*Chaminade Magazine spring 2023

BOARD of REGENTS BOARD of GOVERNORS

CHANCELLOR

Rev. Oscar Vasquez, S.M.

CHAIR

Keiki-Pua S. Dancil, Ph.D.

FIRST VICE CHAIR

Rodney Harano, M.B.A. ‘84

SECOND VICE CHAIR

John Field, M.B.A. ‘84

SECRETARY

Karen Knudsen

Violeta A. Arnobit

Gae Bergquist-Trommald

Carolyn Berry Wilson

Ismael Eustaquio ‘88

Lori Forman, Ph.D.

Eric Fujimoto, M.B.A. ‘94

Melialani P. James

Estelle Kelley, J.D.-M.B.A., Ph.D.

Lydia Park Luis

Bro. Joseph Markel, S.M.

Bennette E. Misalucha

Jean Rolles, ‘93 M.S.J.B.S.

Lance A. Mizumoto, M.B.A. ‘92

Alison Tanaka, M.B.A. ‘15

David Underriner

Bro. Edward A. Violett, S.M., Ph.D.

Terrence L. Walsh, Jr. ‘93

Jeannine M. Wiercinski

EX OFFICIO

Lynn M. Babington, Ph.D.

David Carter, Ph.D.

Col. Christine M. Gayagas (Ret.), Ed.D.

Bro. Jesse O’Neill, S.M.

Rev. Oscar Vasquez, S.M.

EMERITUS

Gary E. Liebl, L.H.D.

CHAIR

Col. Christine M. Gayagas (Ret.), Ed.D.

VICE CHAIR

Anton Krucky

SECRETARY

Blaine Rand Y. Lesnik, Psy.D.

Arnold M. Baptiste, Jr.

Richard J. Blangiardi

John C. Brogan

Margery S. Bronster, Esq.

Sai Cheong Chui ‘76, M.B.A. ‘78

Bob Eisiminger

William H. Garrett

Robert S. Harrison

Warren H. Haruki

Gary G. Hogan

Matthew D. Howard ‘89

Michael F. Kerr, J.D.

Lung-Nien Lee ‘88

Dawn O. MacNaughton, M.B.A. ‘93

RADM Joseph J. McClelland, Jr. (Ret.)

Matthew Morgan, M.Ed. ‘02

RADM Kenneth P. Moritsugu, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.P.M., USPHS (Ret.)

Donald D. Rodrigues

Richard E. Tanaka

Vaughn Vasconcellos

LTG Francis J. Wiercinski, USA (Ret.)

Albert Wong

EX OFFICIO

Lynn M. Babington, Ph.D.

Keiki-Pua S. Dancil, Ph.D.

LEADERSHIP

PRESIDENT

Lynn M. Babington, Ph.D.

PROVOST & SENIOR V.P. FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS

Lance Askildson, Ph.D.

V.P. OF FINANCE & C.F.O.

Aulani Ka'anoi

V.P. FOR MISSION & RECTOR

Bro. Edward Brink, S.M.

V.P. OF ADVANCEMENT

Gary Cordova

V.P. FOR ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT & A.V.P. FOR STUDENT SUCCESS

Jennifer Creech

V.P. OF ADMINISTRATION & GENERAL COUNSEL

Christine Denton

V.P. OF UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING

Lisa Furuta

V.P. FOR STUDENT AFFAIRS & DEAN OF STUDENTS

Allison Jerome

“Climate change knows no borders. It will not stop before the Pacific Islands and the whole of the international community here has to shoulder a responsibility to bring about sustainable development.”

- ANGELA MERKEL, FORMER CHANCELLOR OF GERMANY

Aloha,

It’s no longer enough to be “green” or “blue.” Today, climate change represents the single greatest threat to a sustainable future. Dramatic images from space show how the human race has altered the Earth’s composition. Nearly all of the available land has been cleared of forest, and is now used for agriculture or urban development. Polar icecaps have shrunk. Arctic ice is melting even more rapidly than scientists previously believed. Lakes have withered. Coral bleaching continues. Some of our watersheds are depleted. And desert regions have expanded. All of this is evidence that human exploitation of the planet is reaching a critical limit.

At Chaminade University, we are committed to a clean and sustainable future. Our partnership with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) to establish the Centre International de Formation des Autorites/Acteurs Locaux (CIFAL) Center on campus demonstrates our commitment to mālama ka 'āina (to take care of the land) and to be responsible stewards of our natural resources.

Last November, I was proud that Chaminade was selected to be the site for the “XIX Steering Committee Meeting Of The CIFAL Global Network,” which was attended by 20 executive directors from CIFAL Centers around the globe. The university’s mission of service and environmental justice aligns well with CIFAL’s Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In this issue, the “sustainable” theme starts with Bro. Ed Brink’s decision to pursue a degree in Environmental Engineering Technology with hopes of being part of the solution to climate change. That was half a century ago. Shifting our focus to the present day, our students, faculty and staff members continue to take measures to reduce their carbon footprints, and to safeguard against waste and pollution in order to protect the planet for future generations.

As the late Archbishop of Cape Town Archbishop Desmond Tutu once said: “Twenty-five years ago people could be excused for not knowing much, or doing much, about climate change. Today we have no excuse.”

Lynn Babington, Ph.D. President

Chaminade Magazine

Chaminade Magazine is produced and published by:

Chaminade University of Honolulu University Communications and Marketing

3140 Wai'alae Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96816

EDITORIAL

Editor Cathy Lee Chong

Assistant Editor/Writer Simplicio Paragas

CREATIVE

Designer Kalena Yoshida

Photographer Ren Tachino

Copyright 2023 Chaminade University of Honolulu. All rights reserved.

Website: chaminade.edu/publications

Email: ucm@chaminade.edu

Send class notes to: alumni@chaminade.edu

Record changes to: records@chaminade.edu

chaminade.edu

ChaminadeUniversity

chaminade_univ

ChaminadeUniversity

ChaminadeUniversity

THIS PAPER STOCK HAS BEEN INDEPENDENTLY CERTIFIED TO FSC® STANDARDS.

ALSO THE INKS SELECTED FOR THIS ISSUE ARE RENEWABLE VEGETABLE-BASED INKS.

of

FEATURES

VIEW FROM THE HILL

6 On the Brink of Enlightenment

8 Family Ties: Generations of a Kāne'ohe 'Ohana Have Devoted Themselves to Educating Hawai'i Keiki

10 Mission Accomplished: Chaminade bestows Heritage Awards to three community members

12 Inspiring Minds: Federal award allows development of new 'Inana Program

CHANGE MAKERS

14 Building Blocks: MBA Graduate Hammers His Commitment to Habitat for Humanity

16 For Justice: Tracking Crimes through Data Mining

INSPIRATIONS

32 Designing Man: E+ID’s New Program Coordinator Challenges Students to Think Outside the Box

35 Ongoing Investigation: Chaminade Director of Forensic Sciences and a Hui of Scientists Research PMI

CLASS NOTES

36 Alumni Class Notes

24 Hogan Program Celebrates 20 Years

The

28

40 Flying High: Tom Watt’s legacy lives on with an endowment scholarship

OUT & ABOUT

42 Notables

43 Scene & Heard

20 Global Summit Environmental leaders gather for the “XIX Steering Committee Meeting Of The CIFAL Global Network” on Chaminade campus.

Entrepreneurial Program marks milestone anniversary with the introduction of the Suzie Martin & Vaughn Vasconcellos Leadership Institute.

A Fast Track to an MBA Degree

The first cohort class of the One Year MBA program traveled abroad to New Zealand to experience the Kiwi culture and its many similarities to Hawai'i.

On the Brink of Enlightenment

FORMATION NEVER TRULY ENDS FOR CHAMINADE’S VICE PRESIDENT OF MISSION AND RECTOR, BROTHER ED BRINK, WHO CONTINUES TO PURSUE A LIFE-LONG PROCESS OF SPIRITUAL RENEWAL, PERSONAL GROWTH, EQUALITY AND COMMITTED SERVICE IN THE MARIANIST TRADITION.

Inspired by author Rachel Carson’s seminal novel about the environment, “Silent Spring,” a young dewy-eyed Bro. Ed Brink sought to pursue a degree in Environmental Engineering Technology with hopes of being part of the solution to climate change. The caveat: He had to attend a Catholic college.

After researching Catholic universities in and around his home state of New York, Brink decided to step out of his zip code and visited the University of Dayton. Hesitant at first about living in the Midwest, Brink arrived on the College Park campus not yet fully committed to enroll. However, after reviewing the various majors offered at the school, the then-18year-old teenager found an environmental program that suited his passion.

“Like a lot of people in the ’70s, I was influenced by Rachel Carson’s writings about the dangers to our environment,” recalls Brink, who pledged his first vows to the Society of Mary (Marianists) on Aug. 11, 1985. “I wanted to use technology to do good for the climate.”

Soon, though, Brink found himself more interested in the acts of service,

which is one of the pillars of a Marianist education. He no longer saw himself as a renegade “environmentalist” with a mission to save the planet. Instead, with the encouragement of his professor, Fr. James Heft, Brink thought deeply about committing to the religious life of a Marianist.

“I went to my first meeting and I got scared away,” says Brink, with a smile. “Honestly, I wasn’t sure this was going to be for me.”

Although ambivalent, Brink was still very much interested in the acts-of-service component of his education, prompting him to live in a Marianist community during his junior and senior years. The experience compelled him to start the Marianist Formation, a relatively lengthy, five-step process to help future Marianists determine whether it is the right path for them.

The first phase, “Contact,” requires regular interaction with a Marianist priest or brother and a local Marianist community, which would provide the opportunity for live-in experiences, discernment groups and retreats.

“And then you do two years of novitiate, most of which takes place at Mount Saint John in Beavercreek, Ohio,” explains Brink, whose pursuit to understand the meaning of religious life led him to the Bergamo Center for Lifelong Learning, a nearby retreat that welcomes people of all faiths to experience spiritual growth through its educational and ecumenical programs.

“During the first year, the formation focuses on intellectual and spiritual growth,” Brink says, “and you take classes in the history and theology of religious life, and life as a Marianist in particular.”

