaepōhaku, the hill where Chaminade and Saint Louis School are located.
“Thanks to this little bridge, we were able to construct this campus—where so many people have come to be educated in the Marianist, Catholic tradition,” said Bro. Dennis Schmitz, S.M., of the Marianist Center of Hawai‘i.
TEST YOUR CHAMINADE KNOWLEDGE!
1 In what year did the Marianist brothers frst establish a presence in Hawai‘i?
2 In what year did the Marianist brothers establish Chaminade University?
3 What is Chaminade’s mascot, and what are the University’s offcial colors?
4 What is the English translation of Kalaepōhaku?
5 What year was the Pālolo Stream bridge to Chaminade built?
ANSWERS: 1) 1883, 2) 1955, 3) The mascot is a Silversword and offcial colors are blue and silver.
4) Rocky promontory, 5) 1925
Learning Through Giving
Nathaniel David ’26 says while he enjoys his classes and professors, the insights that have resonated with him the most at Chaminade University were garnered in the community—through service learning and volunteer projects that helped him see how he can make a positive impact.
nd a good number of those ser vice learning experiences, he said, were through the Chaminade Scholar s Program, which s tres ses spiritual development, ac ademic excellence and leader ship Student par ticipant s receive a scholar ship, renewable for up to four year s, and par ticipate in mentor ship and ser vice oppor tunities geared toward per sonal grow th.
“ I found it really helpful to have a program that helps me grow in my faith and put s me to work as a ser vant of God and His people,” said David, an English major who is minoring in Educ ation
“My bigges t t akeaway from the Chaminade Scholar s program is that while it is about helping us grow in our faith, grow as an ‘ohana, and grow into leader s, it ’ s really about ser ving our communit y as Chaminade s tudent s and follower s of Chris t,” David added Bro. Edward Brink, S M , vice president for Mis sion and rec tor, said the Chaminade Scholar s program is geared toward s tudent s who are “engaged in their faith, engaged in ser vice and want to keep
those things happening while they ’ re at Chaminade.”
“Our hope is that while they ’re in the program, they ’ re going to s t ar t to see that this way of ser ving people c an continue beyond their school year s, ” he added In other words, volunteerism and service become good habit s that they ’ ll c arr y through their lives
That was exac tly how the program impac ted Dr. Vanessa Ignacio ’18, an or thopedic clinic al specialis t now prac ticing in Hilo, where she was born and raised. “For me, the Scholar s program really helped me to excel at Chaminade,” she said. “ I was able to focus on my ac ademic s while s till being involved in the communit y. It
really helped me build relationships
” Ignacio said the Scholar s ser vice-learning projec t she remember s bes t was when s tudent s prepared and ser ved meals at a homeles s shelter Rather than handing out the food c afeteria-s t yle, she said, s tudent s delivered meals to t ables
“ You ac tually sit down at the t able. You get to hear their s tories and they got to hear mine,” Ignac io s aid, adding t he Sc holar s program also gave her oppor tunities to learn from mentor s alongside peer s who shared a pas sion for ser vice.
T here were s even new and 22 re t ur ning Chaminade Sc holar s in t he 2024 –25 ac ademic year
The program was s t ar ted about 20 year s ago, tracing it s root s to the impor t ance of faith formation at Chaminade Ser vice learning is a corner s tone of the program, and s tudent s are asked to commit to completing at leas t 15 hour s of ser vice each semes ter
In addition to helping the homeles s, s tudent s also ser ve as tutor s and mentor s for youth Brink said many s tudent s fnd they receive far more than they give through the program “A fr s t-year s tudent comes in and they ’ re reser ved, shy, but great hear t not sure where they
ft in,” he said. “ They s t ar t doing this ser vice, and all of a sudden it ’s like they ’ re able to get out of their shell. They s t ar t t aking on leader ship roles E xperience in ser vice builds confdence.”
David, the English major, called the Scholars ser vice-learning projec t s “ truly special ” Bec ause he is aiming to become a teacher, he’s focused his volunteerism at Hawai ‘ i public schools, including through a mentoring program at Farrington High. “ I push myself to do well in school and my clas ses so I c an help other s do the same in the future, especially as an aspiring educ ator,” he said, adding that the program ’ s monthly luncheons that coincide with scheduled t alks by invited speaker s also help him broaden his per spective and learn about new ways to broaden his impac t Honolulu Bishop L arr y Silva spoke to the Scholar s at a luncheon in the Fall 2024 term aimed at congratulating new induc tees to the program and celebrating returning s tudent s David said he’s proud to be among those recognized as a Scholar and looks for ward to contributing more.
He added that the Scholar s program is also what helped him “ t ap into the res t of the faith communit y ” at Chaminade. He is now ser ving as a par t-time s tudent minis ter, “using more of my time and t alent s to help build the faith even more here at Chaminade and to glorif y God ”
BELOW: H onolulu B ishop L ar r y Sil va poses wi th Chaminade Scholar s af ter a special lunch at the s t ar t of the 2024 – 25 ac ademic year
Campus Mentor
PAMELA ODA ’24, MSCJS ’25
Pamela Oda ’24, MSCJS ’25, rarely has down time—and she likes it that way.
When the Criminology and Criminal Justice student isn’t attending class or studying, she’s probably volunteering or interning in her feld. And just recently, she stepped away from a long list of Chaminade extracurriculars so she could juggle all her work at Chaminade with running two small businesses. You read that right: On top of everything else, she’s an entrepreneur.
“I believe that all my experiences at Chaminade University—whether it was academics, clubs and organizations, student employment, events and more—have been transformative for me,” Oda said. “Everything I’ve participated in, every person I have had the pleasure of working with and everything in between has made me into the person I am today.”
