DESIGNS OF A GREENER WORLD

This E+ID major says sustainability and good design can go hand in hand

KATHERINE LIU ’26 is driven to combine her love of design with her passion for sustainability.

And the Environmental + Interior Design (E+ID) major at Chaminade is already making headway toward that goal, serving as an ambassador for the UN-affiliated CIFAL Center Honolulu Center at the University as she seeks to incorporate the United Nations’ sustainable development goals into projects on campus and off. Liu is also a scholar with Chaminade’s ‘Inana Sustainability Entrepreneurship Program and is working to apply what she’s learned into business models and prototypes.

One example of her work: she and a group of peers partnered with Re-Use Hawai‘i, which seeks to give used construction materials a new life, proposing new collaborations with local architecture firms. She’s also sought to improve awareness of Re-Use Hawai‘i’s inventory.

Liu’s efforts to promote sustainability also extend to the American Society of Interior Design. She serves as a student representative to the board and, as if that weren't enough, she is also the events coordinator and social media manager for the International Design Professional organization, where as a club officer she also organizes student-centric events.

“I believe that good design is sustainable design, and it is crucial to push for innovation in this field as the climate crisis worsens,” says Liu, who is also a member of the Chaminade Sustainability Club and participates in a long list of community service projects.

She says the E+ID program has encouraged her to pursue her passion for sustainability, challenging her to consider how spaces can be built for humans and for efficiency. In one course, Materiality in Interior Design, she designed spaces that were energy efficient.

“I enjoy projects that are impactful and meaningful for people and the planet,” she says.

That’s where being a CIFAL ambassador has been a particular highlight, Liu says. The opportunity to engage people across departments around sustainability has been uplifting. “The experience has left lasting impressions that I carry with me daily,” she says.

Looking ahead, Liu is considering a master’s degree after graduating from Chaminade.

She says she wants to take her love of sustainability to product design.

TOP: Katherine Liu '26 shows off one of her recent designs as an Environmental + Interior Design major at Chaminade.

BOTTOM: Liu is involved in a long list of activities and clubs at Chaminade, and is passionate about giving back.

JUMP-START TO COLLEGE

Early College program allows high schoolers to earn Chaminade credit

Taeani Largusa graduated from Kapa‘a High in May with more than a high school diploma. Thanks to Chaminade’s Early College program, she also walked away with 25 college credits.

She says the jump-start to college saved her time and money, but also gave her crucial preparation in college courses before she ever set foot on a university campus. "I was pleased to find out that all of my credits were accepted, allowing me to potentially graduate an entire year earlier,” Largusa said.

The Chaminade Early College program gives students the chance to fulfill high school requirements through college courses, earning university-level credits along the way. Kim Baxter, Early College director at Chaminade, says the program is a win-winwin for Hawai‘i high schoolers. “This program is such a great opportunity for these high school students to earn dual credits. And it gives them that real college experience,” Baxter told Chaminade Magazine.

Kaua‘i High graduate Tatum Harper was able to earn Chaminade credit and take what she learned to Columbia University, where she’s studying environmental science and sustainable development.

She said the program helped her with the “transition to college life.”

Largusa is a first-generation college student.

She said attending high school and college at the same time wasn’t always easy, but she embraced the challenge and enjoyed the mentorship of college professors. “Throughout the two-year Early College program, I've learned to adjust to collegiate expectations, as well as use the classes I've taken and apply them to my personal life,” she said, adding that her Communications 101 class gave her key public speaking and interviewing skills.

Don Dimaya said his fraternal twin children, Lindsey and Landon, participated in Early College at Chaminade while students at Sacred Hearts Academy and Saint Louis School. He said as a parent, he’s grateful not only for the experience the program offers, but the big savings.

“This Early College program will definitely help me and my wife financially,” he said.

Sacred Hearts Academy counselors Ashley Luke and Sharlene Chock agreed that the Early College program at Chaminade saves families money—a major plus, given the cost of higher education. They added the program can also help students prepare for the rigors of college.

Luke, who counsels sophomores and juniors, said, “Early College participants are often surprised by the level of work required in college courses compared to what they’re used to at the high school level. There’s more critical thinking, for one, and much more independence. Even our top students were stretched because they didn’t understand process versus perfection, which they’re used to achieving in high school,” Luke said.

Plus, national data finds that high schoolers who participate in dual credit programs at universities are more likely to go on to a four-year program—and more likely to graduate.

That’s what Saint Louis student Cash Acorda is focused on. He plans to apply to Stanford University and he’s hopeful his Chaminade credits will showcase his ambition and ability to take on a challenge. Why earn dual high school and college credit? “I want to get ahead,” he said.