During his second year as a novice, Brink participated in active ministry while also teaching classes. Once he completed his novitiate stage, Brink made his first vows and entered the “Temporary Professed” period, which can take three to six years.

“It’s a long and involved process to become a perpetually professed brother,” Brink says. “Formation never really ends for a Marianist; it is a life-long process of spiritual renewal, personal growth and committed service.”

After completing his bachelor’s in Environmental Engineering Technology at the University of Dayton, where he also obtained his Ohio teaching certificate, he then attained his master’s in Private School Administration from the University of San Francisco. In 1985, he started full-time teaching at Chaminade Julienne Catholic High School in Dayton, until 1989, when he switched to part-time teaching and worked in campus ministry the rest of the time. Brink was subsequently named director of Faculty and Staff Development and then principal from 1994 to 1998.

“I’ve spent more than 25 years in Dayton, longer than any one place I’ve lived in my life,” Brink says. “And now I’m entering my seventh year here in Hawai'i.”

Prior to his appointment as Chaminade’s Rector in 2016 and now also its VicePresident of Mission, Brink served as a regent for the university from 2007 to 2015. At the same time, he worked for the Society of Mary as the Assistant for Education for the Marianist Province of the U.S., overseeing the relationships between the Province and three Marianist universities: Chaminade University of Honolulu, University of Dayton and St. Mary's University in San Antonio.

“Formation never really ends for a Marianist; it is a life-long process of spiritual renewal, personal growth and committed service.”

- Bro. Ed Brink, S.M. V.P. for Mission & Rector

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7

At the University of Dayton, he served as the director for the Center for Catholic Education and the school’s Lalanne Program director.

Brink was also a liaison between the Province and such sponsored schools as Saint Louis, planning and executing programs for teachers and administrators. In addition, he was a member of the Provincial Council and a board member for Saint Louis School.

The popular campus figure has now also returned to the classroom, teaching CUH 100, which provides an overview of the university.

“I really like the interaction with students,” Brink says. “I received a call out of the blue the other day from a former UD student, whom I remember taking outside the chemistry lab and telling him he better button up and apply himself. He became a doctor and he wanted to tell me this, and that he has never forgotten the talk I gave him that day. Now seeing that kind of transformation is rewarding.”

FAMILY TIES

GENERATIONS OF A KĀNE'OHE 'OHANA HAVE DEVOTED THEMSELVES TO EDUCATING HAWAI'I KEIKI

Being an educator runs in Agnes Brown’s genes. Her grandmother was a music teacher at Kapa'a Elementary for 30 years. Her mother, Mandy Thronas-Brown, was the principal at St. Ann’s before it closed in 2021 and now serves as Associate Superintendent with Hawai'i Catholic Schools. And most of her aunties and cousins are also educators. It’s only fitting then that the Elementary Education major would follow the same trajectory.

“Growing up with my mom as a teacher at St. Ann’s, I was always inspired by how she engaged her students,” says Brown ’22. “I knew that education was always a passion of mine, and I knew that I loved working with kids, especially younger kids.”

However, like many events that were paused—or canceled—due to COVID-19 restrictions, Brown’s observation in the classroom was also sidelined, forcing the school to turn to Teaching Channel videos as a way to supplement students’ field experience.

“COVID impacted all of the education programs because students were not allowed in schools,” says Katrina Roseler, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Education and Director of Teacher Education Programs. However, she points out that as restrictions eased after two years, Agnes and her peers did get the chance to experience working with students at Palolo Elementary School during afterschool tutoring.

Starting in 2023, Brown will lead her own classroom at Sacred Hearts Academy, her alma mater. “I’m a little nervous, but I’m going to make it fun for the kids,” says Brown, with a smile. “Education was not always fun for me. It was definitely more of a chore than anything to be excited about.”

As a lifelong learner, Brown plans to take cues from some of her previous teachers and professors, who, she says, made concepts interesting and easier to understand. But there will be challenges, just like with any profession. The Kāne'ohe native accepts that she will encounter tough days, from planning engaging

lessons to responding to classroom distractions.

“My advice, stay calm,” says her mom, Thronas-Brown, who has been in the education field for 28 years. “The fears I think she is experiencing are being able to plan lessons accordingly and being responsible for the education of her students in her classroom, which is always a concern of all new teachers.”

Thronas-Brown also offers another sage nugget: Strive to be the best teacher you can possibly be and to treat each child in your classroom with compassion, while ensuring you meet all teaching expectations.

“Trust yourself and give yourself time to develop your style of teaching,” Thronas-Brown advises. “Never be afraid to ask for help. No teacher is given a ‘playbook’ for each child in their classroom stating the best way to educate that individual.”

Kindhearted, curious, empathetic and leadership have defined Brown since she was a child.

“I was still in elementary school when I knew that I wanted to become a teacher,” Brown acknowledges. “I know I want to become a teacher that likes to help kids who don’t get it right away—like me when I was in school. And I want to provide the same nurturing environment that some of my former teachers created.”

Brown’s mentors have also taught her the value of an education, especially a Catholic one. And while friends have questioned her choice of career, based on pay grade—in Hawai'i, an elementary teacher’s entry-level salary ranges between $45,593 and $51,209, according to Hawai'i State Teachers Association’s 2022–2023 salary schedule—she would rather accept a lower income doing what she likes best than a higher one that would blunt her passion for teaching.

“We are truly blessed with a selfdriven, dedicated, loyal, compassionate, and loving child who knows God and seeks to be the best version of herself each day,” Thronas-Brown says. “We are extremely proud of our daughter Agnes, and we wish her nothing but the best in her life and future career.”

“I want to provide the same nurturing environment that some of my former teachers created.”

- Agnes Brown '22

Mission Accomplished CHAMINADE BESTOWS HERITAGE AWARDS TO THREE COMMUNITY MEMBERS

To recognize their exceptional contributions in personifying the Marianist values, Dr. Darren Iwamoto, Maritel Suniga and Kobe Ngirailemesang ’23 have been honored with this year’s Heritage Awards. It’s a distinction that Brother Ed Brink says “shows the breadth and impact an individual may have on campus and in the community.”

“The intention of these awards is to recognize people who spend their days at Chaminade University doing the things they are supposed to be doing, but whose motivation for doing the

work is intertwined with the mission of this university and its founders,” explains Brink, Vice President of Mission and Rector. “These awards are also meant to remind all of us the importance of trying to live out that mission on a daily basis.”

A testament to that mission is Dr. Darren Iwamoto, Associate Professor in Education and Behavioral Sciences, who received this year’s Chaminade Award, given to a faculty or staff “member who has exhibited a continuous commitment to Marianist values in education.”

Bro. Ed Brink, President Lynn Babington and past Heritage Award winners (in white orchid lei) congratulate our 2023 recipients, Dr. Darren Iwamoto, Kobe Ngirailemesang '23 and Maritel Suniga

“The endorsements for Dr. Iwamoto’s nomination came from fellow faculty members and administrators,” Brink says. “Students, both undergraduate and graduate, were also supportive of his nomination, and particularly commented on his genuine concern for them and his ability to make them feel at ease while challenging them to do their best.”

Iwamoto’s contributions extend beyond the classroom. He had developed programs dealing with suicide prevention, and stress and anxiety management, as well as programs for assisting school counselors in dealing with the impact of COVID on students.

“I truly try to live the Marianist Education Core Values and receiving this award is special because it tells me that I’m on the right path,” Iwamoto says. “This award motivates me to continue serving our students in Family Spirit and I’m blessed to be a part of an organization that truly lives its mission and values.”

Sharing the same sentiment is Kobe Ngirailemesang ’23, a graduating senior, who was presented with the Founders’ Award, which recognizes a student who has exhibited a commitment to Marianist values by outstanding generosity, respect for others and spirit of faith.

“It might be hard to imagine that Kobe was once quiet and a bit reserved, but I can attest that this was the case,” Brink quips. “When Kobe arrived on campus three and a half years ago, he kept a fairly low profile. But sometime late in his first year or at the beginning of his second year, we began to see a different side of Kobe emerge.”

Ngirailemesang’s involvement with campus events would quickly lead to employment in the Office of Student Activities and Leadership (OSAL), where

he served as Intramural and Recreational Manager. He also has been a part of the New Student Orientation program and a peer mentor for CUH 100 classes.

“Personally, this award is about being of service to others whenever it is possible,” Ngirailemesang says. “I never thought of helping others as an obligation. I really just enjoy the company of others, regardless of it being for work/class or not. I am truly honored to have received this award.”

Meanwhile, Payroll Specialist in the Business Office, Maritel Suniga was honored with the Marianist Award, conferred to a staff member who has exhibited a continuous and extraordinary commitment to the vision and mission of Chaminade University while drawing others into the collaborative community.

“To be recognized for displaying the Marianist values on a day-to-day basis leaves me feeling more inspired and empowered to continue to work and conduct myself in such a manner,” Suniga says. “While I do not know who nominated me, I do want to thank all of my colleagues who have made this possible.”

The three honorees were recognized during a special ceremony on Jan. 18, following the Founders’ Day Mass at Mystical Rose Oratory. The event was the culmination of a series of gatherings meant to celebrate not only the founders of the Marianist family—including the university’s namesake—but the characteristics of a Marianist education and the values and mission that are central to Chaminade’s identity.

“We gather today to be inspired,” says Brink, during the award ceremony, “and to hopefully recommit ourselves to be the best member of this community that we can be.”

Scan the QR code to hear more about our 2023 Heritage Award recepients.

President Babington congratulates Dr. Darren Iwamoto.

Maritel Suniga holds her award.

Fr. Martin Solma, SM congratulates Kobe Ngirailemesang '23

Inspiring Minds FEDERAL AWARD ALLOWS DEVELOPMENT OF NEW ‘INANA PROGRAM

It takes a village. More precisely, it took a consortium of Chaminade professors to win part of a $1.75 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA). The architects behind the winning proposal included Drs. Helen Turner—the Principal Investigator— Bill Rhey, Roy Panzarella, Janet Davidson and Gail Grabowsky, and Brother Ed Brink. The federal monies are part of an expanded pilot program to support entrepreneurship for undergraduate students.