Oda, who pursued a second major in Data Science, Analytics and Visualization at Chaminade along with minors in Computer Information Systems and Psychology, is an intern with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Honolulu Field Offce.
It’s the third internship she’s clinched while at Chaminade. She was previously an undergraduate intern for the Hawai‘i State Judiciary, contributing to legislative and government reports. And in summer 2023, she was a research intern for the State Attorney General’s Crime Prevention and Justice Assistance Division Research and Statistics branch.
Oda credits Chaminade professors and departments with helping her secure the opportunities—and countless others, including a chance to participate in a summer institute focused on data analytics and supercomputing. Oda said Dr. Kelly Treece, director of the Criminology and Criminal Justice program, has been a true inspiration to her.
“She is truly one of those professors that pushes you to do your best,” Oda said.
Dr. Rylan Chong ’10, director of the Data Science program, has also served as a mentor.
“From an early age, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in the criminal justice feld,” Oda said.
“I looked at universities that had criminal justice programs in Hawai’i and the mainland and knew that I wanted to
attend a university with a criminal justice program that had hands-on learning experience and a small professor-to-student ratio. I chose Chaminade because it had the qualities that I was looking for—in addition to scholarships to help cover costs.”
Oda, who is from Hilo, added that she didn’t want to attend a university too far from home.
“Through my busy schedule of academics, part-time employment, internships, clubs and organizations as well as co-operating two small businesses, my time at Chaminade has taught me how to manage my time and achieve things that I never thought I could,” she said.
“With that said, through my hard work, I have been able to be a leader and mentor others in various capacities. Through my various leadership and internship experiences, I wanted to be a role model for other students and show them hard work, networking, and exploring can take you places. I want to show other students the possibilities available while pursuing your studies.”
Oda wrapped up her undergraduate degree in December and then—thanks to Chaminade’s innovative 4+1 program— moved directly into the Master of Science in Criminal Justice Studies program. She plans to continue her work under Treece and with the ATF.
And of course, she’s got those two small businesses to help run. Both sell handmade crafts.
“Serving my community is my passion, and that message is something that I truly take to heart,” said Oda, who is excited about passing the baton of student leadership to her peers. Oda previously served as student government president, a role she greatly valued.
“I wanted to make a positive impact on the Chaminade community through being a strong advocate for student change and fostering relationships amongst students, faculty and staff.”
Suffce to say Oda has achieved that goal—and so much more.
T he S i l ver s w o r d The Silversword s e a s o n i n 2024 — a n d season in 2024—and they’re gearing up for even more wins this year.
CHAMPS!
For women’s volleyball Head Coach Kahala Kabalis Hoke ’05, MSCJA ’07, success on the court depends a lot on how you treat yourself, how you act and how you give to others off the court.
It ’s a n approac h t hat ’s led Hoke ( lef t) a nd her st udent-at h letes to success t i me a nd aga i n, i nc ludi ng a stor ybook 2024 sea son t hat feat u red t he prog ra m’s t h i rd Pac i fc West Con ference t it le T he tea m won a l l 20 of it s PacWest matc hes a nd adva nced to t he NC A A West Reg iona l sem i f na l s.
Hoke her sel f wa s na med PacWest Coac h of t he Yea r, a nd severa l of her player s were a l so honored.
A m id a l l t hose w i n s a nd awa rds, Hoke i s happy to st ay g rou nded a nd g ratef u l a nd keep her st udent-at h letes r ight t here w it h her. “ We st ress t he i mpor t a nce of lea r n i ng to be you r complete, best sel f. T hat i nc ludes developi ng habit s t hat w i l l not on ly prov ide success on t he cou r t, but w i l l set you up for success i n you r c a reer, you r relat ion sh ips a nd i n l i fe,” she sa id.
CHAMPS!
I n ot her words, Hoke sa id, vol leyba l l m ight seem l i ke you r l i fe r ight now, but one day it w i l l be a g reat memor y. “ We ma ke su re t he at h letes u nder st a nd t hat wh i le t h i s i s a ver y i mpor t a nt t i me i n t hei r l ives, it i s just t he steppi ng bloc k s to set t hem up for ma ny more yea r s to come,” she sa id.
T he 2024 tea m i nc luded n i ne sen ior s a nd a “ bu r n i ng desi re” to ret u r n to t he PacWest C ha mpion sh ip for a t h i rd t i me. To do t hat, Hoke sc hedu led a tough presea son a nd st a r ted rac k i ng up w i n s a nd get t i ng on people’s rada r. “It set t he tone for t he rest of t he sea son,” she sa id.
A f ter t he tea m c l i nc hed t he PacWest C ha mpion sh ip, st udent s, fac u lt y a nd st a f f gat hered for a spec ia l celebrat ion on c a mpus complete w it h a “c heer t u n nel ” Hoke c a l led t he event “spec ia l a nd hea r t wa r m i ng,” a sent i ment sha red by severa l of her st udent-at h letes.
“ We’ ve worked rea l ly ha rd, come a rea l ly long way,” sa id tea m member Ma ha la K a‘apu n i ’ 25. She added, “ T h i s u ndefeated sea son, we’re feel i ng rea l ly g ratef u l ”
For her pa r t, Hoke say s her PacWest Coac h of t he Yea r awa rd i s a tea m honor, not an indiv idual one. “I would not be in t he position for an accolade l i ke t hat i f it wa sn’t for t he u ndefeated sea son t hat ou r at h letes made happen u nder t he leader sh ip of a n a ma zi ng coac h i ng st a f f,” she sa id.