Submitted to the MBDA’s Minority Colleges and Universities Grant Competition, the award will allow Chaminade to develop the “'Inana Sustainability Entrepreneurship Program,” which aims to spark minority entrepreneurial innovation among Hawai'i-Pacific undergraduates.

“The 'Inana program is highly collaborative and builds off firm foundations laid by Chaminade University’s more than 20-year history of promoting business and entrepreneurship,” Turner explains. “The program builds on the fact that Chaminade already has the region’s pre-eminent student entrepreneurship program (Hogan, led by Dr. Panzeralla), and that our School of Business and

Communication, under Dean Bill Rhey, has innovated to create a new Entrepreneurship minor.”

The goals of the program are: 1) To develop and implement programs for the education and training of undergraduate students in subjects directly relating to successful entrepreneurship; and 2) To support minority business enterprises (MBEs), including building a diverse entrepreneurial pipeline to grow the number of MBEs.

The Minority Colleges and Universities pilot program will help fund the development of curricula, pilot courses, seminars, and replicable products and tools that address inclusive innovation, entrepreneurship and general economic development. The award is worth $300,711, funded annually over a two-year span.

“As a Native Hawaiian Serving Institution, Chaminade University of Honolulu's proposal demonstrated a comprehensive understanding of the mission and goals of MBDA, and the requirements of the Federal Funding Opportunity Announcement,” says Donald R. Cravins, Jr., Under Secretary of Commerce for Minority Business Development, in a prepared statement. “In

addition, their application presented evidence of the expertise and community resources necessary to meet these goals.”

The focus of the 'Inana program is to nurture sustainability entrepreneurs in Hawai'i, who will develop businesses that diversify and grow our economy while attending to the health of the planet. This, of course, totally aligns with Chaminade’s United Nations CIFAL Center, which is focused on supporting progress toward the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Hawai'i and the Pacific region.

Three of the 17 SDGs in particular are addressed within the program: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all; build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation; and Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning.

“We’ll develop and implement new Sustainability Entrepreneurship (SE) courses and a UN Certificate program in SE,” Turner asserts. “We plan to enhance participation in SE through an intentional recruitment pathway focused on students who are under-represented in business and entrepreneurship, and promote participation in business plan competitions and global innovation networks.”

This MBDA grant marks another national recognition for Chaminade professors, preceded by a National Science Foundation (NSF) groundbreaking $10 million, five-year grant to create new leadership pathways into data science careers for students and working professionals across Hawai'i and the Pacific region.

“This marks another proud achievement and win for our faculty members,” says Chaminade University president Dr. Lynn Babington. “Dr. Turner and a supportive leadership team shepherded this grant through a rigorous vetting process, and deserve all the recognition for bringing this nationally competitive award to the university.”

UNLOCK THE FUTURE

A gift to the Chaminade Fund expands access and educational opportunities for students of all backgrounds so that they can attend and fully participate in higher education.

Your support creates opportunities for Chaminade University students.

“I am thankful that Chaminade helps students with financial aid so that attending college is within reach.”

– MYRA NARRUHN ’25

BUILDING BLOCKS MBA GRADUATE HAMMERS HIS COMMITMENT TO HABITAT FOR HUMANITY

It wasn’t all bad. In fact, some good did emerge from COVID-19. Vaccine production ramped up. Economic stimulus programs helped families weather financial hardships. And businesses— small and large—received Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding to keep their workforce employed during the pandemic. For Chris Lee ‘18, the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) allowed him to build a relationship with Honolulu Habitat for Humanity.

“During the coronavirus scare, some of our planned/negotiated projects were suspended due to government restrictions,” says Lee, a Chaminade MBA graduate and owner of the construction company, Ayko Group. “Luckily, we received the PPP loans and we were able to keep the employees paid during the shut downs.”

A community-service-oriented business owner, Lee talked to a friend—

the president of a local HVAC company— about business slowdowns, and because of this stagnation, he learned his friend’s company started taking on philanthropic endeavors with their employees. This prompted Lee to call Habitat for Humanity Honolulu and Habitat for Humanity West O'ahu to see if Ayko could lend a hand in their home builds.

“My thought process being we are carpenters, and knowing that we could assist others at the same time as keeping our skills honed, would be a win-win,” Lee notes. “Habitat for Humanity Honolulu replied and was interested in this partnership, and we helped them on a few new builds along with some critical repairs.”

In pre-pandemic times, Ayko Group strictly focused on commercial and military projects, given Lee’s background as a former U.S. Navy Civil Engineer

Corps officer, who has worked as a civilian manager for both Navy Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Not keen on pursuing residential builds—because he’s uncomfortable about taking people’s money, he admits—the 43-year-old entrepreneur decided to make an exception.

“The timing could not have been any better,” says Honolulu Habitat for Humanity CEO TJ Joseph, who is also a beneficiary of a Habitat for Humanity home. “Because of COVID, we had to stop all volunteer efforts, which we largely rely on to start and finish all our projects. So Chris’ call was a true godsend, and if it wasn’t for him coming out, we would not have finished the homes.”

The jobs started small, with some carpentry, drywalling, fire blocks, flooring issues, and leveling and patching a driveway for a new homestead home. Then came the Sniffen home in Waimānalo, which had only reached the demolition stage before the pandemic hit.

“It was just a slab,” Lee says. “So we brought in seven guys to work on-site and we finished the build in probably two, three weeks. I only like to do residential projects with organizations like Habitat.”

In comparison, Joseph says the timeline for Habitat for Humanity to complete a single project could take months since the workforce consists of volunteers, who may or may not have any construction experience.

“Habitat for Humanity’s business model is based on a community-buildingtogether concept,” Joseph explains. “With this old model, we were only able to finish one or two homes a year since we were only building on Saturdays. But now we’re using sub-contractors to lay the foundation, and install the roof, drywall, electric and plumbing.”

The concept that became Habitat for Humanity first grew from the fertile soil of Koinonia Farm, a community farm outside of Americus, Georgia, founded by farmer and biblical scholar Clarence Jordan.

On the farm, Jordan and Habitat’s eventual founders, Millard and Linda Fuller, developed the idea of “partnership housing,” which centered on those in need of adequate shelter working sideby-side with volunteers to build quality, affordable residences. The homes would be built at no profit. New homeowners’ housing payments would be combined with no-interest loans provided by

supporters and money earned by fundraising to create “The Fund for Humanity,” which would then be used to build more houses.

Thanks in no small part to the personal involvement of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn, and the awareness they have raised, Habitat now works in all 50 states in the U.S. and more than 70 countries. Habitat’s advocacy efforts focus on policy reform to remove systemic barriers preventing low-income and historically

underserved families from accessing adequate, affordable shelter.

“Right now, we have 16 families on our waiting list,” Joseph says. “And of the 16, 14 or 15 of them already have funding.”

Lee plans to continue to help Habitat for Humanity, whenever he is able to do so. Quoting former Hogan Entrepreneur Program director, John Webster, Lee says he is abiding his creed: “Doing business things that make social sense and doing social things that make business sense.”

“John always stated that before the Wednesday speaker sessions,” Lee recalls. “It has always rang true to me, and when given the opportunity to help, I will, especially during a time like Covid. I’m fulfilling my service mission, which lines up with the values of a Chaminade education, and it also matches what my mom instilled in me when I was a kid.”

“... given the opportunity to help, I will.... I’m fulfilling my service mission, which lines up with the values of a Chaminade education.”

- Chris Lee ’18

Chris Lee '18 and spouse Tara Lee, whom he describes as "the bedrock in helping with Ayko."

FOR JUSTICE TRACKING CRIMES THROUGH DATA MINING

COMMITTED TO JUSTICE, ZOEY KANEAKUA ’22 SIFTS THROUGH DATABASES TO DEVELOP “DASHBOARDS” AND TO PRODUCE HAWAI'I’S UNIFORM CRIME REPORTING.

For most of us, a dashboard primarily indicates a vehicle’s rate of speed, RPMs, engine temperature, gas gauge, mileage and maybe even a personal playlist. However, for Zoey Kaneakua ‘22, an instrument panel means something completely different. A 2022 Chaminade University alumna with a degree in Data Science, Analytics and Visualization (DSAV), the 22-year-old Kaua'i native implements dashboards to measure crime statistics in Hawai'i.

“In my sophomore year, I considered leaving Chaminade because I wasn’t enjoying my choice of major,” recalls Kaneakua, a recipient of the Ho'oulu Scholarship, which is awarded to Native Hawaiian students pursuing a career in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). “Then my mom suggested that I major in data science, which I wasn’t sure about, but I’m glad I listened to her. She was right.”

In middle school, Kaneakua developed

an interest in computer coding just so she could personalize her Tumblr profile. Data science, though, was not in her purview nor in her future. But forensics was, so she thought. Now she’s a self-described “research geek,” who prefers math over the arts, and enjoys designing dashboards with custom colors and functions.

“I really grew an interest in juvenile justice and criminal justice data when I was at Chaminade,” Kaneakua asserts. “I wanted to use data science—using statistics and computer science—to make it more understandable, interactive and accessible to the public.”

Kaneakua was the ideal candidate for the Data Science program, which encourages students to work in grassroots and community organizations, a fundamental principle in the pedagogical approach at Chaminade, which the National Science Foundation (NSF) INCLUDES Alliance selected to lead a groundbreaking $10 million grant project aimed at creating new opportunities in STEM and data science careers for historically underrepresented populations across Hawai'i and the Pacific Region.

“You can apply data science to every field—education, healthcare and mental health, environment science and climate change, and criminal justice,” explains Rylan Chong, director of Chaminade’s Data Science program. “It’s not just about crunching numbers, but ensuring the numbers reflect different viewpoints and getting those numbers into the right hands.”

Sitting in front of two screens at her office in the Department of the Attorney General’s Crime Prevention and Justice Assistance Division, Kaneakua demonstrates how she monitors and reports crime statistics in Hawai'i then uploads the data to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS), an incidentbased reporting system in which law enforcement collects data on each crime occurrence.

“When I was in school, all my research was in criminal justice,” Kaneakua says. “And I was especially interested in looking at juvenile justice.”