A nd she’s con fdent t hat wh i le t he 2024 sea son wa s i mpressive, t he 2025 sea son w i l l be phenomena l. On her to - do l i st: cont i nue to lead t he con ference a nd w i n a nat iona l c ha mpion sh ip
No big dea l, r ight? “It ’s been wonder f u l to put ou r sma l l Un iver sit y on t he map,” Hoke sa id. “However, we a re eager to cont i nue to show t he nat ion t hat C ha m i nade vol leyba l l i s a prest ig ious prog ra m t hat cont i nues to put out g reat sea son s, yea r a f ter yea r.”
A Golden Opportunity
HAELEE TALLETT ’18
Haelee Tallett ’18, who runs a successful jewelry business, says Chaminade taught her how to take risks, try new things and do what you love.
“ What stood out most at Chaminade was the community that I gained there. From the teachers to staff, they really would give the shirt off their backs for you.”
Haelee Tallett ’18 OWNER OF OCEAN CREATIONS
Haelee Tallett ’18 started making jewelry in high school. It was something she and her mother could do together for fun and creative inspiration.
Roughly a decade later, the small business owner still can’t believe she was able to turn that hobby she loves into a fourishing career.
And she credits Chaminade and its Hogan Entrepreneurial Leadership Program with giving her the mentorship and networking opportunities that set her on a pathway to success.
Tallett owns Ocean Creations, a thriving jewelry business in the islands with locations at both Ala Moana Center and Ka Makana Ali‘i, and brisk online sales. Tallett is still foored by how quickly her business has grown—from a pop-up and online store to brick-and-mortar locations and plans for more growth.
Tallett says she doesn’t think she would be where she is without the help she received at Chaminade.
She chose the University because she didn’t want to get lost in the crowd and was looking for an educational experience that would allow her to build relationships with professors. And that’s exactly what she found at Chaminade, she said.
“What stood out most at Chaminade was the community that I gained there,” Tallett said. “From the teachers to staff, they really
would give the shirt off their backs for you. They know you by name.”
Tallett, whose grandfather and aunt are also Silverswords, said she jumped at the chance to participate in the Hogan Entrepreneurial Leadership Program at Chaminade, a one- or two-year certifcate program that gives students access to lectures, international study trips, and hands-on learning experiences.
“The Hogan program helped me in a lot of ways,” Tallett said. “One being it taught me how to be professional—really act as a professional or as a business owner from the beginning. And that helped me a lot when making leasing deals (with shopping malls). I knew how to handle myself from the start.”
Tallett added that the Hogan program also gave her the chance to meet and network with top business executives and entrepreneurs, “so many infuential people right here in Hawai’i who have really helped me in my business career.” She’s also stayed in contact with several of her fellow Hogan graduates.
Tallett’s business specializes in customized jewelry, with every piece unique.
She said relationship building with customers was something she learned a lot about in the Hogan Entrepreneurial Leadership Program. She realized early on that she needed to build a community before she built a business, so she worked hard to create a fun, personable and
LEFT: Haelee Tallett ’18 assists a customer at her Ala Moana Center location.
BELOW: Haelee Tallett ’18 (below in white) poses in front of the Taj Mahal with fellow Silverswords during an academic study trip organized by the Hogan Entrepreneurial Leadership Program.
interesting social media presence.
Community building was also front and center when she opened her brick-andmortar shops, she said.
Tallett said she wanted to create spaces that served as an oasis from people’s busy lives.
As she celebrates her success, Tallett is also looking to the future.
She’s interested in continuing to expand Ocean Creations, including by offering other accessories and considering entries into bigger markets. At the same time, she is giving back, including as a mentor herself to the next generation of Hogan entrepreneurs. Tallett has returned to Chaminade several times to speak to students about her own journey—and inspire them to pursue their own dreams.
50 Years!
People of ten ask me how they c an bes t suppor t Chaminade’s s tudent s in helping them reach their goals While generosit y and communit y building come in many forms, one of the mos t power ful ways to have a positive impac t on s tudent s’ lives is by giving to The Chaminade Fund bec ause it provides direc t and immediate aid to s tudent s who need it the mos t
THE CLASS OF 1974 MARKED THEIR 50TH A N N I V ERS A R Y B Y ANNIVERSARY BY REMINISCING WITH OLD FRIENDS AND CELEBRATING THEIR SILVERSWORD HISTORY. MAHALO TO OUR CLASS OF 1974 MEMBERS WHO SHARED THEIR STORIES IN OUR ORAL HISTORY PROJECT. ENJOY SOME OF THEIR REFLECTIONS HERE!
Jill Higashi (r ight), vice president of Advancement, si t s wi th other at tendees at a recent Chaminade Fund Societ y celebr ation
One power ful example of the impac t of The Chaminade Fund, c ame in the wake of the devas t ating wildfres on Maui in 2023. President Lynn Babington, Ph D , was able to suppor t our Maui s tudent s by quickly providing them with c ampus housing. The Chaminade Fund allowed the Univer sit y to be nimble and direc tly suppor t our s tudent s during this unexpec ted time. Even in the absence of an unusual circums t ance like the Maui fres, The Chaminade Fund is used for s tudent aid
L as t year, we were excited to of fcially launch The Chaminade Fund Societ y to boos t awarenes s of the impor t ance of sus t ained unres tric ted suppor t. We had a goal of 25 inaugural Societ y member s and were delighted to exceed that with 42 Societ y member s at the close of fsc al year 2024
These Chaminade Fund Societ y member s are truly inspirational, demons trating their s teadfas t suppor t of the mission and the s tudent s. You can join The Chaminade Fund Societ y at the giving level that makes sense to you. We have several giving levels, including one for alumni that graduated within the las t 10 year s Mahalo to all of our Chaminade Fund donor s and Societ y member s. Your commitment, generosit y and care for our s tudent s, their families and the communit y is greatly appreciated. Thank you for believing in our s tudent s and Chaminade’s mis sion
Sincerely,
Jill Higashi
LEARN MORE about The Chaminade Fund Societ y ’ s giving levels and join today!
1974
FOUNDATION FOR SUCCESS
Driven by a desire to serve his country, Thomas Kor ynta ’74 Thomas Korynta ’74 chose Chaminade University as the path to a U.S. Air Force commission. The frst in his family to attend college, he found his studies rewarding, recalling the Rev. Charles Lum-Kee, an instructor in Theology, with particular fondness. A member of Delta Mu Delta, Korynta believes the true impact of his Chaminade education became apparent after graduation. He pursued graduate studies at the University of Utah and earned an associate’s degree in biomedical equipment repair from the University of the Air Force. Retiring from the Air Force as a master sergeant in 1981, he embarked on a fulflling career in the medical feld, working at a hospital, a medical equipment company, and ultimately serving almost 12 years with Veterans Affairs. Korynta remains grateful for the foundation Chaminade provided, believing it set him up for success.
Walter Quinlivan ’74 found an unexpected path to Chaminade University through his military service. On-base night classes offered the perfect opportunity to pursue his education without interrupting his duties. Balancing work, classes, and personal time was challenging, but the camaraderie among fellow service members with the same goal provided support. Instructors understood their unique circumstances and offered guidance. Quinlivan views his Chaminade degree as a crucial stepping stone, easing his transition to a new career after military retirement. He is grateful for the opportunity Chaminade provided to earn his business degree while serving his country, acknowledging its invaluable role in shaping his life’s trajectory and always holding a special place in his memories.
STUDENT LIFE
Richard Gavino ’74 fondly recalls his time at Chaminade University, particularly a class with Dr. Ruth Haynes, associate professor of Chemistry, who ignited his intellectual curiosity. Unsure of his path after high school, Gavino’s basketball talent, along with that of his twin brother, led him to play for the hometown Chaminade Silverswords. Born and raised in Kāne‘ohe, Gavino valued the close-knit community and the sense of purpose Chaminade provided. His degree in mathematics propelled him to pursue a career with IBM in New York City, a challenging but exciting adventure. Grateful for the character instilled by his upbringing and by Chaminade, Gavino remembers his cousin and fellow graduate, Roy Thomas, as a source of support. Kāne‘ohe and Chaminade, he says, will always hold a special place in his heart.
Warren Ezra ’74 has fond memories of Chaminade University. A graduate of Saint Louis School, he practically grew up on the campus. After spending one semester at a university in Texas, he transferred back to Chaminade because he wanted a smaller, more familiar atmosphere. He says he made the right decision and gained many friends, some of whom he still keeps in touch with today. It was a really interesting time to be at Chaminade, with the Vietnam War going on and a mix of students from Hawai‘i and the U.S. continent as well as international students. He says the teachers were also amazing, like William Corcoran, assistant professor of English and Drama, who made a lasting impression. The campus itself felt like a family. He recalls inviting his dorm friends over for dinner at his house, and his parents would make a huge pot of chili and rice. It was a chance for them to experience a local family and culture. “Chaminade helped shape my perspective on the world and the people in it,” he said. And even now, when he looks back, he marvels at just how much of a positive infuence it had on him.
REFLECTIONS
Theodore Yap ’74
Theodore Yap ’74 pursued his passion for the written word at Chaminade. His academic journey continued with degrees in social work and public health. Yap says he found his time at Chaminade a valuable part of his academic journey, shaped by the knowledge and insights shared by his professors. After graduation and earning a degree in social work, he began a long tenure as a nephrology social worker at Intercontinental Medical Services. Yap remains grateful for the foundation Chaminade provided, acknowledging its signifcant role in his professional development.
A pivotal moment for John Harris ’74 ’74 came when he chose Chaminade University for his college education. After a brief stint at Arizona State University, he realized the large university setting wasn’t for him. Chaminade’s smaller student body proved the ideal ft. Thriving in classes of 15 to 25 students, Harris connected with professors and peers alike. He even played college golf for three years, thanks to a business professor who also coached the team, and Harris captained the team his senior year. Active in student life, he helped organize dances and social events, creating lasting memories. Harris credits Chaminade faculty, particularly statistics Professor Neil Hansen, for his guidance and mentorship. He believes the education and relationships forged at Chaminade prepared him well for a 40-year career in lending and title insurance. Harris highly recommends Chaminade, emphasizing its close-knit community, personalized faculty attention and atmosphere. He considers his time at Chaminade an infuential chapter in his life.
A PLACE FOR EVERYONE
Living in Honolulu and needing to complete his senior year, Edward Hogan ’74 chose Chaminade University. He appreciated the smaller class sizes, fnding them conducive to learning, even if his commitments outside of school prevented full integration with the younger student body. While his Chaminade experience didn’t directly infuence his subsequent military career, Hogan’s history studies broadened his perspective during his travels. Hogan values the positive experience and having had the opportunity to complete his degree at Chaminade.