Ironically, the crime reports that Kaneakua once poured over are now

her kuleana . She also now understands how there could be discrepancy in the numbers. Hired in September as a data analyst with the Crime Prevention and Justice Assistance Division, the Silversword is now the point person, to whom police departments on O'ahu, Maui, Hawai'i Island and Kaua'i submit their monthly crime reports. Citing her education at Chaminade—and specifically her mentor Dr. Chong—as reasons for being in her current position, Kaneakua points out that she wasn’t even aware that this position was open.

“This was one of the hardest jobs to pursue because the state requires any new hires to have at least one-year experience,” Chong says. “In Zoey's case, she needed at least one-year experience in both data science and criminal justice since she was filling the role of a database specialist and a data analyst.”

In her junior year, Kaneakua joined aspiring data scientists from across Hawai'i and the mainland to participate in Chaminade’s monthlong Supporting Pacific Indigenous Computing Excellence (SPICE) Data Science Summer Institute.

“That was my first independent research involving juvenile justice,” Kaneakua says. “And I think I built my first dashboard in three days using Python (a high-level, general-purpose programming language).”

For her next project, Kaneakua participated in C4C (Computing for Change), looking at domestic violence across the U.S., and trying to make sense of the data and its limitations. Today, she works on realtime projects, which allow her to use all the skills and knowledge that she learned and honed while attending Chaminade.

“None of this would have been possible without Rylan,” says Kaneakua in praise of Chong. “He believed in me, and helped me navigate and find my niche. I am eternally grateful for this opportunity, and I am proud to represent Chaminade's DSAV program as I continue to conduct criminal justice research in Hawai'i.”

“I wanted to use data science ... to make [ criminal justice ] more understandable, interactive and accessible to the public.”

- Zoey Kaneakua ’22

NOT JUST

TALK

CHAMINADE UNIVERSITY WALKS THE

WALK

The alarm bells have sounded and it’s no longer enough to talk about climate and environmental perils. It’s time to act. From the broad view of Laudato Si’ —Praise be to You, a canticle by Saint Francis of Assisi—and goals for Integrated Ecology to the university’s commitment to CIFAL and bringing international leaders together for a global sustainability conference, Chaminade’s stand on environmental stewardship is aligned with its mission of serving as a community-first institution.

Recently, a concentration in Sustainability Leadership was added to Chaminade’s Ed.D. Organizational Leadership program, further bolstering the university’s business pedagogy of emphasizing sustainability and eco-friendly business practices.

Indeed, the currents of the importance

of environmental viability run through Chaminade's programs and practices. It’s primarily the reason why the university was chosen to establish CIFAL-Honolulu, one of 25 United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) centers across the globe. Nikhil Seth, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and executive director for the UNITAR, said Chaminade was “an obvious choice” when they were looking for partners in this part of the world, adding that the center at Chaminade will serve as a “model for collaboration and a place to spotlight those who share a common vision around the need for community-focused climate action.”

And in August of last year, Chaminade was chosen to lead a groundbreaking, five-year National Science Foundation $10 million grant to support the research and

development of sustainable practices.

On receiving this grant, Chaminade President Dr. Lynn Babington shared, “Chaminade University is honored to lead this important initiative charged with empowering STEM leaders for tomorrow from across Hawai'i and the Pacific, equipping them with the cutting-edge data analytics skills they need to drive sustainable development.”

As further proof of its commitment to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, Chaminade will sponsor The People, Planet and Prosperity for a Sustainable Future Conference (June 11 to 13), which will bring discipline-focused academic and intellectual thought to bear on the systemic issues and challenges faced in the creation of a flourishing, healthy and sustainable future for our societies.

“The majesty of tropical rainforests, of oceans, of beaches, people view Hawai‘i all across the world as something that is truly special and we have to sustain it.”

- Governor Josh Green at the opening ceremony for CIFAL on Chaminade’s campus

GLOBAL SUMMIT

CLIMATE ADVOCATES FROM ACROSS THE GLOBE PLEDGE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

BY SIMPLICIO PARAGAS

It was a synchronicity that some of the globe’s leaders in sustainability should arrive in Hawai'i the same day that Mauna Loa decided to erupt. Perhaps it was Madame Pele’s way of expressing her aloha or maybe it was her warning about the dangers of climate change. Regardless, there is no doubt that global warming and increased volcanic activity are inextricably linked.

When 20 executive directors from CIFAL— a French acronym for Centre International de Formation des Autorités/ Acteurs Locaux (International Training Centers for Local Authorities and Local Actors)—gathered for the group’s “XIX Steering Committee Meeting Of The

CIFAL Global Network” on the Chaminade campus in November, their message was clear … and it was loud.

“The climate change link is very strong in intensifying both natural disasters and manmade disasters,” says Nikhil Seth, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and executive director for the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), which provides innovative learning solutions to individuals, organizations and institutions to enhance global decisionmaking and support country-level action for shaping a better future. “The whole idea of getting all these directors together is for them to be able to

understand and to find out what they are doing, and what they are focusing on.”

Since its inception in 2003, CIFAL has continuously expanded not only in size— through the addition of new centers like this one in Honolulu— but also in depth. Currently, 25 CIFAL centers operate on every continent, from Asia and Africa to Europe and the Americas, reaching thousands of stakeholders. In 2021 alone, the CIFAL Global Network reached 82,956 beneficiaries through 110 training and public awareness events in areas related to economic and social development, environmental sustainability and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 20

“The basic lesson of the Sustainable Development Goals is that human hopes, human aspirations, human fears are all interconnected,” Seth asserts. “You can’t separate them and follow them in discreet ways. The SDGs are like an umbrella of issues and almost everything you can possibly think of are probably covered in the 17 SDGs.”

Asked about the importance of this global conference being held here in Hawai'i, Chaminade Provost, Lance Askildson, Ph.D., says it’s not every day that you get to host the United Nations on your campus.

“So, this is a tremendous honor, first and foremost,” says Askildson, who also serves as CIFAL Honolulu Board’s chairman. “Practically speaking though, this is an opportunity for Hawai'i and our CIFAL center to showcase some of our programs and initiatives with the rest of the world. It is also reciprocally an opportunity for us to learn from other CIFAL centers, identify best practices for educating people around issues relating to the Sustainable Development Goals, and hopefully develop some new strategies and tactics that we can then take back into our own programming and communities.”

In 2021 and early 2022, UNITAR welcomed several new satellite centers: CIFAL York in Ontario, Canada; CIFAL Honolulu in Hawai'i; CIFAL Victoria in British Columbia, Canada; and most recently CIFAL Doha in Qatar and CIFAL Majmaah in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Through training and education, CIFAL Centers are able to reach indigenous populations, the elderly, migrants and refugees, and persons with disabilities, just to mention a few.

“We want to bring awareness to the climate, our reefs, habitat loss and much more,” says Gail Grabowsky, Dean of the School of Natural Sciences & Mathematics and Executive Director of CIFAL Honolulu. “In one of President Clinton’s State of the Union addresses, I remember him saying this one sentence, ‘Our work has just begun,’ which very much applies to our young CIFAL Honolulu center.”

UNITAR convenes these yearly Global Conference meetings of its worldwide network of affiliated training centers to review past performance and achievements, as well as to discuss work plans for the following year, explore synergies among CIFAL centers and other units of UNITAR. In his opening remarks,

Seth highlighted the importance of working with local authorities globally to resonate and act upon the unprecedented scope and significance of the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development and its 17 SDGs.

“The trick at the local level and at the national level is to be able to identify those goals and targets, which mean the most in a local context, and which have the maximum co-benefits on all the other goals and targets,” Seth explains. “So, our hope is that by using Dynamic Systems Modeling—that’s a technical way of saying how do these goals and targets interact—you can identify priority areas for your community and focus on those because that’s the best way and the quickest way of getting to the sustainable development goals and the aggregate.”

Today the CIFAL Network extends to a wide range of topics in the areas of governance and urban planning, social inclusion, economic development and environmental sustainability. Each center is committed to contribute meaningful

and impactful solutions toward the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, which is a plan of action for people, planet and prosperity. It also seeks to strengthen universal peace in larger freedom.

“We have what I call ‘infrastructure inertia,’” Grabowsky says. “I’ve been teaching environmental studies for the past 25 years and the topics I hear today are the same ones I was teaching then. I have no choice but to keep trying what nature tells me is right.”

The 2030 Agenda’s mandate is sweeping and inclusive. Its resolve aims to end poverty and hunger everywhere; to combat inequalities within and among countries; to build peaceful, just and inclusive societies; to protect human rights, and promote gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls; and to ensure the lasting protection of the planet and its natural resources. The Agenda also resolves to create conditions for sustainable, inclusive and sustained economic growth, shared prosperity and decent work for all, taking into account

different levels of national development and capacities.

“CIFALs have been successful in achieving many of the goals that we set for them, particularly now in the era of the Sustainable Development Goals and Agenda 2030,” Seth declares. “Our whole effort is aimed at behavioral and attitudinal change, and I think the CIFALs are doing a tremendous job in that area.”

Askildson agrees.

“We are leveraging our degree programs in Data Science, Analytics and Visualization in order to help address issues as wide ranging as climate action, social equality and clean water, which are resonant issues here in Hawai'i and the Pacific,” Askildson says. “This is an incredibly well aligned initiative for Chaminade. And so we see this as an extension of our university mission in many respects, but it is also an opportunity for us to be more intentional about our approach to sustainability and our contributions here within our local community in Hawai'i and Pacific Island neighbors.”

“The topics I hear today are the same ones I was teaching [25 years ago]. I have no choice but to keep trying what nature tells me is right.”

- Dr. Gail Grabowsky

Dean of the School of Natural Sciences & Mathematics and Executive Director of CIFAL Honolulu

Hogan Entrepreneurial Leadership Program

CELEBRATES 20 YEARS

BY SIMPLICIO PARAGAS

Not even a torrential downpour could dampen the moods of attendees who celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Hogan Entrepreneurial Leadership Program. Since its inception, Gary Hogan has been committed to the idea of mentoring students in leadership and inculcating the entrepreneurial spirit. These are two qualities that were instilled in him by has

late parents, Ed and Lynn Hogan, founders of Pleasant Hawaiian Holidays.