FIRST-GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENT
Rae Eileen Benavage ’74
Rae Eileen ’74 cherishes her memories of graduating from Chaminade, a milestone as the frst in her family to earn a college degree. Financial challenges made her studies possible only through Chaminade’s assistance, she said. Adjusting to a co-ed classroom after attending an all-girls’ convent school was a new experience. Chaminade’s philosophy courses profoundly shaped her thinking, infuencing her throughout her life. Benavage went on to a distinguished career, serving 20 years as a naval offcer and then another 20 years as an English teacher. She credits the critical thinking skills honed at Chaminade with contributing signifcantly to her success and fulfllment in both roles. Her time at Chaminade, she says, was a formative experience that launched her on a remarkable trajectory.
In this issue of Chaminade Magazine, you can begin to unders tand why our Sil ver word alumni never ceas e to ama ze me. Our gr aduates are not onl y accomplished, t hey are als o li v ing t he Chaminade mis sion. They are ser ving other s with innovative ideas and an unending well of energy.
A s a Chaminade graduate myself, I am so proud and thank ful to be par t of this wonder ful communit y of doer s people who are making a positive impac t ever y single day. And it is a great perk of my job that I get to work with our alumni daily, including at fun get-together s like our recent gathering in the Pacifc Nor thwes t and our MBA Alumni Pau Hana las t fall
I also have the dis tinc t privilege of hearing our graduates’ s tories, which is why I am so delighted to share that we were able to connec t with more than 3,0 0 0 alumni for our recent Oral His tor y Projec t. St ay tuned for more det ails on how these great s tories will be shared!
Also coming up this year, we ’ ll have more great oppor tunities for you to show your Chaminade pride. A s alumni, we have a special role to play in suppor ting the Univer sit y and it s s tudent s, and one of the bes t ways to do that is by giving to The Chaminade Fund. With your help, we ’ve been able to increase the number of alumni donor s to the Fund, which provides direc t aid to s tudent s
By giving to the Fund, you’re inves ting in our s tudent s and their bright futures!
Finally, I want to thank you for s t aying connec ted to your Univer sit y. By at tending alumni or Chaminade event s, sharing your positive news for Class Notes, and suppor ting your alma mater, you ’re demons trating what it means to embrace and celebrate your Silver sword alumni ‘ohana
I look for ward to seeing many of you at the 70 th Celebration and Silver sword Reunion in Oc tober 2025!
With a grateful hear t,
Jodi-Anne Yoshida, MBA ‘23
D I R E C TO R O F A LU M N I R E L AT I O N S
Chaminade Direc tor of Alumni Relations Jodi-Anne Yoshida, MBA ‘23 (in brown) with other members of the Advancement team at a pau hana for MBA alumni
Learn more at chaminade.edu/alumni alumni@chaminade.edu
c uhalumni
c haminade - uni ver si t y-alumni
1960s
Harlin Young ‘63 (General Studies) continues to carr y on the family business at Harlin Young & Co , Ltd. Harlin enjoyed a recent campus visit with family friend and alumna Aulani Kaʻanoi ‘93 (Accounting), MBA ‘96, Chaminade senior vice president and chief fnancial of fcer. PHOTO 1 Harlin Young ‘63 poses with Aulani Kaʻanoi ‘93 during a recent campus visit.
Andrew J. Speese, Jr. ‘67 (General Business) retired as a police lieutenant with the Honolulu Police Depar tment and as a chief warrant of fcer for the Hawaiʻi National Guard, where he ser ved as a helicopter pilot He is now enjoying retirement with his children, Kevin and Andrea; and his grandchildren, Alexis, Alayna, and Kais t yn He’s known to his grandchildren as Papa Andy PHOTO 2 Andrew J. Speese, Jr. ‘67 is enjoying his retirement.
1970s
Aloha from Ohio! Kendra Sia, direc tor of Annual Fund, had the oppor tunit y to meet with Dr. Edmundo Mandac ‘72 (Biology) and his wife, Cher yle, for break fas t in Cleveland. It is always special catching up with our alumni ʻohana, especially when it ’ s across the countr y PHOTO 3 Dr. Edmundo Mandac ‘72 and his wife, Cheryle, pose with Chaminade Annual Fund Director Kendra Sia.
Eas t Coas t Chaminade alumni gathered in Skaneateles, New York this summer, reconnec ting over their shared love for the Universit y Mahalo Cathy Dziekan ‘73 (Sociology) for sharing this update. PHOTO 4 Alumni on the East Coast recently reconnected for a mini-reunion.
In a tes tament to the lifelong friendships forged at Chaminade, alumni Angie Carocci Devlin ‘74 (Spanish), Dr. Nadine Clapp ‘73 (Biology), and Angela (Riccardi) Maroon ‘76 (Biology), along with Angela’s husband, Don Williams, recently reunited with retired and beloved facult y members Dr. Ar t Mori, Melba Kop and her husband Wendell Kop, and Ron Iwamoto over lunch PHOTO 5 Alumni Angie Carocci Devlin ‘74, Dr. Nadine Clapp ‘73, and Angela (Riccardi) Maroon ‘76 recently met up with several retired faculty members.
Barr y Francis, Esq. ‘79 (English) and Alison Francis at tended Chaminade’s 2024 Pacifc Island Review fes tivities PIR, an annual showcase of Pacifc Island cultures with s tudent per formances, is consis tently one of Chaminade’s larges t, mos t cherished event s
PHOTO 6 Barry Francis, Esq. ‘79 attended the 2024 Pacifc Island Review on campus.
1980s
Rober t Lowe ‘81 (Criminal Jus tice) and his wife, Jill, recently welcomed t win grandchildren They now have four grandkids,
and are overjoyed and incredibly grateful for the blessing PHOTO 7 Robert Lowe ‘81 with his wife, Jill.
Dayna “Sweetie” (Pacarro) Johnson ‘89 continues to make connec tions in our communit y and across the Chaminade net work. While traveling, she met up with fellow alumna Holly Fourney ‘96, and that led them to return to campus for a visit and fun session of reminiscing PHOTO 8 Dayna “Sweetie” Johnson ‘89 recently met up with Holly Fourney ‘96.
1990s
Following a Silversword MBA reunion at the Oahu Countr y Club, the Rev. Deacon Roy Matsuo, MBA ‘91 expressed interes t in reconnec ting with Chaminade, citing fond memories of his s tudent days at Chaminade and his time teaching at St. Louis School He later made a campus visit PHOTO 9 Rev. Deacon Roy Matsuo, MBA ‘91, poses during a visit to campus.
Will Cambra, Jr ‘92 (Business Adminis tration) and his wife, Kim ‘94, recently enjoyed lunch on Maui with President Lynn Babington, Ph D. and Jill Higashi, vice president of Advancement. The event coincided with Chaminade Universit y ’ s hos ting of the 2024 Maui Invitational, providing an oppor tunit y for the Cambras to reconnec t with the Universit y PHOTO 10 Will Cambra, Jr. ‘92 and his wife, Kim ‘94, with President Lynn Babington, Ph.D.
Bro. Dennis Bautis ta ‘94 (Communication), S.M., Ph.D., has been appointed to the General Council for the Societ y of Mar y and will ser ve as assistant general for education (USA) in Rome. In his role, he’ll ensure the Societ y of Mar y ’ s educ ational mission is carried out in the U S PHOTO 11 Bro. Dennis Bautista ‘94, S.M., Ph.D. (ffth from the right) during a campus visit.
Karl Mar tin ‘95 (Behavioral Science) recently returned to campus for the frs t time in over 20 years. He and his wife, Tiniya, enjoyed a walk around Clarence T C Ching Hall and had the oppor tunit y to chat with Provos t Lance Askildson, Ph D , and Men’s Basketball Coach Eric Bovaird PHOTO 12 Karl Martin ‘95 pictured on campus with his wife, Tiniya.
Carolyn Davis, MBA ‘96, executive vice president of sales and retention at Atlas Insurance Agenc y, shared insight s into insurance indus tr y trends in a recent inter view with Pacifc Business News. With over 30 years of experience, Davis is focused on commercial insurance consulting and risk management, and highlighted growing challenges in the proper t y insurance market
Congratulations to Jermaine Sut ton ‘97 (Public Relations) on his recent wedding celebration The occasion brought together his Chaminade basketball teammates for a joyous reunion. Many of his teammates also took the oppor tunit y to visit the campus and connec t with the current basketball team, fos tering a
s trong sense of communit y and camaraderie amongs t proud Silverswords PHOTO 13 Jermaine Sutton ‘97 with fellow Silverswords.
Among those who at tended Sut ton’s wedding was Donnie Bowling ‘97 (Historical & Political Studies), of Indianapolis, who visited campus with his wife, Monet, and met Chaminade’s president PHOTO 14 Donnie Bowling ‘97 pictured with his wife, Monet, and President Lynn Babington, Ph.D.
2000s
Amber Wright ‘03 (Criminal Jus tice), MSCP ‘13, has dedicated her career to improving mental health outcomes in Hawaiʻi. Following graduation, she embarked on a journey of ser vice, beginning as a mental health social worker at Oahu Communit y Correc tional Center and the Women’s Communit y Correc tional Center She is now a subs tance abuse counselor at CARE Hawaii
Dr. Marife Aczon-Arms trong, MSCP ‘03, an associate professor in Nursing at Chaminade, has a dis tinguished career in academia and communit y ser vice. She has held pres tigious fellowships, and has ser ved as a Fulbright Senior Specialis t since 2014, traveling annually to Uganda to contribute to the Mas ter of Nursing Science Nurse Education Program at Uganda Chris tian Universit y She is the founding president of the Asian American Pacifc Islander Nurses Association of Hawaiʻi. Dr. Ac zon-Arms trong’s leadership ex tends to the Hawaiʻi American Nurses Association, where she has been elec ted as direc tor-at-large for the executive board (2025 –2027). Her passion for ser vice also drives her international endeavors. She led a medical mission to Uganda in 2019 with 10 nursing s tudent s and three facult y members, and completed another medical mission to her hometown of
Binangonan, Rizal in the Philippines in December 2023
PHOTO 15 Dr. Marife AczonArmstrong, MSCP ‘03, is a Chaminade Nursing professor.
Tina Andrade ‘05 (Religious Studies), MPT ’14, was recently selec ted to ser ve as the new chief executive of fcer of Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi. Previously chief operating of fcer at the agenc y, she assumed her new role in Januar y 2025 PHOTO 16 Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi CEO Tina Andrade ‘05 (Religious Studies), MPT ‘14 (in red), poses with Chaminade President Lynn Babington, Ph.D. and others.
Kellye (Schmit t) Greco ‘07 (Interior Design), IIDA , NCIDQ , a principal at G70 and a 2020 Pacifc Business News 40 Under 40 honoree, brings over 20 years of experience to interior design Her award-winning por t folio spans diverse projec t s, including the Ser vco Pacifc Of fces and ʻIolani Schools’ K-1 Communit y Greco prioritizes people-centered environment s, focusing on the human experience. A graduate of The Pat sy T. Mink Leadership Alliance, she is a leader in the design communit y, ser ving on boards for organizations like HE A and A4LE
It was great to have Laura Rillera ‘08 (Interior Design) and her fancé back on campus with us, visiting from Aus tin They enjoyed a tour and learning about new oppor tunities at Chaminade. PHOTO 17 Laura Rillera ‘08 and her fancé during a recent campus visit.