“We tried to establish a travel and tourism school in California, but it never took off,” Hogan recalls. “During that same time, my dad had become dear friends with Fr. Spitzer (then president of Gonzaga University), who helped establish the Hogan Entrepreneurial Leadership Program at that university.”

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25

Wanting to give back to the Hawai'i community, Hogan thought of Chaminade because of its mission to educate for service, justice and peace, and to do so with an integral, quality education. He was also fond of the late, former Chaminade president Sue Wesselkamper.

“Sue liked the idea so I spoke to my mom and dad about the opportunity, and we all agreed that it would benefit the local community,” says Hogan, Chairman and CEO of Pleasant Travel Series. “This 20year milestone is an achievement that we can all be proud of.”

Dr. Roy Panzarella certainly is. As the program director for the past two-and-ahalf years, the one-time Lockheed Martin chief executive looks to strengthen the school’s partnerships with local businesses and its leaders, and to bring in new ideas on how to problem solve.

“Twenty-one is the legal age right, so we still have a minor we’re raising,” Panzarella quips. “We’re in the infancy, phase-one stage, and we’re going to take the crawl-before-you-run approach.”

Choosing to enroll in entrepreneurial program bears a lot of factors. While rankings may be an important one, another should be what’s behind the ranking. Teaching methodology matters and so, too, does the experiential component to the entrepreneurial journey.

According to Panzarella, it’s critical to differentiate between starting a business and learning the skills of entrepreneurship as a springboard to success.

“Entrepreneurship is not just about starting a business, though it’s that, too,” he explains. “Entrepreneurship is about acquiring the skills of success, and we try to teach those skills in the context of entrepreneurship.”

With a diagram resembling a threetiered wedding cake in hand, Panzarella points out the significance of each layer, starting with the base, which he refers to as the “direct” impact that the program has on its students. At this level, the engagement includes Wednesday Guest Lecture Series, internships, social media value and mentorship.

The second tier features the operational side of the program—the nuts-and-bolts structure of running an entrepreneurial curriculum. And the top layer involves the strategic component, which lays out the future transformation roadmap, the mission, the vision, the values and the people of Hogan.

Embedded in the larger Hogan program is the new Suzie Martin & Vaughn Vasconcellos Leadership Institute, named after Vaughn Vasconcellos, a former Chaminade Board of Regents Chair and a current member of the Board of Governors.

“Vaughn has agreed to return in the coming months as the first chair of the institute, during which he will lecture and host meetings and socials in an attempt to broaden the exposure of the institute, as well as Hogan and Chaminade,” Panzarella says. “The institute will also sponsor an entrepreneurial mission abroad in the next year or two.”

Poised to expand in the future, the Hogan Entrepreneurial Leadership Program, now in concert with the Suzie Martin & Vaughn Vasconcellos Leadership Institute, will train and mentor tomorrow’s leaders and entrepreneurs. The education that students will receive will prepare them to lead with empathy, morality, compassion, and a drive to identify problems and create scalable solutions that can benefit individuals, communities and the globe.

“The goal is to develop a Minor in entrepreneurship and then a Major,” Panzarella asserts. “My dream is for the program to be recognized as the ‘Pearl of the Pacific,’ which will attract people from across the region.”

In partnership with American Savings Bank, the bi-annual Nonprofit Business Plan Competition (the next one will be held in 2024) has already appealed to a diverse group of entrepreneurs across the main Hawaiian islands, including Lawai'a Naihe, executive director of last year’s first-place winner, Ho'ākeolapono Trades Academy and Institute on Kaua'i, and A'ALI'I Mentoring, a charitable business that was formed to help students from underrepresented populations to navigate, persist and succeed in higher education.

From induction and study abroad to classrooms and graduation, students experience a lifetime of knowledge and profound connections.

“We can’t lose perspective of what we set forth, which is to mentor future entrepreneurs in the Marianist tradition,” Hogan says. “This has been the goal for the past two decades, and we just want to build on that momentum and continue to serve the community.”

Other positive community relationships involve Catholic Charities and the Institute for Human Services. Both have previously participated in the annual “Job Preparation Workshop” for the homeless and nearhomeless individuals. Hogan students, including previous participant and now an MBA candidate Savannah Lyn Delos Santos ’22, worked alongside the participants to help construct their resumes, and assisted in improving their job interviewing skills.

“While most of society shuns them because they have nothing, they are just doing what they can to move forward and rise up,” Delos Santos says. “They made me realize how sometimes one chance is all someone needs to create a better life for both them and their families.”

By connecting entrepreneurial education with service and ethical leadership, students can build on their interests and abilities to create a positive difference in the community. The program offers extensive hands-on experience and networking opportunities with like-minded aspiring entrepreneurs and industry champions.

“From day one, we want students to understand leadership and entrepreneurship,” Hogan affirms. “We want to teach them good ethics and morals with an emphasis on longterm leadership.”

Asked what he expects during the next 20 years, Panzarella says he wants to build capacity and nurture more international partnerships. He also aims to have the program focus more on a practical than theoretical direction.

“Yes, business plans and a solid business foundation are important,” Panzarella says. “And we know that IQ (intelligence quotient) and EQ (emotional intelligence) matter, but we need to know more about cultural intelligence. We want students to become better versions of themselves. We want them to walk away with the necessary tools in their toolbox or arrows in their quiver— whatever the metaphor may be—to succeed in their lives.”

“Entrepreneurship is not just about starting a business ... [it's] about acquiring the skills of success, and we try to teach those skills in the context of entrepreneurship.”

- Dr. Roy Panzarella Director, Hogan Entrepreneurial Leadership Program

Drs. Lynn Babington and Roy Panzarella flank '22 Hogan Entrepreneurial Leadership Program graduates, from left, Oliver Carson, Ciena Alagao, Martina Segura and Charles Clausner.

FAST TRACK Program offers business students a to an

M.B.A. DEGREE

BY SIMPLICIO PARAGAS

AN INNOVATIVE PROGRAM OFFERS STUDENTS THE OPTION TO OBTAIN A MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION DEGREE IN 12 MONTHS.

Unlike the contestants in the “Amazing Race,” Chaminade students did not encounter any detours nor face any roadblocks when they visited Auckland, New Zealand. The adventure was part of the new one-year MBA program that the university introduced in the fall of 2021.

“I had experience with such programs at three other universities,” says Dr. Bill Rhey, dean of the School of Business and Communication. “The data points out that when students look for an MBA program, they consider time of completion, cost, convenience and quality of faculty. This MBA meets all four.”

The cohort model for the one-year MBA program differs greatly from the traditional two-year track. Foremost, as Rhey explains, students enrolled in this 12-month curriculum are in “lockstep,” which means they all must take the mandatory classes together.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29

“They start here and they finish here—together,” Rhey emphasizes. “This first cohort of students really bonded and supported each other every step of the way.”

The advantages of enrolling in a one-year program are many. But perhaps one of the most salient reasons refers back to an old adage: Time is money. Obviously, paying a year’s tuition— versus two —saves a lot of cash. Tuition also includes books, meals on Saturdays and the international trip. Secondly, classes meet on alternate Saturdays and through online coursework. And thirdly, this type of educational model fosters collaboration and helps develop close bonds with fellow classmates.

“When I was packing my bags, I began to question my decision, asking myself, ‘Why am I doing this,’” recalls Katelin Korman, who moved to Hawai'i from her hometown of Surrey, British Columbia. “I didn’t know anyone in Hawai'i but it turned out to be the best experience of my life and I have no regrets.

“The hybrid model also meant that I could continue working while also completing my studies,” Korman further notes. “I loved the idea of having a small cohort and a more personalized experience.”

The idea of being in a tight-knit group also drew Rebecca Miller. “I was so fortunate to have been part of this particularly amazing group of people, and I mean that sincerely,” says Miller, a licensed optician with LensCrafters. “Having been able to share this time together helped us learn how we worked with each other as individuals.”

Initially accepted into the traditional MBA program, Mario Macagba later learned about the accelerated alternative and decided this option would work best for his circumstance. The trip to New Zealand was another alluring factor.

“In preparation for the trip, professor [Caryn] Callahan provided us assignments that allowed us to learn about New Zealand,” Macagba says. “We learned about its culture and did research about Hawai'i’s

link to New Zealand and the similarities with regards to tourism and culture.”

In the past, Rhey has led other student groups on similar trips to Malawi and South African but never to Auckland. According to Rhey, New Zealand was chosen because it’s an island country, which has a Polynesian history and a large tourism/ hospitality sector.

“It is, also, an English-speaking country with direct flights from Honolulu,” Rhey points out. “I have a friend (Rob Scharar) who is engaged with many leaders and businesses in New Zealand, and he was happy to help design the tour.”

A supporter of MBA programs and education overall, Scharar’s invaluable knowledge and connections provided students with an insider’s look into the New Zealand economy and politics.

“It was a mini business seminar for four days,” asserts Scharar, President of FCA Corp., a 50-year-old leading global investment management and financial advisory firm that also owns a stake in Unparalleled Journeys, which arranged the itinerary. “We had guest speakers from the New Zealand Stock Exchange, U.S. Embassy, FCA Corp’s investment team, Representatives from the U.S. Commercial Service for Australia and New

Zealand, and Commonwealth AustraliaNew Zealand investment managers. The goal was to give these students some exposure to international trade and business.”

After discussing the impact of COVID on the travel industry, Unparalled Journeys tasked the students to prepare a presentation and summary of strategies and protocols that could possibly mitigate the effects of another potential global pandemic.

“The students had a lot of great ideas, from the use of technology to strategic messaging in anticipation of another COVID-like pandemic,” Scharar says. “They all passed. This was a wonderful group of young adults who were pretty humble and grounded, which made it fun for me.”

“Traveling with Mr. Rob Scharar was a fantastic experience,” Miller says. “He really brought to life a sense of what we were working to achieve. Watching him command a room, and interact with individuals everywhere from Parliament to the Stock Exchange was very enlightening.”

Macagba’s biggest takeaway from the trip was a pointed lesson in leading. “Servant leadership is valuable,” he says,

“and we need to make sure we serve and lead in our community, home, work and social circles, and to view our culture not as black and white but gray.”

Korman was most impressed with the level of awareness that Kiwis hold for their surroundings, giving her a new perspective on the quality of life and living in general.