2010s
Caila McEachen ‘10 (Forensic Science) is making a positive impac t as a super visor with the Los Angeles Police Depar tment A former Chaminade sof tball player and ac tive member of campus minis tr y and s tudent ac tivities, McEachen credit s her continued work ethic and valuable experiences gained as a s tudent at Chaminade for her success in her current role.
Elizabeth Pa Nakea, Esq., MAT ‘12, exemplifes a lifelong dedication to ser vice and advocac y. Her career has focused on public interes t and environmental law, including work to secure independent legal representation for Depar tment of Hawaiian Home Lands benefciaries. Her contributions to Hui Naʻauao helped unite over 50 Hawaiian organizations in advancing sovereignt y and self-determination education Seeking to fur ther ser ve her communit y, she returned to Chaminade to earn a Mas ter of Ar t s in Teaching and, for over a decade, has dedicated herself to empowering s tudent s as a special education teacher at Cas tle High School PHOTO 18 Elizabeth Pa Nakea, Esq., MAT ‘12 (third from left), now serves as a teacher after a successful career in law.
Tina Keane, MBA ‘13 has been named president and CEO of Liliʻuokalani Trus t. Previously ser ving as the Trus t ’ s vice president and chief fnancial of fcer, she is the third CEO to lead the organization since it s es tablishment in 2015, following the unifcation of Queen Liliʻuokalani Children’s Centers and the Trus t ’ s endowment PHOTO 19 Tina Keane, MBA ‘13, is now the president and CEO of Liliʻuokalani Trust.
Mariah Villanueva ‘14 (Communications) recently par ticipated in the Fall School of Humanities, Ar t s and Design Campus Open Market. She was a popular vendor, selling cus tom handmade charm keychains that were a hit with s tudent s, facult y, and s taf f PHOTO 20 Mariah Villanueva ‘14 (left) during a recent campus visit.
Katlyn “Keke” Powell ‘15 (Elementar y Education) was featured on the cover of The Advocate, the magazine of the Texas State Teachers Association. “Never in my wildes t dreams thought I would ever be on the cover of a magazine. Mahalo Texas State Teachers Association for sharing my s tor y and bringing so much joy to my classroom!” she said. Keke’s
passion for her s tudent s is evident, and she enjoys bringing smiles to their faces. She is also a dedicated advocate for teachers, ac tively engaging beyond the classroom walls. Keke credit s TSTA with bringing lifelong friends into her life. PHOTO 21 Katlyn “Keke” Powell ‘15 was featured in the Texas State Teachers Association magazine.
Ethan Wes t, MBA ‘16, founder and CEO of Piko Provisions, has achieved a signifcant miles tone. His company was named to the U S. Chamber of Commerce’s CO 100 lis t of America’s Top 100 Small Businesses. This prestigious award recognizes Piko Provisions’ grow th driven by innovation, resilience, and a s trong employee culture. “ This award is a tes tament not jus t to our team, but to the many hands and hear t s in our communit y who have suppor ted us ever y s tep of the way. From our dedicated local farmers to the families who trus t us with their nutrition, this recognition belongs to all of us. Together, we are driving a more equitable and accessible local food sys tem here in Hawaiʻi, and we are so grateful for the communit y that makes this possible,” he said PHOTO 22 Ethan West, MBA ‘16, is founder and CEO of Piko Provisions.
Jordan Kahahawai-Welch, MBA ‘17, was recently appointed as the new people operations manager at the Hawaii Employers Council. With a s trong background in Human Resources operations and compliance, Kahahawai-Welch will play a key role in improving employee engagement and retention while fos tering a culture of innovation at HEC PHOTO 23 Jordan Kahahawai-Welch, MBA ‘17, serves as the people operations manager at the Hawaii Employers Council.
Timothy Dunham ‘19 (Ins truc tional Leadership) as sis ted in organizing and planning t he M er v Lopes Hoops Clas sic in December 2024. The tournament provided a plat for m for t alented high
school basketball player s to showcase their skills and develop a love and passion for the spor t PHOTO 24 Timothy Dunham ‘19 helped plan the Merv Lopes Hoops Classic in 2024.
2020s
Andrew Trapsi ‘20 (Biochemis tr y) recently s tar ted a new position as a lab technician II at Stanford Health Care.
Mar vin Trantham ‘20 (Business Adminis tration) has been promoted to assis tant branch manager III at Bank of Hawaiʻi. This promotion refec t s his dedication to excellence in risk management, client asset grow th, and professional development honed over years with the organization
PHOTO 25 Marvin Trantham ‘20 is an assistant branch manager III at Bank of Hawaiʻi.
Joshua Orimoto ‘20 (Criminology & Criminal Jus tice), a former Air Force c yber of fcer and loss prevention inves tigator, recently completed his Mas ter of Science in Cybersecurit y degree from Wes tern Governors Universit y. With a s trong background in leadership, c yberspace operations, c ybersecurit y, and fraud inves tigation, he is well versed in management and securit y protocols. Joshua is now seeking to leverage his diverse skills to pursue a meaningful career in law enforcement, combining his criminal jus tice degree and loss prevention experience with his exper tise in IT and c ybersecurit y
Lauren (Takasato) Ray ‘21 (Biology) completed a mas ter ’ s degree in Quantitative Health and Clinical Research from John A . Burns School of Medicine in 2022 and joined the Seat tle Clinical Research Center (SCRC) as a clinical s tudy coordinator Recently, she was promoted to clinical research coordinator III
PHOTO 26 Lauren Ray ‘21 is a clinical study coordinator in Seattle.