“I learned that New Zealand is a lot like Canada where I am from,” says the British Columbia native. “It is extremely similar in the way it’s run and governed, the landscape, environment and climate, as well as the people and their interests and hobbies. Our money and tax system are also alike and both countries are part of the British Commonwealth.”

The one-year program is targeted— but not limited—to mid-management professionals who are already working in a specific industry, and seek a track to the executive level. Its goal is to provide growth, leadership, thoughtful decision-making, engagement and new opportunities.

Before obtaining her MBA, Korman had only worked at small companies with few employees and even fewer opportunities for professional growth. However, this changed in November when she landed a marketing coordinator position with SaveOn-Foods, one of Western Canada’s largest supermarket chains.

“I think the MBA definitely helped me get this job,” says Korman, who believes this is her first step to upward mobility. “I learned so much more about business, including data science, analytics, strategic thinking and marketing.”

During a banquet dinner to celebrate their graduation, students from the 2021 class had the opportunity to welcome the next cohort of MBA graduates, passing the torch on to some of the incoming class members.

“I know the students took away a sense of confidence in their ability to make recommendations as business consultants for our host company, Unparalled Journeys,” Rhey concludes. “I also believe that most had their horizons broadened, and experienced a greater appreciation for how business is done, and how different life is outside of Hawai'i.”

“I also believe [ our students ] ... experienced a greater appreciation for how business is done, and how different life is outside of Hawai‘i.”

- William Rhey, Ph.D. Dean, School of Business and Communication

Designing Man

Environmental + Interior Design’s new program coordinator challenges students to think outside the box

Thumbing through swatches of textiles and paint colors, and fanning his arm across a room to show all the resources available to interior design students, Matthew Higgins reminisced about his days as a fledgling architecture aspirant in London, England. He started his architectural studies at the age of 18 and by the time he attained his license, Higgins joked that he was already a “grizzled man.” Following in the footsteps of his late father, the British native remembers always being at the side of his dad’s drafting table and following him wherever he went.

“I suppose I wanted to be like him,” says Higgins, a former visiting professor at Chaminade and now the university’s program coordinator for the Environmental + Interior Design department. “He was an architect and he, too, was a visiting professor at the University of Virginia.”

Higgins’ formal introduction to the world of architecture started in 1980 when he was accepted to Cambridge University’s Master of Arts (MA) Architecture program. Five years later, he returned to school for a Diploma in Architecture at the University

of London, followed by a Master of Science (MSc) in Building Economics and Management a couple of years later.

With his new educational credentials, he established Higgins Gardner & Partners, a London-based architecture practice that specialized in museum/ exhibition design and restoration of historic buildings.

One of the firm’s earliest commissions involved the Bank of England Museum in London, winner of the 1988 City Heritage and Stone Federation Awards, for its accurate reconstruction of Sir John Soane’s 1793 Bank Stock Office.

Other United Kingdom projects included the Tarbat Discovery Centre in Portmahomack, Scotland. Opened by the Prince of Wales, the centre was one of seven U.K. projects (together with the London Eye and Millennium Dome) shortlisted for the 2000 Silver Unicorn Award sponsored by the Travel Writers’ Guild, and received a high commendation in the 2000 British Archaeological Awards.

However, it was the work that the firm did on the Bank of England Museum that garnered attention in the Middle East.

“That job gave us credibility and led to designing currency museums for the Central Bank of Oman and the Central Bank of Bahrain (formerly the Bahrain Monetary Agency),” Higgins says. “It was a shame because the museums weren’t largely open to the public and there was no PR. I even had to covertly take photos for my own personal records.”

Higgins vividly recalls working on another project: a museum of natural pearls that took him to the shores of Dubai. He wasn’t quite sure what to expect and how he could possibly transform a 7,500-square-foot space into— quite literally and figuratively—a gem in the rough. It would not be easy.

“First, the museum is located inside the Emirates National Bank of Dubai bank in a huge space,” Higgins says. “The concept was completely centered around a former bank chairman’s trunk of pearls, which were all secured in roughly three hundred red velvet bags about the size of a softball.”

As thrilled as Higgins was to inspect the luminescent pearls, he learned that not all pearls are created equal. Some featured characteristics that were aesthetically pleasing while others were simply average.

“I suppose I wanted to be like [ my father ]. He was an architect and he, too, was a visiting professor at the University of Virginia.”

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 33

Higgins said that the museum had to incorporate the entire history of cultivating pearls or it would be “boring.”

Before the discovery of oil, pearls were the biggest cash crop in the Gulf, where warm shallow waters produced some of the world’s finest. A prominent pearl trader in the 1940s and ’50s, Ali Bin Abdullah Al Owais and his son, Sultan Al Owais, had the foresight and generosity to curate a collection of these exquisite natural wonders.

“It was really hard work for the divers,” Higgins says. “They would have to live on a dhow (a two-masted Arab sailing vessel) for up to 30 days, sleeping, eating and diving every day.”

And back then, divers didn’t have access to SCUBA equipment and had to free dive to depths of 40 feet or even 125 feet deep. Their only lifeline was a rope that was strapped to their ankles

and tethered to the boat. “You hoped that the person on the boat that day didn’t fall asleep,” Higgins quipped. “Because the only way to come up for air was to tug on that rope and have that person pull you up.”

In addition to examples of glistening pearls, the museum also celebrates the lives of the divers and sailors by displaying the instruments and antiquated tools they used to harvest and ship the precious cargo.

After 15 years of designing museums, Higgins grew restless and wanted a new challenge. And with the support and encouragement from his then-wife, he set his eyes on California, where he landed a visiting professorship at the University of California Davis in 2007.

The family would eventually move to Berkley and call it home from 20082014. Then in the fall of 2014, Higgins joined the faculty of the School of Art, Design and Art History at San Diego State University, where he taught the principles of interior design with an emphasis on residential design. In fall of 2015, he was confirmed as Chair of the interior design program.

Then COVID happened.

“2021 was a year of pandemic teaching. I felt truly disconnected from my students and I grew weary of teaching remotely.” says Higgins, shaking his head. “Zoom instruction is contrary to

human nature. I thought about retirement … briefly.”

Instead, Higgins changed his scenery and accepted a visiting professorship at Chaminade University. He had never been to Hawai'i so he was excited and eager to move on with the next chapter of his life.

“The scope of design has expanded and is much broader now,” Higgins explains. “Here at Chaminade, the program added ‘Environmental’ to the curriculum in attempt to break down barriers, and to think beyond windows and doors. Students can consider a room as behavioral space and change the mood of that room with thoughtful interior design. They can play with different materials, forms and hues. They get a really good grounding on the principles of interior design.”

Higgins also appreciates the fact that Chaminade students are working toward a BFA (Bachelor of Fine Arts) instead of a BA, distinguishing that the former demands more rigor and detail, and encompasses color theory, textiles, sustainability in design, the history of furniture and much more.

“Chaminade has the only CIDAaccredited (Council for Interior Design Accreditaion) interior design program in Hawai'i,” Higgins points out. “And, if for some reason, you didn’t want to stay in Hawai'i, the next closest programs are in California or Japan.”

“The scope of design has expanded and is much broader now. Here at Chaminade, the program added ‘Environmental’ to the curriculum in an attempt to break down barriers, and to think beyond windows and doors.”

ONGOING INVESTIGATION

CHAMINADE DIRECTOR OF FORENSIC SCIENCES AND A HUI OF SCIENTISTS RESEARCH PMI

“There’s definitely increasing interest in PMI (Post-Mortem Interval or the time that has elapsed since an individual’s death). It’s critical information that could be key to solving a crime—or providing an alibi—in absence of any witnesses … or insects.”

According to the Department of Justice, forensic science is a critical element of the criminal justice system. Forensic scientists examine and analyze evidence from crime scenes and elsewhere to develop objective findings that can assist in the investigation and prosecution of perpetrators of crime or absolve an innocent person from suspicion.

In their previous research, investigators utilized skin and soil samples associated with 36 human cadavers collected daily for 21 days from three forensic facilities, in order to predict PMI within approximately +/- three days over the first 21 days postmortem. As a result, this new research provides useful accuracy for crime scene investigations. In the current proposed research, the first goal is to expand the 36body PMI microbiome database by collecting similar sample types from an additional 18 human cadavers from two additional facilities, which are in a climate type not yet represented in the PMI database.

“I’ll be traveling to Tennessee in February to lead a training workshop,” Carter says. “I’ll teach participants the proper techniques in collecting samples, which will then be sequenced at a forensic lab for further scrutiny and examination.”

It may sound morbid, but David Carter, Ph.D., wants to figure out how long people have been dead. And he may just be able to do so, thanks to a $830,000 grant from the National Institute of Justice (NIJ). In collaboration with colleagues from Colorado Mesa University, University of Tennessee Knoxville, Northern Michigan University, Western Carolina University, Texas State University San Marcos and University of Québec at Trois-Rivières, the hui of forensic scientists is studying microbial communities with hopes of discovering their own forensics Holy Grail.

“What’s the first question that a loved one asks after a death, ‘When did he or she die?’” Carter asks rhetorically.

And that’s the point of the NIJ grant, which seeks “to create and validate a microbial-based model to predict PMI across locations in the U.S.” Carter’s and his colleagues’ proposed applied research seeks to increase knowledge about a potential new type of physical evidence (microbes), and focuses on developing a tool in which the microbiome present on skin or in nearby soils is used as physical evidence to estimate PMI.

“Jessica Metcalf of Colorado State and Rob Knight of UC San Diego and I initiated this research in 2011,” Carter explains. “So, this recent grant is part of a series of funding that has allowed us to continue our research. It’s a sign of success, but we’re still not quite there.”

An anthropologist major as an undergraduate at the University of Idaho, Carter didn’t learn about forensics until his senior year. But when he did, the Indiana Jones in him decided to attend Bournemouth University in England to pursue his M.Sc. in Forensic Archaeology, eventually earning a doctorate from James Cook University in Queensland, Australia.

“I’ve always been curious about archeology, history and skeletons,” says Carter, whose interest in the “unknown” started in a movie theatre while watching “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.” “I think of death and decomposition all the time.

“I even discuss it at home with my wife, Charlotte—who’s a Medicolegal Investigator with the City & County of Honolulu’s Department of the Medical Examiner,” Carter continues. “I live in the world of the fringe, but people tell me I look so normal.”

WHY CLASS NOTES?

As you embark on your life path, your alma mater encourages you to share your achievements, experiences, and perspectives while also staying informed about current developments at Chaminade and your respective programs.

Staying connected with Chaminade helps build a strong sense of community and belonging, and serves as a pathway for you to explore mentorships, volunteer opportunities, or provide scholarship or program support.

I look forward to building our class notes together!

Mahalo, Jodi-Anne Yoshida Director of Alumni Relations

1960s

Dwight Bartolome | BA ’67 (MATH)

Dwight recently retired as Chief Information Officer for the State of Hawai'i Department of Health.

1970s

Kathleen Kip O’Brien Arndt | BS ’79 (PSYCHOLOGY)

Chaminade holds many wonderful memories for Kathleen, who now resides along the Oregon coast. She was awarded "Woman Athlete of the Year for 1979 Class," of which the plaque hangs proudly in her office. She has been coaching T-Ball, as well as High School softball, volleyball, basketball and track, which has allowed her to keep active. Currently, Kathleen is taking another swing at golf since her husband, of 40 years, Ray, just retired and loves to play. Her professional life has included being a state caseworker, teacher, youth group leader, owner of Cabbage Rose Market in Sunset Beach, Oregon and as a Travel Consultant for more than 30 years. Kathleen also still dabbles as a consultant, traveling to Ireland last September to research her family heritage.

ALUMNI CLASS NOTES

Christine Champney Lawrence | BA ’74 (ENGLISH)

Proving that college friendships endure, four Chaminade alumnae from the 1970s have remained in touch before, during and after the pandemic: Chris Carter and Nadine Clapp, who earned biology degrees and graduated in 1973; Christine Champney Lawrence, who majored in English and graduated in 1974; and Angie Riccardi Maroun, also a biology major and graduated in 1976. The group has held two in-person reunions, one in 2014 in Syracuse and the other in New York, where Angie lives, and one in 2018 in Maryland where Chris Carter and Chris Lawrence reside. During the pandemic, they’ve kept in touch through Zoom. Angie is a retired physical therapist, and a respected textile artist and quilt maker. Nadine is a retired physician in OB/GYN who practiced most of her career in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and now lives on Kaua'i. Chris Carter spent 36 years as a clinical researcher and continues to review and approve research protocols. Chris Lawrence worked as a journalist covering the U.S. Congress, and then taught journalism classes at American University for 20 years. Their hope is for a reunion at Chaminade one day.

Jim Scott | BA ’78 (PSYCHOLOGY)

Jim is the Clinical Director of DUI Schools in Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties.

1980s

Doug R. Aton | BGS ’82 (CRIMINAL JUSTICE)

Doug was recently contracted as the Law Enforcement Consultant Planner for the newly created Hawai'i State Department of Law Enforcement.

Scott Mullens | BBA ’87 (BUSINESS MANAGEMENT)

A Senior Portfolio Manager with First Commercial Properties, Scott has more than 18 years of experience in the finance industry with a strong focus on the manufactured housing sector. Scott has worked for Bergen Acceptance, Green Tree Financial, Chase Home Finance and most recently with 21st Mortgage. He held several different positions with these companies, including Dealer Representative, Credit Manager and Remarketing Manager. He also served as a former President of the Portland Junior Chamber of Commerce. Scott is a licensed Real Estate Broker in the State of Oregon.

Dr. Charles White | BGS ’82 (PSYCHOLOGY)

After retiring from the Navy, Charles earned his graduate degrees from Bethany Bible College and Theological Seminary, at Dothan, Ala. He holds a Master’s and Doctorate of Ministry in Christian Counseling. He has also published three books: “Consider This!” (2015), “Destiny's Challenge: Do your children have a future in America?” (2021) and “The Rise and Fall of the American Dream” (2020). He is currently working on his fourth title.

1990s

Henry Cafirma | BA ’90 (BIOLOGY)

Henry recently retired—early retirement—from the University of California San Francisco Medical Center. He currently lives in Palm Springs, Calif., and just purchased a summer home up in the mountains of Santa Fe, New Mexico. Lately, he has traveled across the continental U.S.—mostly road trips—and the Philippines. He looks forward to spending more time in different regions of Asia, including Singapore and the Philippines.

Maria Chavez-Jacobo | BA ’92 (ELEMENTARY EDUCATION)

After graduating from Chaminade, Maria joined the Peace Corps and worked in the South American country of Ecuador. Working for the Ministry of Education, she was assigned to work in the Oriente (jungle). While there, she learned a little bit of Quechua, taught English to the villagers during the afternoons, taught Mexican cooking classes and participated in fundraising activities in order to build pre-schools in remote areas. She also supervised and mentored new teachers, and participated in their cultural events throughout the year. After completing her two years of service, she returned to Los Angeles and began to work on her Teaching Credential. She has been teaching in an elementary school within the Los Angeles Unified School District for 26 years. She works in the heart of East Los Angeles where she grew up. She enjoys working with her preschoolers and helping her community. She has three young adult children and a grandchild.

2000s

Shanty Sigrah Asher | MS ’07 (CRIMINAL JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION)

After earning her Juris Doctor (JD) law degree from the Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego in 2018, Shanty returned to Hawai'i where she became fully engaged in supporting the Micronesian community. She is the new Pacific Islander Liaison Officer at the Office of Economic Revitalization for the City and County of Honolulu. She also serves as a consultant at the Pacific Resources for Education & Learning (PREL) in Hawai'i. Previously, Shanty served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Pacific Affairs at the Department of Foreign Affairs for the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). She is an alumna of the Executive Leadership Development Program (ELDP) and Asia Pacific Security Studies (APCSS).

Kevin Littlejohn | BS ’04, MS ’06

Kevin works as a Paralegal Specialist in the United States Justice Department.

Kajanda Love | BS ’02 (CRIMINAL JUSTICE)

Kajanda earned her MA in Organizational Leadership and Development from North Central College in 2012. She enjoys talking about woman leaders, leadership excellence, continuous improvement and teamwork. Kajanda recently started a new job as Transportation Operations Manager at Union Pacific Railroad.

Gennifer Bohannon McClure | BA ’01 (BIOLOGY)

Gennifer works as a Registered Nurse at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center.

2010s

Amy Rose Craig | MAT ’18 (EDUCATION)

A gifted educator and mentor of students and teachers, Amy Rose has created fine arts programs to serve students with diverse abilities and needs through her business, Blue Feather and Fin. Her personal artwork explores transformation, healing, and moving through life with playfulness, humor and joy. She began her academic journey at Ringling School of Art & Design before moving to Hawai'i and receiving a BA in Fine Arts with a concentration in drawing and painting from University of Hawai'i at Mānoa and a Master’s in Teaching K-12 with a concentration in Special Education from Chaminade University of Honolulu. Locally, she has taught workshops for Mori Art & Flea and Hawai'i State Art Museum. She is currently a Teaching Artist at Honolulu Museum of Art (HoMa) studio arts.

2020s

Zane Biscocho | BS ’22 (NURSING)

Zane and seven fellow alumni who graduated from the School of Nursing this year all recently secured new Graduate RN positions at The Queens Medical Center in the Emergency Room (Tyler and Britney), Trauma (Zane), Oncology (Kaui), MICU/SICU (Taylor Pocock and Angelo), and Head/Neck (Kayla). They are all soon starting their preceptorships with an experienced licensed clinician who will supervise them during their clinical rotations, and will translate theoretical learning to clinical practice.

ALUMNI CLASS NOTES

Chaminade University Alumni gathered at Jade Dynasty Restaurant on Dec. 10, 2022. ( photo by Be-Jay Kodama ’86 ) Seated, from left, are Gay Miyakawa ’62, Joyce Nakamoto ’61, Carolyn Kato ’61 and Lolita (Macalutas) Lum Hoy ’61. Standing, from left, are Bernard Lum Hoy ’59, Susan Frank-Kam ’61, Grace (Urauchi) Kashiwamura ’61, Harvey Teves ’61, Carlos Canubida ’61, Pat Chul Ho ’61, Michael Ho ’61.

In Memoriam

Dr. Terri K. Yoneyama Koyanagi , BS ’00, passed away on December 23, 2022, at Queens Medical Center at age 43. Koyanagi defied cancer, beating the odds to live more than seven years. She is survived by husband Kyle Koyanagi ’00, ’01 and children Tyler and Kayden.

Bethany (Davidson) Joy Krafels, BS ‘01, passed away on December 28, 2022 at Hospice House in Hutchinson, Kansas. A Histology Technician at Hutchinson Hospital, she is survived by husband John Krafels and daughters Natalya and Taylin.

Robert E. Smith , BS ’88, passed away on September 15, 2022, in Houston, TX. He was 68 years old. Robert Earl Smith is survived by his mother Margaret Sue Smith and his brother Stephen A. Smith (Laurie).

Willibrord Tallett ’61, Gilbert Olayan ’61 and Harlin Young ’63.

Submit Your Class Note*

Please be sure to share your good news with the Chaminade community and include the following when submitting your note:

• FULL NAME, GRADUATION YEAR and MAJOR (include maiden name and spouse’s name, if applicable)

• CONTACT INFORMATION (phone number and email)

• PHOTOS are encouraged (high resolution preferred: 300 dpi or 1.5 MB in size)

< SCAN THE QR CODE and complete our online form

EMAIL US: alumni@chaminade.edu

Or MAIL TO : Office of Alumni Relations 3140 Wai'alae Avenue Honolulu, Hawai'i 96816

*All notes are edited for style, content and length.

Stay Connected

@cuhalumni

@chaminade-university-alumni alumni@chaminade.edu

chaminade.edu/alumni

SAVE THE DATE

SILVERSWORD REUNION 2023

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14

5:00

PM

– 7:30 PM HONOLULU, HAWAI'I

The Silversword Reunion is scheduled for Saturday, October 14, 2023. At the heart of the reunion will be a luau dinner where we celebrate our special 'ohana , honor our peers, and share our special memories.