Steven Harris, Jr. ‘21 (Psychology) is currently pursuing a Ph.D in Clinical Psychology at Pacifc Universit y Lillianna Flynn ‘21 (Business Adminis tration) recently as sumed a new role as progr am direc tor, Hawaii Pacifc, for ACEing Autism This nonproft organization connec t s individuals with autism through unique tennis programs and is dedicated to developing and advancing proven methods to positively impac t the individuals, families, and communities they ser ve.
Elena Farden, MBA ‘21 assumed the role of senior direc tor of s trategy and implementation at the Of fce of Hawaiian Af fairs in Oc tober 2024. In this critical position, Elena leads the organization in set ting and implementing s trategic direc tions aligned with it s s trategic plan. She expressed deep honor and excitement for the oppor tunit y, emphasizing that her lifelong dedication to Native Hawaiian education polic y and advocac y has always centered on s trengthening communi t ies, empower ing our people, and fos ter ing a profound connec tion to our ʻāina and culture.
Sasha Dyachenko, MBA ‘22, was appointed prac tice adminis trator and of fce manager at Hawaii Pediatric Dentistr y The role demonstrates her dedication to the feld of dentis tr y.
• FU LL NAM E , GR ADUATION Y E AR FULL NAME, GRADUATION YEAR and M A JOR MAJOR (include maiden name and spouse’s name, if applicable)
• CONTAC T IN FORM ATION CONTACT INFORMATION (email and phone number)
• PHOTOS PHOTOS are encouraged (high resolution preferred: 300 dpi or 1.5 MB in size)
EMAIL: alumni@chaminade.edu
MAIL: Offce of Alumni Relations 3140 Wai‘alae Avenue Honolulu, HI 96816
*All notes are edited for style, content and length. SC A N TH E Q R CODE SCAN THE QR CODE and complete our online form (make sure to use this form!)
In Memoriam
Chaminade University extends heartfelt sympathy to the family and friends of the recently deceased. These alumni are forever part of our ‘ohana.
The University also strives to maintain accurate records. Please notify us when an alumnus or an alumna has passed away. Emails can be sent to alumni@chaminade.edu. Mahalo.
CLASS
1966 Joseph E. Ryan
1969 Douglas Hayashi
1970 Lt. Col. Brett A. Schriever
1972 Don M. Tompkins
1974 Warren M. Dyer
1974 Dr. Wolfgang O. Von Der Gruen
CLASS
1976 Norman L.H. Yurong
1980 Kent J. Goettl
1981 Alexander Sun Shing Wong
1983 Laura E. (Newby) Tavares
1996, 1998 Barbara T. Roehm, MBA
2008 Lisa M. Vega, MSCP
Hawai‘i High School Counselor
E xperience: Chaminade welcomed high school college counselor s, many of whom are Silver swords, to c ampus on September 6 for a special clas sroom experience. The event, organized by the O f fce of Admissions, provided counselor s with valuable insight s into what Chaminade of fer s prospec tive s tudent s Mahalo to these counselor s for their suppor t in helping high school s tudent s navigate the college search process.
Pacifc Nor thwes t Alumni Gathering: On September 26, nearly 30 alumni and their gues t s gathered at Ivar ’s Salmon House on L ake Union to reconnec t, hear from Chaminade President Lynn Babington, Ph D , and share good food and great memories
Nursing Pinning Ceremony: In a “ hear t felt tradition,” 21 Nur sing s tudent s at Chaminade gathered with loved ones on December 7 for a Pinning Ceremony, which marks the ceremonial completion of their bachelor ’ s degree journeys The O f fce of Advancement was there to celebrate with the honorees and organized a special mimosa toas t to mark the many accomplishment s and bright futures of these Silver swords
S AV E T H E DAT E SAVE THE DATE
Recent Alumni Gathering: Recent Alumni Gathering: MAY 22, 2025 (5:30 PM – 8:30 PM) AT SPORTS BOX. This get-together is for alumni who graduated from 2014 to 2024!
For details or to RSVP by May 9, contact Alumni Relations Director Jodi-Anne Yoshida, MBA ’23, at (808) 735-4763 or at alumni@chaminade.edu.
Silvers word Alumni Reunio Silversword Reunion: OCTOBER 17–19, 2025
Interested in serving as a committee member? We’re looking for members to assist with planning, organizing, and enjoying the weekend festivities! Email alumni@chaminade.edu.
GE T MORE DE TA IL S GET MORE DETAILS on this reunion and register today!
MBA Alumni Pau Hana: Nearly 40 alumni and gues t s gathered at the Oahu Countr y Club for an evening of net working and good conver sation. Recent and longtime alumni at tended the event, with graduation year s from 1980 to 2023 represented
3140 Wai‘alae Avenue
3140 Wai‘alae Avenue
Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96816 -1578
Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96816 -1578
CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED
CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED
22ND ANNUAL
NONPROFIT FINANCIAL SEMINAR
Not-for-proft organizations play a critical role in communities statewide, supporting Hawaiʻi families, uplifting our most vulnerable residents, and tackling both longstanding and emerging challenges.
SAVE THE DATE
THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 2025
CHAMINADE UNIVERSITY
Our 22nd Annual Nonproft Financial Seminar is focused on helping organizations maximize their positive impact in an ever-evolving business environment. Attendees will learn and connect with nonproft professionals from across the state—all in a collaborative environment!
GET MORE INFORMATION on the event and register today!