Interested in joining the planning committee? please email alumni@chaminade.edu or call ( 808 ) 735-4763. Mark

Flying High Tom Watt’s

legacy lives on with

an endowment scholarship

Ralph Waldo Emerson famously said: “It’s not the destination, it’s the journey.” For the Chaminade alumnus and late Thomas “Tom” Siu-Wing Watt ’68, the journey was arduous, painful but worth the years of struggle. At the tender age of 3, the Honolulu native broke his back, requiring surgery at Shriner’s Hospital. Nine years later, he would spend a year at Lē'ahi Hospital, after contracting spinal meningitis combined with a case of tuberculosis.

“Tom and I held one common belief: You get where you’re going by your own action,” says his widow Carol-Anne Tucker-Watt, during a phone interview from her home in Contra Costa County, CA. “Although his family was of modest means and firstgeneration immigrants, Tom always took

responsibility for his actions, which led to his successes.”

Concerned that her son would not fare well at Farrington High School, Watt’s mother, Rose Mui-Kwai Chun Watt, decided to enroll him at Saint Louis High School, after seeing young boys in the neighborhood nicely dressed and mildly mannered, and attending the Catholic institution. She wanted the best for all of her five kids, providing them with opportunities to succeed in their adopted country.

“She arrived in Hawai'i in December 1940 as an actress and Chinese opera singer,” says Tucker-Watt of her late mother-inlaw. “And Tom’s father was a musician and his paternal grandfather was relatively well known as an opera singer who once performed in San Francisco.”

Fame and fortune, however, did not follow when the family immigrated to Hawai'i. The couple would work at chop suey restaurants as a waitress and a cook, scrimping and saving to give their kids the chance to get ahead. And returning to China was not a viable option, given World War II (1939-1945), which some historians consider started in China in 1937, two years before German tanks blitzed Poland, four years before the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor and the culmination of the Chinese Communist Revolution in 1949.

“Although they had a chance to return to China, she (Rose) knew that they would not have the opportunities there, especially her daughters,” Tucker-Watt notes. “They embraced the idea of the American dream.”

The young Watt certainly did, developing close friends at Saint Louis and finding academic success. After high school, he aspired to be an engineer—one of three popular professions chosen among Chinese immigrants at the time—and enrolled in the engineering department at the University of Hawai'i Mānoa.

“The professors of the introductory engineering classes assumed that the students were already familiar with the fundamentals of mechanical drawing, but Tom was not,” Tucker-Watt explains. “It did not take long for him to decide that he and UH were not a good fit, and that he would need to pivot.”

Having attended Saint Louis, Watt was familiar with the Chaminade campus, and several of his Saint Louis classmates were already attending what was then Chaminade College. There was one problem: Chaminade did not have an engineering program, so he decided to pass on his engineering books, drafting board and T-square to his younger brother and switched to a business major where he could apply both his math and English skills.

“He was immediately more comfortable and relaxed once he segued to Chaminade and embarked upon his new academic path,” Tucker-Watt says. “However, it was not easy. He made it clear to his mother that she had sacrificed enough for him, and that he would pay for everything at Chaminade College by himself.”

This meant that when Watt was not in class, he was working, first at the California Packing Co.— Del Monte’s predecessor—and later at the Bank of Hawai'i. There was no time for extracurricular activities at Chaminade.

“Chaminade always held a place close to his heart,” Tucker-Watt says. “After retirement from a long and successful career with the Social Security Administration, Tom was able to connect with fellow alumni living in the San Francisco Bay Area, as well as students about to start at Chaminade.”

After 37 years with the government agency, in both technical and managerial positions, Watt retired after undergoing treatment for hypopharyngeal cancer. He would battle cancer twice more, but ultimately lost the fight on July 15, 2017 in San Leandro, CA.

The couple had been together for more than 35 years, yet they never had long discussions regarding funeral plans. But Watt would occasionally make his wishes known. One of them was to have Frank Sinatra’s version of “My Way” played at his funeral. And another was “to fly,” according to Tucker-Watt.

“He made it clear that he was fine with cremation, but he did not want his ashes buried, stuck in a niche or dumped over the side of a boat,” Tucker Watt says. “He wished for his mortal remains to be ‘free like the wind.’”

When the time came, Tucker-Watt and Tom’s children—from his first marriage— chartered a helicopter on O'ahu and released his ashes to fulfill his final wish.

“But having done this meant that there was no headstone; nothing to mark his time on earth,” Tucker-Watt says. “And so it occurred to me that the best way to give him an ongoing legacy was to endow a scholarship at Chaminade.”

The scholarship has a single criterion: Students have to maintain a 3.5 grade point average, something that Tom successfully managed to do while studying at Chaminade.

“He would have been proud, and glad that he could help young Chaminade students,” Tucker-Watt says. “I miss him terribly, but I still feel his guiding hand. He still has my back.”

Alumni Be-Jay Kodama '86 and Tom Watt '68 with former Chaminade President Bro. Bernie Ploeger.

NOTABLES

Lynn Babington, Ph.D. | PRESIDENT

During a lengthy interview with seasoned KHON anchor, Gina Mangieri, Dr. Lynn Babington discussed the many contributions that Chaminade University continues to make in the community, responding to workforce needs through new education programs. She also mentioned a groundbreaking $10 million grant from the National Science Foundation.

Lance Askildson, Ph.D. | PROVOST AND VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS

Dr. Askildson welcomed 20 executive directors from CIFAL—a French acronym for Centre International de Formation des Autorités/Acteurs Locaux (International Training Centers for Local Authorities and Local Actors)—who gathered for the group’s annual Global Conference Network on the Chaminade campus in November. He was interviewed by several media outlets which covered the conference.

Rev. Gary Augustin, Ph.D. | ADJUNCT PROFESSOR, SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES

For the past 25 years, Dr. Augustin has been an integral part of the Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai'i. It was only fitting then that the Center would rename the Client Assistance Fund, which provides mental health subsidies to individuals with limited financial means, to The Rev. Dr. Gary Augustin Client Assistance Fund. Augustin is a military family and life counselor, a licensed marriage and family therapist, and an ordained minister in Honolulu.

Rylan Chong, Ph.D. | DIRECTOR AND ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, DATA SCIENCE

Dr. Chong and Dr. Helen Turner discuss the Alliance Supporting Pacific Impact through Computational Excellence (ALL-SPICE) program and its significance with Burt Lum on Hawaii Public Radio’s Bytemarks Cafe.

Rhoberta Haley, Ph.D., RN, FNP | DEAN, SCHOOL OF NURSING AND HEALTH PROFESSIONS

Interviewed after the Pinning Ceremony on KITV, Dr. Haley explained that the number of students they admit into the program depends on the availability of clinical placements with hospital partners. Haley expects larger enrollment numbers in the future.

Kahala Kabalis Hoke | HEAD COACH, WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL

Kahala Kabalas Hoke becomes all-time winningest coach with 180 victories and is honored with back-to-back Coach of the Year awards. Hoke led the women’s Silversword volleyball team to back-to-back PacWest Conference titles, earning them a spot in the NCAA Division II Tournament.

Roy Panzarella, Ph.D. | DIRECTOR, HOGAN ENTREPRENEURIAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Hogan Entrepreneurial Leadership Program, Dr. Panzarella invited VIP guests— including the program’s namesake, Gary Hogan—to mark the milestone. Panzarella also unveiled the new Suzie Martin & Vaughn Vasconcellos Leadership Institute, named after Vaughn Vasconcellos, a former Chaminade Board of Regents Chair and a current member of the Board of Governors.

Katelynn Perrault, Ph.D. | ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, FORENSIC SCIENCES AND CHEMISTRY | PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR OF THE LABORATORY OF FORENSIC AND BIOANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY

For the second time, Dr. Perreault has appeared on “The Analytical Scientist Power List 2022 – Top 40 Under 40.” The list recognizes analytical science’s rising stars, “who will, hopefully, provide the answers to the 21st century’s biggest questions.”

Helen Turner, Ph.D. | RESEARCH DIRECTOR, CIFAL HONOLULU | PROFESSOR, BIOLOGY

Gail

Grabowsky, Ph.D. | DIRECTOR, UNITED NATIONS CIFAL HONOLULU CENTRE | DEAN, SCHOOL OF NATURAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS

In an op-ed penned for Civil Beat, Dr. Grabowsky reaffirmed Chaminade’s commitment to taking action with two new efforts— the United Nations Sustainability Center and a new $10 million National Science Foundation grant program.

On behalf of Chaminade, Dr. Turner accepted a U.S. Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) grant worth more than $600,000, funded annually over a two-year span. The award will allow Chaminade to develop the “'Inana Sustainability Entrepreneurship Program,” which aims to spark minority entrepreneurial innovation among Hawaii-Pacific undergraduates.

SCENE & HEARD

PITCH PERFECT

In November, Chaminade alumni got together for the first time since the COVD-19 pandemic. Attendees during this Pau Hana event created a convivial atmosphere at Pitch Sports Bar at SALT Our Kakaako. Director of Alumni Relations, Jodi-Anne Yoshida, and her colleagues in Advancement welcomed recent and past alumni to an evening of food and drinks. “It was wonderful to see so many faces after two years,” Yoshida says. “We plan to host more of these types of events for our Silversword alumni. So be on the lookout for our announcements.”

Mark your calendars for the next exciting Pau Hana on April 20. Keep an eye out for more details in the coming weeks. Hope to see you there!

3140 Wai'alae Avenue

Honolulu, Hawai'i 96816 -1578

CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

UPCOMING EVENTS

APRIL 7

Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion Mystical Rose Oratory

APRIL 8

Easter Vigil in the Holy Night Mystical Rose Oratory

APRIL 20

Alumni Pau Hana

APRIL 20-23

Spring Musical: The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man

MAY 5

Baccalaureate Mass Mystical Rose Oratory

MAY 6

Commencement

Waikiki Shell Nursing Pinning Ceremony

JUNE 11-13

People, Plant, Prosperity Conference

OCTOBER 14

Silversword Reunion

Chaminade students participated in a field trip to the Mānoa Heritage Center's 3.5-acre living classroom, which is dedicated to promoting an understanding of Hawai'i’s cultural and natural heritage.